Due to the clash of dates with the WEC race in Spa, Mahindra and Envision are using replacement drivers for the Formula E E-Prix in Berlin
Envision will line up with a completely new driver pairing for the Formula E races in Berlin. Joel Eriksson and Paul Aron will drive for the team instead of regular drivers Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns, who are competing in the parallel 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) this weekend
Mahindra will also have to replace a driver due to the clash of dates: Nyck de Vries, who has also decided to start in the WEC, will be replaced by Jordan King. This was announced by Envision and Mahindra on April 11.
As the WEC race in Spa takes place on Saturday, the two Toyota drivers Buemi and de Vries as well as BMW driver Frijns could theoretically have traveled to Berlin afterwards and taken part in Sunday’s Formula E race. However, this would have required a special permit.
This is because the two races of the double-header on the site of the former Berlin-Tempelhof airport are officially considered one event. And according to the regulations, driver changes are only permitted during an ongoing event if there is a valid reason. A vote among the team bosses to deviate from this rule did not receive the necessary unanimous majority. As a result, Buemi, de Vries and Frijns will have to miss the entire Berlin E-Prix
Only Eriksson has Formula E racing experience
Of the reserve drivers, only the Swede Eriksson has racing experience in Formula E. He contested eight races for Dragon-Penske in 2021. In Germany, Eriksson drove for BMW in the DTM in 2018 and 2019 and competes in endurance races on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife for Team Falken. He is currently a reserve driver for Jaguar in Formula E, which supplies Envision with drive systems.
“We tested Joel many years ago at the rookie test in Marrakesh [2018] and were very impressed with him,” Envision team boss Sylvain Filippi told Autosport, “We not only know him as a driver, but he also knows the Jaguar car and systems. “
For Estonian Aron, who was promoted to Formula 2 this year and finished on the podium three times in the first six races of the season, this will be his first race outings in Formula E. Aron will also take part in the rookie session ahead of the Misano E-Prix this weekend
What are Vergne, Vandoorne and Müller doing?
“It’s a great opportunity to drive for Envision in Berlin. I’m really looking forward to experiencing Formula E for the first time and working with the team,” says Aron. “We will be working hard between now and the race to prepare for the event, starting with rookie training this week in Misano.”
Mahindra is relying on former IndyCar driver King as the team’s official reserve driver. The Brit has held this role since 2021 and is now making his Formula E racing debut. “It goes without saying that I’m really looking forward to making my Formula E debut in Berlin next month,” says King. “It’s a team that I know inside out after four years working with them, and a car that I’m already incredibly familiar with and that I helped develop. “
De Vries’ team-mate Edoardo Mortara is also affected by the clash of dates between Formula E and the WEC. As Mahindra has not nominated a replacement for him, it can be assumed that he will drive in Berlin.
Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne (both DS-Penske) as well as Abt driver Nico Müller are also involved in the WEC in addition to Formula E. It is not yet known which event they will choose
