Written by Jacob Awcock, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Ahead of Formula E’s Rookie Free Practice session this weekend in Jeddah, all teams have locked in their drivers who will take part. Each team will supply one driver for the 40-minute session which will provide all of the rookies with invaluable experience of the new GEN3 Evo car and provide opportunities to show teams their capabilities.
NEOM McLaren
Test and reserve driver Alex Dunne will line up in the NEOM McLaren outfit for the test, the Irishman set to experience his first taste of Formula E machinery. Dunne first stepped into a single-seater in 2021, aged 19, taking to Spanish F4. The boy from Offaly, Ireland, managed a podium finish in his first outing for Pinnacle Motorsport, having started the race from pole position.
Signed onto the McLaren Driver Development Programme midway through his 2024 F3 campaign, Dunne was promoted to the NEOM McLaren Formula E test and reserve driver earlier in 2025.
The Rookie Free Practice session will provide Dunne his first outing in Formula E machinery, and McLaren will be keeping a keen eye on the Irishman to see if he has the potential to become a full-fledged Formula E driver.
Cupra Kiro
Danish driver Mikkel Jensen will represent the Cupra Kiro outfit for the test. The WEC and IMSA driver will represent the Silverstone-based team, who have struggled for out and out pace recently.
Jensen started his professional racing career in 2013, but made the jump to GT racing in 2016 following a podium finish on debut in the ELMS (European Le Mans Series).
Ever since his move to endurance racing, the Dane has accumulated 18 race wins and 38 podiums across a nine-year stint in sportscars. Class championships across the ELMS, and USA's IMSA championship can be added to the veteran’s impressive CV and Formula E experience will prove a venture into the unknown for Jensen.
“I’m looking forward to the experience of driving a Formula E car for the first time,” said the Danish driver. “Formula E has interested me for a while now and from my time preparing in the simulator the car feels completely different to anything I’ve experienced in my career.”
The rookie test will be the 30-year-old’s first outing in a single seater car since his European Formula 3 campaign in 2016, and the Cupra outfit will be seeking to make use of the Dane’s experience to develop their Season 11 GEN3 Evo package.
Envision Racing
Having claimed his maiden F2 victory in Monaco, the British driver bowed out of the series due to funding struggles, but will join Super Formula in Japan for this season, a series that has played host to the likes of Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly and Stoffel Vandoorne prior to their F1 drives.
At just 19, the British driver has a quite impressive CV, having had a taste of F1 machinery via an appearance for Williams in the 2023 Abu Dhabi Free Practice 1 session, as well as a test for Aston Martin by virtue of winning the BRDC Young Driver of the Year award in 2021.
“It’s going to be a new challenge for me,” said an eager O’Sullivan. “The session itself will provide a good opportunity for me to learn the car and I will be making sure I spend as much time with the team as possible across the race week, so I absorb as much as I can.”
Mahindra Racing
Having served as Mahindra’s Season 10 reserve driver, Kush Maini has been nominated by the Indian outfit to represent them in the Free Practice session. The 24-year-old, now a veteran of Formula 2, will enter his third season in championship in 2025.
Having started strong this season, Mahindra will look to build on their progress in the double header around the Saudi desert and Maini’s experience around parts of the three kilometre-circuit could prove invaluable to the team in adjusting the car for the races.
Team principal Frederic Bertrand voiced his delight at the team’s start to the season, and the crucial role Maini will play. “We’ve made a strong start to the season with our new car, but it’s important we make use of all the track time available to us to keep progressing.
“Kush’s work ethic, diligence and skill make him the perfect choice to slot into the team for the session, especially on what will be a new circuit for all the teams.”
Season 12 could be a target for Maini, who, as his Formula 2 career nears its conclusion, will be looking for alternative options for next year. With Formula E experience under his belt, this test could prove crucial for the Bangalorean in appealing to Formula E teams for next season.
Nissan Formula E Team
Nissan has acquired the services of F3 race winner Gabriele Minì ahead of the Rookie Free Practice in Jeddah. This will be the Italian’s second taste of Formula E machinery, having tested for the Japanese outfit in Berlin during Season 10. The 19-year-old secured top 10 finishes in both the morning and afternoon sessions.
