Credit: Carl Bingham courtesy of FIA Formula E
Formula E welcomed the return of the rookie test during the 2022/23 season, with a special free practice session having also been held later in the year for new drivers to the series.
A one-day rookie test at the Tempelhof Airport Circuit followed the Berlin E-Prix, with it having been the first time since Marrakesh in March 2020 that a rookie test had been completed. The test saw stars from Formula 3 and Formula 2 in particular gain experience in Gen3 machinery, something which benefits them in the future should a seat become available.
A notable name in the test was reigning F2 Champion Felipe Drugovich, who actually topped a special practice session in Rome – titled free practice 0 – for Maserati MSG Racing. 2022 F3 Champion Victor Martins also took part.
It was refreshing to see 23 drivers not part of the season nine roster be offered the chance to learn more about the technology in the all-electric series, something which appeared to be very much appreciated by those that took part.
Prior to this year’s rookie test, the 2020 event in Marrakesh included five drivers who actually featured on the season nine grid. Runner-up Nick Cassidy, Norman Nato, Sérgio Sette Câmara, Jake Hughes and Sacha Fenestraz all participated in the 2020 test, proving that the try-out does work in regard to producing future Formula E talent.
This talent appears to be getting younger, at least that’s what the data suggests when comparing the 2020 Marrakesh test to the 2023 Berlin test. In Marrakesh three years ago, the average age amongst the drivers taking part was 25.1 years old, whereas the average age of the 23 drivers in Berlin was 24.7.
Interestingly, the average age of the drivers in the first rookie test back in 2018 – also held in Morocco – was actually 24.7 years old, again. Current FE drivers Maximilian Günther and Nico Müller both took part in the test. In the 2019 rookie test in Marrakesh, the average age of the drivers was 26.8 years old, the oldest of any FE rookie event.
It means that since the 2019 rookie test, the average age of the drivers has decreased each time the event has been held, signalling a clear trend that younger drivers are becoming more interested in the championship or that the teams are increasingly looking at younger stars.
Above: The 2022/23 rookie test group photo – Credit: Simon Galloway courtesy of FIA Formula E
Whilst the difference isn’t huge, it does suggest that Formula E is becoming a more attractive series for younger drivers. Some teams in Berlin did still use more experienced drivers. For example, NIO 333 Racing fielded ex-Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat.
However, on the whole, the majority of the teams did offer a seat in the rookie test to a young talent, yet to compete in a non-junior category. This is arguably exactly what FE needs, with season seven World Champion Nyck de Vries being proof that racing in FE doesn’t shut the door to a seat in F1.
Of course, De Vries’ last-minute debut in Monza last season was critical to him receiving an AlphaTauri seat for 10 races, but he was already a candidate for Williams before that. F1 is, and most likely will always be, regarded as the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport, but the increasing amount of talent on the FE grid is yet further proof that more young drivers are becoming open to competing in the series.
In many ways, FE can actually open more doors and opportunities than F1, with several current FE drivers competing in the World Endurance Championship alongside their FE commitments. This isn’t possible in F1 and highlights why the current FE calendar works so well for those competing in the sport.
Other than the opportunities FE can offer drivers, the series in itself is genuinely growing year-on-year, and is racing in places which F1 could only ever dream of. FE beat F1 in taking a World Championship back to South Africa this year, in what was one of the most exhilarating and action-packed races of the season.
India, too, had an FIA World Championship return to its country, thanks to the inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix. FE is opening doors to countries who perhaps can’t afford to host an F1 race, and to places that simply don’t have the budget to build a FIA Grade 1 circuit suitable for F1.
All of these little things can attract young racers, given the places they’ll get to visit which they probably wouldn’t in any other championship. The introduction of the Gen3 era has also been huge for FE and will attract the attention of those in F2 and F3 who are starting to look to the future, given how advanced the cars have become.
FE attracting younger drivers is key to the future success of the championship, both to keep the series alive but also to spread the message to the younger generations about climate change and the ongoing environmental crisis.
Formula E’s most experienced driver, Lucas di Grassi, agrees that FE is becoming a more attractive series for younger drivers, with it being the “place to be” for those who are unable to progress to F1.
“The answer is yes,” Di Grassi told Motorsport Week ahead of the London E-Prix. “And the reason is that because there is only a very few limited places that you can actually make money in racing and to have a professional career.
“And Formula E definitely if you’re not in Formula 1, the place to be is in Formula E. That’s why the interest of all the drivers to stay close to Formula E and to try their shot like Nyck de Vries did, for example, Formula E and then Formula 1 or the other way around.
“Or like Mitch Evans that won GP3 back then and went to Formula 2 and then Formula E. So it really depends. I think Formula E created 22 new seats for drivers that weren’t there in the past. And now you have a professional series of professional drivers that can follow their dream, which is to race cars for a living.”
Keyword: Is Formula E becoming a more attractive option for young drivers?