Mahindra unveiling its definitive 2023 look ahead of testing this morning means the full Formula E field has now shown off colour schemes for the first Gen3 season.
Here’s the complete line-up for the first year of FE’s new era, which begins with this week’s three days of Valencia testing.
McLaren
McLaren makes its long-anticipated Formula E debut by taking over the title-winning Mercedes team.
Former Audi driver Rene Rast comes back into FE to lead the line-up, while rookie team-mate Jake Hughes has some series experience from a reserve role at Mercedes.
Maserati MSG
The Monaco Sports Group entity that formerly ran under Venturi branding is now the vehicle for Maserati’s return to top-level motorsport in Formula E.
A rules dispensation allows it to use a powertrain from sister brand DS. It intended to run 2021 champion Nyck de Vries alongside Venturi’s star driver Edoardo Mortara, but De Vries’ AlphaTauri Formula 1 move means an FE reprieve for former BMW and Nissan driver Maximilian Guenther.
DS Penske
The demise of the Techeetah team and Mercedes’ exit lead to the odd situation of reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne and double champion Jean-Eric Vergne lining up for 2023 with the team that finished last in the 2022 standings.
Sort of, anyway. Though some Dragon Penske figures still have management roles in the new DS Penske organisation, it also features plenty of the personnel that made DS Techeetah so formidable.
Jaguar
The only team in the field with complete line-up stability, Jaguar keeps Mitch Evans and Sam Bird for its latest bid to win the title it keeps narrowly missing out on.
Envision
Jaguar’s first customer Formula E team (switching from Audi power) retains Nick Cassidy for 2023 and secures 2015/16 champion Sebastien Buemi for his first FE season away from the e.dams/Renault/Nissan family, replacing Robin Frijns.
Avalanche Andretti
Former BMW team Andretti moves to Porsche power for Gen3 and gets a Porsche factory driver in Andre Lotterer to join Jake Dennis, while Oliver Askew is dropped.
Porsche
Porsche gets the other former DS Techeetah proven champion on the market having signed Antonio Felix da Costa to replace Lotterer as Pascal Wehrlein’s team-mate.
Mahindra
Controversial new leadership for Mahindra as Frederic Bertrand leaves his role as the FIA’s main Formula E man to replace Dilbagh Gill.
There’s a big change on the driver front too with the arrival of 2016/17 champion Lucas di Grassi to replace Alexander Sims alongside Oliver Rowland, plus a new technical tie-up with series returnee Abt – which di Grassi knows very well from his Audi years.
Nissan
Nissan takes full control of its own Formula E affairs for the first time, and has a completely fresh driver line-up for 2023 too as Buemi and Guenther depart.
Former Venturi driver Norman Nato is back in FE and joined by rookie Sacha Fenestraz, who has one FE appearance under his belt as a short-notice Antonio Giovinazzi stand-in in last season’s finale.
NIO 333
The team that in a very different guise took Nelson Piquet Jr to the very first Formula E title back in 2014/15 is tipped as a dark horse for the Gen3 era after strong private testing performances.
It’s brought in Sergio Sette Camara to replace long-time driver Oliver Turvey and gives Dan Ticktum a second Formula E season too.
Abt Cupra
Audi’s former Formula E partner Abt successfully returns to the grid after having to abandon a 2022 project, and will run Mahindra equipment in the colours of SEAT brand Cupra.
It’s recruited two of its past DTM drivers, both with plenty of Formula E experience: Robin Frijns and Nico Mueller.
