Formula E preview: Jeddah E-Prix
- Vyas Ponnuri
- Feb 11
- 9 min read
Written by Vyas Ponnuri
After three captivating races in the Americas, which yielded three different winners, Formula E heads to a new land for not one, but two races. Jeddah marks Formula E’s Middle Eastern outing of the year, featuring more than just the first double-header of Season 12.
Ahead of Season 12, a large section of the paddock had touted this year to bring about the closest Formula E season in history. Teams looked to have emerged from pre-season testing closer to the mark than many had thought, with reigning champions Porsche among the contenders to defend their crown.
The first three rounds of this campaign have certainly outlined this fact, with the opening races in São Paulo and Mexico City seeing narrow winning margins of 1.3 and 0.6 seconds respectively. The winning drives couldn’t have been any more contrasting; Andretti’s Jake Dennis kept himself towards the front of the field in the former, while Citroën’s Nick Cassidy came from behind to take a sensational race win in the latter.
The wetter conditions spiced up the racing action in Miami, with one driver showcasing supreme confidence to pull off moves that helped him secure race victory. Be it in the dry or if the heavens open up, the start of 2026 has only proved one fact: It can be anyone’s day, at any given time. Nothing is a given in the championship.
In the opening three races, three different drivers and teams have emerged winners, while six different constructors have scored at least one podium finish. With Jaguar’s victory in Miami, it also means every team is now on the board in 2026.
The championships also paint a closer picture at the end of the American leg: Only three points separate the top three, while seven separate the top five on the ladder. In the teams’ standings, it may be an early dominance for Porsche, but only 14 points separate second-placed Citroën from Jaguar in seventh.
It only proves how important every race weekend is set to be in 2026, with several teams and drivers fancying their shot at the championship in the last season under the current rules set.
The emergence of Citroën as a stronger force has given teams plenty to think over in the early races. Nick Cassidy currently leads the drivers’ standings, courtesy of two podiums in the first three races, including that win in Mexico City. The French team may be new to Formula E (and single-seaters, for that matter), but the opening weekends have proved they are no pushovers.
Their success only adds another layer to the narrative of Formula E in 2026, with more new manufacturers expected to join the Gen4 era and follow their template for success in the all-electric series.
However, Jeddah will be a different game for Citroën, as well as the other nine constructors on the grid. Being the first double header of six in 2026, teams will have more opportunities to make up for lost ground or consolidate their positions.
It will also offer double the opportunities for the three drivers who are yet to get off the mark in Season 12, including one with a hat trick of DNFs to his name. While the likes of Lola’s Lucas di Grassi and Andretti’s Felipe Drugovich are looking for points, Cupra Kiro’s Dan Ticktum would be aiming to see the chequered flag for the first time in 2026.
While Ticktum would argue that on another day, he would be much further up the standings, such is the unpredictable nature of Formula E. Finding yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time could leave you at the receiving end, and far down. Jeddah opens up opportunities for him to get to the flag and secure points along the way.
There’s also more to the Jeddah E-Prix weekend, with Formula E’s second iteration of the Evo sessions taking place on Sunday, 15 February. With several famous YouTubers and stars such as Khaby Lame, Izzy Hammond, Max Klymenko and Ethan Payne among those taking part, it’s set to be another entertaining session down at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
If you’re watching on, just sit back and enjoy all three days of racing this weekend in Saudi Arabia!
Drivers’ standings heading into the Jeddah E-Prix
Nick Cassidy (Citroën Racing) - 40 points
Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) - 38 points
Jake Dennis (Andretti) - 37 points
Oliver Rowland (Nissan) - 34 points
Nico Müller (Porsche) - 33 points
Constructors’ standings heading into the Jeddah E-Prix
Porsche - 71 points
Citroën Racing - 44 points
Mahindra Racing - 38 points
Andretti - 37 points
Nissan - 35 points
Track layout
Formula E has already visited the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in 2025 for the first-ever Jeddah E-Prix weekend. Despite the sheer speed and acceleration of the Gen3 Evo Formula E cars, the championship uses a shortened version of the venue for its duo of races.
There has been no change to the track layout used in 2025, with the same 3.001 km (1.685 mi) circuit continuing for its second year in succession. At 19 turns, it is one of the longer tracks on the 2026 calendar.
Beginning on the same start/finish straight as its Formula One counterpart, the track takes on the challenging chicane of Turns 1 and 2. The heavy braking zone presents an overtaking opportunity, and allows drivers to go wheel-to-wheel (look back to Taylor Barnard and Jake Hughes last year).
The left-hander of Turn 4 presents another opportunity to drivers. Beware of this corner on Lap 1, though, as it can be a hotspot for incidents, as evidenced by Edoardo Mortara, Max Günther and António Félix da Costa last time out in 2025.
With attack mode along Turn 4, the exit of the corner can also turn into an overtake mode as drivers emerge with extra power from the hairpin. This is also where the track rejoins the F1 layout.
Turns 5, 6 and 7 mark one of the fastest zones on the circuit, with drivers looking to carry momentum into the next section of the circuit. Unlike the F1 circuit, this speed section is bookmarked by two chicanes of Turns 8/9 and Turns 10/11 to slow down the drivers and allow them to lift and coast to save energy.
These chicanes can become another area for incidents on Lap 1, with Nico Müller and Lucas di Grassi coming together in the barriers here in 2025.
