28-year-old American driver Oliver Askew has become the latest reserve driver in Formula E for Andretti.
All There is to Know About Oliver Askew
Oliver Askew was born in Melbourne, Florida and started karting at the age of eight.
In 2016, Askew was selected as a Team USA Scholarship recipient, which allows American drivers to race outside the continent.
Furthermore, this enabled him to compete in the Formula Ford Festival and the Walter Hayes Trophy.
Askew won the 2017 USF2000 championship, which earned him $400,000, showing his talent at a young age.
He climbed up the motorsports ladder in America by competing in the 2018 Pro Mazda series alongside many current IndyCar drivers.
Askew finished third in the championship, losing out in the drivers’ championship to Dale Coyne Racing IndyCar driver Rinus Veekay.
Afterwards, the Floridian drove in IndyCar’s feeder series Indy Lights in 2019 and won the championship. He won seven times, having an amazing second half of the season.
The American driver would then race for Andretti in Indy Lights, conveying that this partnership was a long-term one.
How Did Oliver Askew Perform in the Higher Categories of Motorsport?
Askew went on to graduate to the IndyCar Series with Arrow McLaren SP in 2020.
Unfortunately, Askew had a crash at the 2020 Indianapolis 500 that left him with concussion-like symptoms.
This meant that he did not complete any of the following races until the finale.
Askew’s bad luck would continue in IndyCar as he filled in for other drivers who were injured and was dropped in 2021.
However, Askew would find a new opportunity racing in the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship in the LMP3 series.
The American once again drove for Andretti – who have a team in almost every category – and finished sixth in the championship.
Additionally, Askew entered Formula E with Andretti once again but sadly only finished in the points three times in 2022. His best result was fourth in the first race of that season’s London E-Prix.
Askew’s teammate, Jake Dennis, finished sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, whereas he finished in 16th.
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What Does a Reserve Driver Do?
Reserve drivers contribute to the development of each team’s car in a variety of ways.
The most prominent example is working in the team’s simulator to test software updates and refine car setups.
Since Formula E has the same chassis for every car, setup is crucial to a flawless weekend. Therefore, Askew’s experience racing for the team will be beneficial since he is already familiar with the car’s behaviour.
A reserve driver also does media appearances alongside the main drivers to promote their team’s brand.
This announcement is just in time with the upcoming Miami E-Prix being in his home state. This means the team will have many fans cheering them on, with both having an American reserve driver and being an American team.
However, the main purpose of a reserve driver is to fill in if needed, such as if a driver is injured/ill or races in another category.
Where Will Viewers See Oliver Askew?
Askew’s first race trackside in his new role will be the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on April 12.
Andretti’s first reserve driver, Jak Crawford, will be racing in Bahrain, so having Askew as an addition is a clear benefit.
The Floridian will appear in the pit lane and on the sidelines, helping his team out and just observing the race weekend.
Also, Askew will attend the race weekends where scheduling conflicts arise, such as Tokyo, Shanghai and London.
When Are Reserve Drivers Necessary in Formula E?
Seeing as Jak Crawford is a full-time race driver for DAMS Lucas Oil in Formula 2, Askew will be there when needed.
An injury could also happen in a season, such as when Taylor Barnard filled in for Sam Bird at last year’s Monaco E-Prix. Drivers may also be unexpectedly ill, which could give Askew the opportunity to drive.
Ultimately, Askew will unlikely drive in Formula E this year, but you never know.
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Why Was Oliver Askew Signed by Andretti?
The American’s main reason for signing is to step in when Crawford is competing in Formula 2 this year and is unavailable.
Since Askew hasn’t driven since 2022, his full focus will be on proving himself to Andretti to sign him.
Other than that, Askew will be committed to Andretti as they have given him multiple opportunities in the past. Furthermore, the Floridian has more experience than Crawford and could give a different perspective.
Askew has also presented for Formula E in 2023, so he knows how to talk to the media about the team and the sport.
What Do the Driver and the Team Think of This Decision?
Oliver Askew told Andretti that:
“I’m thrilled to reunite with this talented team, especially since so many familiar faces from Season 8 are still onboard,”
“I can’t wait to dive in and support the team in fine-tuning the car on the simulator as we push through the rest of the season together.” – Oliver Askew.
Andretti Formula E team principal Roger Griffiths explained that:
“While Jak remains our primary reserve and development driver, due to overlapping calendars with Formula E and Formula 2, it’s an advantage for us to have the ability to bring in an additional reserve driver – particularly someone of Oliver’s caliber – in such a demanding championship.”
“Oliver’s prior experience with our team and knowledgeable understanding of the series make him an excellent fit, and we’re confident he will provide valuable input behind the scenes.”
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Main Photo
Copyright: Carl Bingham
Date: 26 January 2023
