Formula E Season 12: Preview and Predictions

After ending Season 11 in London, Formula E is back for pre-season testing in Valencia next week with the final era of Gen3 Evo. With this, we have MANY driver changes, team changes and livery changes!

Team changes:
Over the off-season between Season 11 and Season 12, there have been some BIG changes in the driver market.

To start off, the biggest move over the season was Antonio Felix Da Costa leaving Porsche and moving over to Jaguar TCS Racing. This seat was freed up after Nick Cassidy moved to Citroën Racing, which took over from Maserati MSG Racing. Filling in Da Costa’s seat at Porsche is Nico Mueller. After a disappointing season at Andretti last year, the German lines up alongside Pascal Wehrlein at the German team. For Andretti, they have recruited the F2 2022 Champion Felipe Drugovich after his sensational debut at Berlin in Season 11.

Joining Cassidy at Citroën will be the only 2 time champion of Formula E, Jean-Eric Vergne. This of course, left a seat open at DS Penske, which is filled by the Formula E Rookie of the Year of 2025: Taylor Barnard!

The other teams remain mostly the same with Mahindra Racing, Lola Yamaha Abt and Nissan. Although we have lost a few drivers from the series, including Season 8 champion Stoffel Vandoorne, multiple race winner Sam Bird and Robin Frijns. Frijns’ seat will be overtaken by Joel Eriksson, who will partner Sebastian Buemi.

Team Drivers Changes
Porsche Formula E Team Pascal Wehrlein and Nico Mueller Mueller in, Antonio Felix Da Costa out
Andretti Formula E Jake Dennis and Felipe Drugovich Drugovich in, Nico Mueller out
Jaguar TCS Racing Mitch Evans and Antonio Felix Da Costa Da Costa in, Nick Cassidy out
Envision Racing Sebastian Buemi and Joel Eriksson Eriksson in, Robin Frijns out
Nissan Formula E Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato No changes
DS Penske Maximilian Guenther and Taylor Barnard Barnard in, Jean-Eric Vergne out
Citroën Racing Nick Cassidy and Jean-Eric Vergne Cassidy and Vergne in, Stoffel Vandoorne and Jake Hughes out
Lola Yamaha Abt Racing Lucas Di Grassi and Zane Maloney No changes
Mahindra Racing Nyck Cassidy and Edoardo Mortara No Changes
Cupra Kiro Dan Ticktum and Josep Maria “Pepe” Marti Marti in, David Beckmann out

Calendar:
The Season 12 calendar has had some quite big changes compared to the predecessor. To start off with: We go to Sao Paulo first at the start of December before going to Mexico City in January, with the first race at the Miami Autodrome at the end of January.

February begins and concludes with the first doubleheader in Jeddah before the first trip to Madrid in March. We then have a big gap before the start of May for a double header in Berlin, then go to a double header in Monaco to finish Formula E’s month of May.

June and July have an Asian collection with a return to Sanya, Changhai and Tokyo. Formula E concludes the final rounds in London.

Round number Race Dates
1 Sao Paulo E-Prix 6th-8th December 2025
2 Mexico City E-Prix 10th January 2026
3 Miami E-Prix 31st January 2026
4 and 5 Jeddah E-Prix 13th-14th February 2026
6 Madrid E-Prix 21st March 2026
7 and 8 Berlin E-Prix 2nd-3rd May 2026
9 and 10 Monaco E-Prix 16th-17th May 2026
11 Sanya E-Prix 20th June 2026
12 and 13 Shanghai E-Prix 4th-5th July 2026
14 and 15 Tokyo E-Prix 25th-26th July 2026
16 and 17 London E-Prix 15th-16th August 2026

Regulation Changes:
One of the biggest regulation changes in Season 12 is that paternity and maternity leave does NOT count towards the Formula E cost cap, which is big for inclusivity within the championship.

In terms of the sporting regulations, the qualifying format has been revised in order to increase the speed and make it easier for viewers to watch.

The rule to set a lap time in the first 10 minutes in the group sessions has been removed. As well as this, the overall timing for each group session has been reduced to 10 minutes, with the overall qualifying session aimed to be concluded in around one hour.

As well as this, the attack mode regulations have been adjusted to work with the pit boost races even more. Within pit boost races, only ONE attack mode activation is allowed, while 2 remain for non-attack mode races.

In addition to these changes, if a driver fails to complete their full attack mode before the race ends, the driver will NOT be penalised. This is likely in response to Miami in Season 11 due to so many post-race penalties as a result of a red flag.

Pre-Season Testing:
The electric pinnacle returns to Valencia after missing the circuit due to the horrific scenes of disaster last year. Kicks off on 27th October 2025 with the ability to gain information and track times and familiarity with the final year of Gen3EVO.

Women’s Test
Formula E also brings back the all-women’s test for pre-season testing, which is due to take place on 31st October 2025. Many drivers have already been confirmed, including the F1 Academy reigning champion Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport driver in F1 Academy Ella Lloyd, Super Formula star Juju Noda and ELMS winner Jamie Chadwick.

Team Driver  Driver
Porsche Formula E Team Gabriela Jilkova Janina Schall
Andretti Formula E Nerea Marti N/A
Jaguar TCS Racing Jamie Chadwick Juju Noda
Envision Racing Alice Powell N/A
Nissan Formula E Abbi Pulling N/A
DS Penske Jessica Edgar  Lindsay Marie Brewer
Citroën Racing Tatiana Calderon N/A
Mahindra Racing Chloe Chambers N/A
Cupra Kiro Bianca Bustamante N/A

 

Kieran’s Predictions for Season 12: 

Season 12 will be one which I am really looking forward to. As teams focus on Gen4 and beyond (with the car reveal confirmed to be in April next year), this year is still important for the rookies in particular. 

I’ll be doing 3 season predictions as well as predictions at each weekend!

Prediction 1: At least 2 new race winners

With the amount of driver changes happening in Season 12, I expect some drivers to take to their new teams easier than others. With drivers to top teams like Mueller and Drugovich, I think these drivers are most likely to take maiden victories, although drivers like Eriksson and Marti could take surprising wins. 

Prediction 2: Mexico City Victory does NOT translate to the world champion.

Ever since Gen3 began, there has been a trend that whoever won Mexico City that season won the title. 

Season 9 was Jake Dennis, Season 10 was Pascal Wehrlein and Season 11 was Oliver Rowland. I think with the amount of driver changes and the notice of this link, the possibility of the translation happening is unlikely. 

Prediction 3: Every driver scores at least 10 points

Throughout Season 11, we had many drivers storm away with points such as Oliver Rowland and Nick Cassidy (although Cassidy was towards the end of the season.) Some drivers didn’t even score one point (sorry Zane Maloney!). However, with the amount of experience, young blood and talent on the grid for Season 12, scoring 10 points across all 22 drivers is something which could happen and keep the championship going until London! 

What are you most excited for in Formula E Season 12? 

Share the passion

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *