Formula E has been home to many great racing drivers since its inaugural season in 2014, and numerous F2 drivers have been turning to FE instead of F1 lately. Some drivers are even leaving before the end of their Formula 2 seasons to begin their careers in the series.
Current Red Bull Junior driver Pepe Martí is the most recent driver to make the switch to Formula E. After two years in the F1 feeder series, Martí announced his departure from both F2 and the Red Bull Junior Team. It was clear that his dream of F1 was becoming less attainable with Red Bull, so he turned to FE.
Taylor Barnard is the biggest F2 to FE success in recent times. During his first season in F2 in 2024, Barnard was also a reserve driver for NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. After one of their drivers suffered an injury, Barnard filled in for three races. His performances earned him a contract with the FE team for the 2024-2025 season.
Because the two championships overlap, the young British driver left the Formula 2 championship early to compete in FE. In the 2024-2025 Formula E season, Barnard achieved two pole positions and five podiums. Even though NEOM McLaren is not returning to FE this season, Barnard’s standout rookie performances helped him secure a drive with DS Penske.
Barnard wasn’t the only driver to leave the 2024 F2 season early either. Zane Maloney’s season began with back-to-back wins that gave him the championship lead for multiple rounds. Maloney ultimately finished fourth in an incredibly competitive season. Despite being reserve driver to an F1 team, he chose to miss the last race of his F2 season and join Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team. While he hasn’t found the same success that Barnard has, Maloney has built a career in racing with FE.
Why Formula E?
Formula 1 is the dream for every driver who races in Formula 2. So, why are they abandoning the series early to join Formula E?
The most obvious part of this answer is that not every driver is cut out for Formula 1. However, many of them never get the chance to prove themselves. Formula 2 drivers who were race winners, champions, and F1 reserve drivers have never had a chance in an F1 car outside of an FP1 session. Before Gabriel Bortoleto’s move to F1, there was real worry about F2 champions not getting promoted.
Recent Formula 2 champions like Théo Pourchaire and Felipe Drugovich are two examples of this. They are both well-regarded drivers and F2 champions, yet they languished as F1 reserve drivers with no promotion in sight. Pourchaire moved on to other series before Drugovich, but they both wasted time waiting on F1. Drugovich will start his debut Formula E season with Andretti this year, but he could’ve already been in his fourth season in the series if he did what Barnard and Maloney did.
Countless other drivers are currently waiting for an opportunity in Formula 1 that may never come. Jack Doohan turned down multiple race seats, including one in IndyCar, for 2024 in the hopes of Alpine promoting him. While he did get a chance, it was over before it ever really began. What success could he have found elsewhere? Paul Aron is another current reserve driver at Alpine holding out for a chance. During his F2 season, Aron raced a few times in FE for Envision Racing. It’s possible he could have been in contention for a seat in the series.
There are also many drivers who spend years in F2 waiting for the chance at a reserve role. In Formula 2, the drivers must pay to compete. Some are backed by F1 teams who help pay, but many aren’t. Even drivers part of F1 driver academies can’t always afford to race in F2 (just look at Zak O’Sullivan). Staying in F2, waiting for F1, isn’t a financial option for everyone, and it hasn’t worked for everyone who can afford it either.
In Formula E, the teams pay the drivers to race for them. It’s a professional series that young drivers can build a career in. For more and more F2 drivers, it’s a great opportunity to make a living as a racing driver. Formula E has a great deal of talented drivers from multiple different series, including Formula 1, and F2 drivers are wanting to add their names to that list.
Featured Image Credit: Formula E Media Centre