A Rookie Free Practice is set to occur in Jeddah before the E-Prix weekend. Formula E teams will field eleven drivers.
Formula E Rookie Free Practice: Everything You Need to Know
The electric championship flies to Saudi Arabia for the third and the fourth rounds of Season 11. The Jeddah circuit will host the Gen3Evo cars starting on Thursday, February 13th.
The Rookie Free Practice follows the Women’s test, which took place in October and had great success.
During Season 10, Formula E organized two rookie sessions – the first in Misano and the second one in Berlin. The championship may announce another 2025 rookie session in the next months.
Formula E introduced the rookie test and the ‘FP0′ in 2018, with the first session in Marrakech. The events dedicated to the rookie shaped the championship’s grid of the following years, proving to be a useful instrument.
For the rookies’ Free Practice in Jeddah, every team announced one driver, each with a Free Practice Only e-License. The cars will be on track for forty minutes, giving the possibility to the drivers to know the Gen3 Evo single-seaters.
This session presents a valuable opportunity for young and returning drivers to gain experience in an all-electric championship.
With many of these rookies coming from single-seater and endurance racing backgrounds, the practice will provide insights into the unique demands of Formula E’s energy management, street circuit racing, and regenerative braking systems.
Additionally, teams will closely analyze performance data to evaluate potential future signings, making this a crucial moment for both drivers and teams as they adapt to the evolving Gen3 Evo regulations.
The Drivers Selected
The rookie session will see the participation of two female drivers – Jamie Chadwick and Tatiana Calderon, both present in last’s year women’s test.
The three-time W Series champion and now European Le Mans Series driver will wear the Jaguar suit. The Colombian driver, Calderon, will race for Lola.
Mahindra chose Indian driver Kush Maini, who will take part in the Formula 2 2025 season with Dams.
The rookie free practice will see multiple F2 drivers on track – Nissan selected Gabriele Minì, 2024 Formula 3 vice-champion and now F2 driver for Prema.
The Italian driver debuted in Formula E in the Berlin rookie test of 2024, driving for the Japanese team.
McLaren trusted one of its Junior Program’s drivers – Alex Dunne. The Irishman will race in F2 for Rodin Motorsport in 2025, as recently announced.
Andretti chose another F2 talent, announcing Jak Crawford. During the past season, the American took part in the Berlin rookie test with the same team.
Envision selected the ex-F2 driver Zak O’Sullivan. The member of the Williams Academy had to give up on the 2024 season due to economic difficulties and his future is unknown.
The Formula E Rookie Free Practice will see the presence of the 2023 Formula 2 champion, Theo Pourchaire. The French driver is set to race for Maserati, debuting in the electric championship.
DS Penske announced an experienced figure – Daniil Kvyat, once a Formula 1 driver and now engaged in the WEC world.
Kiro chose a driver from the covered wheels series, Mikkel Jensen.
Porsche opted for Thomas Preining, the DTM winner in 2023 and the official driver of the German team.
Formula E Rookie Free Practice – The lineups
- Andretti – Jack Crawford
- DS Penske – Daniil Kvyat
- Envision – Zak O’Sullivan
- Lola – Tatiana Calderon
- Mahindra – Kush Maini
- Maserati – Theo Pourchaire
- McLaren – Alex Dunne
- Nissan – Gabriele Minì
- Jaguar – Jamie Chadwick
- Kiro – Mikkel Jensen
- Porsche – Thomas Preining
