Written by Vyas Ponnuri
Andretti will have a new face alongside Jake Dennis once again, for the fourth time in four years, heading into a new Formula E season. Norman Nato has departed the team ahead of season eleven, after a difficult campaign that saw him finish 15th.
It hasn't been the sweetest 2024 for Nato, who came into the team wearing white overalls on the back of a stellar comeback season for Nissan, when he'd picked up a podium finishes on his way to tenth in the standings, scoring 63 points in all.
It was a consistent campaign on the Frenchman's return to the sport, with as many as six points finishes in a row to round out the season, including his season best of second at Rome.
He went on to finish fourth in the following event at London, to round out the season on a high, a points score helping him finish right at the end of the top ten that year.
However, Nato has struggled to live up to the same highs at Andretti, often paling in comparison to reigning champion Jake Dennis. The latter took a race win at Diriyah and finished on the podium three further times along the season, finishing seventh in the standings.
While he finished every race in 2024, Nato failed to convert his scores into bigger points hauls, or couldn't string together consistent points, often finding himself drop down the order after being in the points.
Despite starting the season with tenth at Mexico and sixth in round two at Diriyah, points would be hard to come by, as Nato finished in the points only thrice in the next six outings. A tough weekend followed around the revised Berlin layout, and the Andretti driver finally saw light at the end of this long tunnel at Shanghai, joining Jake Hughes and Antonio Felix Da Costa on the podium in round 12.
Nato scored further points at Portland and London, as rumours swirled of the Andretti seat once again being up for grabs ahead of season eleven. As has been confirmed today, Nato has departed the American team ahead of season eleven.
The move leaves Andretti looking for their fourth different teammate alongside Jake Dennis in four seasons, with Oliver Askew partnering the Briton in 2022, before Andre Lotterer took over the seat in season nine.
After a difficult season, the German was released to fulfill his endurance racing commitments, with the aforementioned Nato taking over the seat for season nine.
Andretti's statement on social media read:
"A heartfelt thank you to @NatoNorman for his time spent in our red and white machine this season.
"Norman has been a brilliant asset to the team over the last year, and we are grateful for his efforts and commitment.
"We would like to wish Norman all the best for the future."
It remains to be seen as to who will replace Nato at Andretti for season eleven, as well as the case of the 32-year old's future in the series. The silly season transfers have been hinting at a Porsche move for Nico Muller, and it remains to be seen if the Swiss driver joins Dennis at Andretti, while Nato moves the other way around to ABT Lola for 2025.
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