The Alpine Academy driver finished runner-up in the 2024 Formula 3 season, finishing second, earning an elevation to PREMA’s Formula 2 outfit in 2025.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity after working with the team at the Berlin Rookie Test last year. It was my first time in an electric race car then and I learnt a lot which I’m confident can help me in Jeddah.”
DS Penske
The French outfit has secured the experience of ex-F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, the Russian taking to the wheel of the DS E-TENSE FE25 for the Jeddah rookie test.
At 30, Kvyat will be the oldest driver lining up for the rookie test, bringing a wealth of experience to the Saudi coast which will be crucial for DS Penske. The French team has endured a slow start to the season, sitting sixth in the championship standings.
Having raced in Formula 1 for teams such as Red Bull and Toro Rosso, Kvyat undoubtedly has one of the most impressive CVs out of all the 11 rookies. With Jeddah being a brand new track, Kvyat’s experience will prove crucial to the team, aiming to gain an advantage on its competitors.
"We’re delighted to have Daniil join us for FP0 in Jeddah," said Deputy Team Principal Phil Charles. "His background in Formula 1 and his proven ability to perform at the highest level will provide invaluable insights for our team. We are looking forward to seeing how Daniil adapts to the demands of the track and contributes to our overall weekend preparations."
Jaguar TCS Racing
Aged 26, Chadwick is one of the most decorated female drivers in the world and voiced her excitement of driving the GEN 3 EVO car again around Jeddah. “I am looking forward to driving for Jaguar TCS Racing at the Jeddah E-Prix," said Chadwick.
"It was a great experience to drive the Jaguar I-TYPE 7 in Madrid last year and work closely with a World Championship-winning team, so I am relishing the opportunity to get behind the wheel again at a brand-new circuit.”
Maserati MSG Racing
2023 Formula 2 World Champion Theo Pourchaire will drive for Maserati MSG Racing, as the 21-year-old looks an interesting prospect for many teams on the grid to pursue.
The Frenchman will set foot in a Formula E car for the first time this weekend, in what is a critical weekend for the iconic brand as they look to make strides back towards the front-end of the grid. Having raced around parts of the brand-new Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Formula 2, Pouchaire’s experience will prove invaluable to the Monaco based team.
"Maserati is an iconic car brand and I’m very happy to be working with Maserati MSG Racing - the team has done fantastic work in the past. I also really like working with new people, everyone has made me feel very welcome so far”, said Pouchaire.
"I know the Jeddah track from F2, I’ve raced there three times in the past but on a slightly different configuration and in a very different car but I do think knowing the track a little helps especially when I will be in a new car with a new team. Overall, I’m excited to get on track, show what I can do, help the team and hopefully have fun!”
Lola Yamaha ABT
Having tested both the GEN 2 and GEN 3 car previously, Calderon arrives at Lola with a bank of Formula E experience, which could prove critical to the German team.
“It’s great to have Tatiana joining Lola Yamaha ABT for the Rookie Free Practice,” said Thomas Biermaier, CEO of ABT. “The session will not only give a chance for her to once again showcase her talent on track, but her experience will also enable her to give us additional important feedback on what is a new circuit for the Championship.”
Andretti Formula E Team
One of the title contenders this year, Andretti has secured the experience of Aston Martin F1 junior, and reserve driver Jak Crawford for the test. The American driver will pilot the Formula E GEN 3 EVO machinery for the first time in the 40-minute test session, as he begins his duty as Season 11 test and reserve driver for Andretti.
“I’m very excited at the opportunity of driving a Formula E car again, especially as it will be my first time in the GEN3 Evo," said the 19-year-old. "I’m super excited to experience the increased acceleration and try out the new all-wheel-drive system.”
Crawford will undoubtedly be a championship contender this year in Formula 2, and Formula E could be an exciting prospect for the young American, provided no other opportunities arise the following F1 season.
TAG Heuer Porsche
However, the Jeddah test will mark the Austrian’s first experience of GEN 3 machinery, having only tested a GEN 2 car at the Marrakesh rookie test in 2020.
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