The wide left hander of Turn 13 will allow drivers to take multiple racing lines onto the main straight. However, it’s not a straight run to the line; the track is once again split up by two chicanes of Turns 14/15/16 and Turns 17/18/19. Although not too difficult, these chicanes can present more overtaking spots, as Günther showed by his last lap pass on Oliver Rowland in 2025.
Expect plenty of surprises at this weekend’s pair of races on an exciting layout!
Timings for the Jeddah E-Prix weekend
Keeping in mind the conventions of the weekend followed in the region, the race weekend’s activity has been advanced forward by a day.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Free Practice 1: 20:00 - 20:55 local (17:00 - 17:55 GMT)
Friday, February 13, 2026
Free Practice 2: 13:30 - 14:25 local (10:30 - 11:25 GMT)
Qualifying: 15:40 - 16:48 local (12:40 - 13:48 GMT)
Main Race (Round 4): 20:05 - 21:00 local (17:05 - 18:00 GMT)
Saturday, 14 February, 2026
Free Practice 3: 13:30 - 14:25 local (10:30 - 11:25 GMT)
Qualifying: 15:40 - 16:48 local (12:40 - 13:48 GMT)
Main Race (Round 5): 20:05 - 21:00 local (17:05 - 18:00 GMT)
Sunday, 15 February, 2026
Formula E Evo sessions: 12:30 local (15:30 GMT)
Is Pit Boost available this weekend?
It’s a double header, which means Formula E’s famous Pit Boost will make an appearance at the Jeddah E-Prix weekend. As has been the case for the past year of Formula E, Pit Boost will be available to teams and drivers on the first race of the weekend (Round 4). Each driver must make a mandatory pit stop during this race.
But this year’s Pit Boost races will feature a revised format, with only one attack mode activation available to drivers during these races. This will be for a total of six minutes, and it remains mandatory for every driver to use.
The second race of the weekend (Round 5) will feature a return to the regular format, with two attack mode activations totalling eight minutes activated by the driver during the race. This race will not have Pit Boost.
Storylines for the Jeddah E-Prix
Can Dan Ticktum get on the board in 2026? - Three races into Season 12, and it's three DNFs for Ticktum. The Cupra Kiro driver gambled on the track drying in Miami, setting up his car as such for the race. However, the dry track never materialised, leaving Ticktum far behind the field. With the one-time winner running a lap behind, the team opted to call him in and retire the car for the third time in 2026. Jeddah presents two opportunities for Ticktum to put this to bed and see the chequered flag.
Can Mahindra win in Jeddah? - Mahindra had a quieter Miami race as compared to Mexico City, but the combined effort of Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara lifted the Indian team to third in the constructors’ standings. The team showcased strong pace in testing, but has yet to replicate that pace fully. With two opportunities in Jeddah, it remains to be seen if either driver can take that elusive victory for the team.
Big names looking to bounce back - Miami threw up several surprises, with the likes of championship leader Cassidy, São Paulo winner Dennis and reigning champion Rowland missing out on a big result. So too did DS Penske’s Taylor Barnard, who had looked strong through the weekend. The quartet would be looking for a big weekend in Jeddah to bring their seasons back on track.
More action over the weekend: Formula E isn’t just returning to Jeddah for its usual double header. The Evo sessions return for their second iteration, and in a new format for the celebrities to tackle. It’s set to be live-streamed on YouTube, allowing fans to watch along as the stars race each other in a series of duels.
The return of Pit Boost: Pit Boost makes its first appearance of the season at Round 4 in Jeddah. With a year of experience under their belt, teams will now be certain when it comes to bringing Pit Boost into their race strategy, adding to the excitement of Formula E races.
Drivers to watch for the Jeddah E-Prix weekend
Nico Müller: Miami marked Müller’s best weekend of the season for Porsche, the Swiss racer securing pole and later second in the race. His performance headlined a stunning weekend for the team, as teammate Wehrlein joined him on the podium. Müller has also led the most racing laps in 2026, and he will be looking for that first win with Porsche in Jeddah.
Oliver Rowland: The reigning champion started the year with two podiums, but couldn’t build on this heading into Miami. Finishing down in 12th, it was a tough weekend across the board for Rowland and Nissan, who will be looking to bounce back at a venue of prior success in Jeddah.
Taylor Barnard: Jeddah remains one of Barnard’s favourite venues, for he was crowned the youngest pole sitter in the championship here last year. Barnard has shown strong pace through qualifying sessions, even ending up on pole briefly in Mexico. He will be looking to replicate the strong pace around Jeddah this weekend.
Max Günther: It’s been a lukewarm start to the season for one of Formula E’s finest names. Despite scoring sixth in the season opener in São Paulo, Günther will know he has missed out on scoring opportunities in the next two weekends. Returning to a site of former success in Jeddah would spur the German on to score more points this weekend.
How to watch the Jeddah E-Prix
You can watch the Jeddah E-Prix live this weekend, find out here:
Predictions
It’s a double header, and that means two opportunities for drivers to secure victory in Jeddah this weekend. However, that seldom happens in Formula E.
For Round 4, I would predict a first win of the season for reigning champion Oliver Rowland, replicating his heroics from 2025 at the venue, while Cassidy and Müller join him on the podium. For Round 5, I would go in a completely different direction. Edoardo Mortara will secure victory for Mahindra, while Taylor Barnard and Sébastien Buemi make up the second podium of the weekend.
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