Written by Olivia Hicks, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Nyck de Vries is set to return to Formula E for the 2024 season. Following a short-lived stint in Formula 1 as an AlphaTauri driver, de Vries will join the Mahindra Racing team. The Dutch racing driver joins fellow new signing Edoardo Mortara at the team, in an all-new line-up for Mahindra Racing.
Having failed to score a single point for the Italian F1 team, de Vries is back on familiar territory. In the 2020-2021 Formula E season, he won the world championship, competing for Mercedes-EQ. Despite winning the championship in season seven, de Vries fell behind the following year. He finished ninth in the championship standings while his teammate, Vandoorne, took home the trophy with 213 points.
While de Vries made headlines after being axed from F1 this year, his future team hasn’t escaped scrutiny either.
Mahindra Racing have certainly been in the spotlight for a tough 2023 season, one that saw them slump to tenth in the constructors standings, only ahead of the Mahindra-powered ABT Cupra, debutants in the 2023 season. The team were able to bring home only 40 points all season, finishing only two points behind ninth-placed NIO 333 Formula E team.
While one might wonder how de Vries signed for the team despite a poor 2023, the Dutchman sees light at the end of the tunnel, and believes in the Indian manufacturer's project. He was quoted saying: It’s really exciting to be joining such a major automotive manufacturer as Mahindra, and to represent them in Formula E. I’m particularly excited about the future plans for the team. The basis is already strong, and the team has all the attributes to succeed. I believe going forwards we will be able to extract even more potential from the project and the organisation, so to be a part of that process was very appealing for me."
Edoardo Mortara signs for Mahindra Racing for Season Ten
De Vries isn't the only driver announced by the team to drive for season ten, though. The Indian-origin, Banbury-based outfit also announced the signing of former Maserati MSG racer Edoardo Mortara. Both drivers have been signed on multi-year deals by the Indian team.
Maserati is the only team Mortara has driven for in Formula E. From its debut as Venturi Formula E Team, in Mortara’s debut year, to ROKiT Venturi Racing in seasons six through eight to the newest reiteration, Maserati MSG Racing, Mortara has been there for all three rebrandings.
Mortara helped secure the team 422 points throughout his career in the electric racing series, along with six appearances on the top podium step.
His most notable campaign was the 2021 season, when Mortara was in the fray for the drivers' championship, eventually finishing runners-up to champion Stoffel Vandoorne, who currently races for the DS Penske team.
Mortara was outscored by teammate Max Gunther over the 2023 season, and opted to leave the Monaco-based team at the end of the season. While rumours did put him joining ABT Cupra or Mahindra Racing ahead of season ten, Mortara signed the dotted line with the latter, once again believing in the project and the long-term prospects of the Indian outfit.
Mahindra CEO Frederic Bertrand expressed his delight with the line-up of De Vries and Mortara:
"With their speed and experience, Nyck and Edo will play a key role in driving the team towards that goal, and I know everybody is feeling very motivated to work with them. Equally important for the team are the drivers’ appetites for a long-term project, which makes them the perfect fit for Mahindra Racing at the beginning of this journey."
With both racers hungry to perform, and looking for redemption after a tough 2023, the stakes will definitely be high at Mahindra, and both drivers will be looking to prove their worth in the world of motor racing, and drive the Mahindra team up the Formula E standings in 2024.
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