Fortescue Zero unveil Pilbara mine-inspired livery for Formula E's Gen4 era; Barnard absent from event
Fortescue Zero unveiled their livery for Formula E's Season 13, the first of the championship's Gen4 era, at a launch event in London on Friday. The event featured several high-profile personalities in Fortescue Zero's set-up, including team principal Jim Wright, CEO of Growth and Energy Gus Pichot, and founder Andrew Forrest.
Preceded by former Williams Formula One team boss Claire Williams, the event saw the trio deliver addresses on Fortescue Zero's journey, accompanied by visuals of the entity's successful run in Formula E playing behind them.
The new Fortescue Zero livery features a lean, mean colour combination of green and black, similar to F1's Sauber livery from 2024 and 2025. Black adorns the body of the car, including its front nose and airbox, and serves as a base shade of the livery.
However, the more defining feature of Fortescue's livery is the electric green adorning the confines of its Gen4 challenger. This is visible across its nose cone and the rear wing, with stripes stretching across the body to outline the design.
The big characteristic Fortescue Zero logo features on the sidepods, but the most exciting part of the team's livery comes in the form of intricate detailing on its livery. According to the team's press release, this detail reveals a hint of the topography of its first major green mine in the Pilbara region.
The wider picture refers to the direction the company is heading: A wider decarbonisation programme linked to its goal of 'Real Zero' by 2030. The mining topography design stretches across its bodywork, a subtle touch referring to Fortescue's wider organisational goal it intends to achieve in the long run.
Additionally, the Fortescue Zero car for Season 13 contains the initials 'AF - FW' beside its front wheels, a hint to company founder Andrew Forrest and Williams F1 founder Sir Frank Williams. Fortescue acquired Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) in 2022, the electric arm of the Williams outfit, later renamed Fortescue Zero. This became the organisation's electric venture, powering Formula E as a technical supplier.
Fortescue Zero has long stated their intentions to bring Formula E technology into their business operations, improve overall efficiency and bring in eco-friendly practices, as stated in the past during their unveiling.
"Fortescue Zero Racing has all the makings of a stellar team,” described Pichot during the reveal. “We’re setting the bar high, backing ourselves and we intend to perform to win.”
“From developing technology behind the scenes in electric racing to taking our place on the grid, racing has always been part of our DNA.
"Now, we're putting our name on the car and our skills to the test and what we learn on track will help us to develop smarter batteries, faster charging and more efficient electric technologies for the real world.”
Team principal Wright echoed the same in his address, but looked ahead to keeping his head down and focusing on the uphill task of getting ready for its maiden Formula E campaign at hand.
“We’re not here to blend in. We’re here to build a team that competes, does things differently and earns its place on the grid.”
“This is the world’s first look at who we are. But the real work is well underway: To be ready, push hard and deliver as a team when we begin running on-circuit next week.”
Fortescue Zero is scheduled to complete a test at Mallory Park in the UK, before jetting off to Madrid for pre-season testing at the Circuito Del Jarama. Wright is eagerly looking ahead to this challenge and taking the team through its first days as a Formula E challenger.
“Launching a new racing outfit is a significant challenge, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting. We have strong foundations, an experienced, talented and highly motivated group and we’re ready to compete,” he concluded.
Dan Ticktum was then presented to the audience during the event. The Briton was announced as a Fortescue Zero driver in October, eagerly looking ahead to bringing his best to the season with his new franchise.
“It’s exciting to be part of building a new team from the ground up, which is something I’ve already experienced doing,” the Briton expressed.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be part of this, and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
“There’s a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes, and everyone’s pushing to make sure we’re in the best possible position when we get on track.”
Barnard not present at Fortescue Zero launch event
In a surprise turn of events, Taylor Barnard was not present at the team's launch event on Friday. Announced as Fortescue Zero's first signing, the 22-year-old is reportedly set to join the new Fusion Formula E Team, relinquishing his seat at Fortescue Zero to do so.
This came about after a sensational shock was revealed on Wednesday morning, first by Formula E Notebook. This detailed how Barnard's management agency, PHM Racing Academy GmbH, had reportedly pulled out of the Fortescue Zero deal, sparking a debacle that is set to continue long into the coming weeks.
This development came about with the recent formation of the Fusion Formula E Team, a deal Barnard's camp had originally looked to head to for the upcoming season. At the time of Barnard's signing, this entity was yet to come to fruition, but came together courtesy of founder Dan Richards and former DS Penske deputy team principal Phil Charles.
It was registered as SAJ Finance Company in the UK in mid-October, with Charles actively recruiting for several engineering roles within the team.
However, Barnard's camp had followed the trail of events and are looking to switch to this outfit, a proposal that has gone down bitterly with Fortescue Zero, who have already finalised a contract with the Briton for the upcoming campaign.
Article 9.2 of the Formula E Sporting Regulations outlines the details under which Barnard is allowed to undertake such a switch of teams before a new season begins, after a contract has been signed.
This rule reads, "Any driver nominated by one competitor, who then wishes to drive for another competitor entered in the championship, must first satisfy the FIA that this is being done with the consent of the original competitor. If there is no such consent, the FIA will decide, at its absolute discretion, whether such a change may be made."
No matter the outcome of the decision, it will leave a sour taste between Barnard's end and Fortescue Zero, even before the team turns a lap in pre-season testing. Should Barnard switch teams and this be approved by the FIA, it will require Fortescue Zero to then find a driver to partner Ticktum for the season.
The turnaround is short for the squad, given Formula E will announce its entry list for Season 13 on November 15, a day before pre-season testing kicks off at Jarama.
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