Silly season and the 2026 Formula E grid: All you need to know

Written by Vyas Ponnuri

Formula E’s silly season has officially kicked into gear, with drivers looking to either hold on to their race seats or make moves elsewhere, in search of newer avenues. With the first move already played in an intricate chess game, DIVEBOMB takes you through all you need to keep an eye on, ahead of the upcoming Formula E campaign….

Cassidy took Jaguar's latest victory in Berlin | Credit: Anna Knaak

Nick Cassidy leaves Jaguar after two seasons

The first move has already been played in this game of chess, with Jaguar and Nick Cassidy parting ways at the end of Season 11. The move had gained intense speculation for long, with Cassidy expected to swap his Jaguar overalls for a Stellantis-powered drive in 2026. Thus, the news of his departure from the Big Cat didn’t ring many alarm bells in the paddock. 

Cassidy’s assurance in the Jaguar set-up began to drop early in 2025, the New Zealander remaining ‘unsure’ of the team’s progress in the season. Jaguar, who had undergone a torrid start as compared to their lofty, title-challenging standards, found themselves marooned towards the rear of the field. 

Cassidy himself hadn’t found his way into the points until Round 4 in Jeddah, when he scored a strong fifth. His first podium came in a race of changeable conditions in Monaco, when Cassidy benefitted from taking attack mode later in the race to finish third. 

Despite the Shanghai and Berlin weekends yielding plenty of success for the team from Kidlington, Cassidy looked all set to depart the team ahead of 2026. Departures of long-time figures such as technical manager Phil Charles and team principal James Barclay may have played on his mind. 

The nearlyman in the drivers’ standings twice in a row, Cassidy’s comfortable championship lead slipping away in 2024, may have also affected his decision. With Jaguar’s Gen3 Evo package unable to match up to the Porsche and Nissan powertrains, it has certainly forced one of Formula E’s big names to put himself into the shopping window for Season 12. 

Status - Confirmed

Nick Cassidy to head to Stellantis for 2026

The current Maserati outfit is certainly on Cassidy's radar for 2026 | Credit: Ryan Fleming

Much has been spoken about the dynamic Stellantis will be dealing with, heading into the off-season after the 2025 London E-Prix. Instability over the future of the incumbent Maserati outfit, and a failed buyout plan during the season, have necessitated a potential switch within the Stellantis conglomerate. 

While DS Penske’s boat appears to be in more stable waters as compared to the Maserati, there’s no doubt both their futures look uncertain heading into the Gen4 era. The likes of Opel, and most recently Citroën, have been heavily linked with a takeover of the current team donning dark blue on the Formula E grid. 

Alongside the revamped takeover plan is a potential move to bring in one of Formula E’s most consistent drivers in the past two seasons. Cassidy’s regularity in scoring big points, coupled with his ability to drive smartly and patiently, has often resulted in some of the biggest comeback drives in the series. 

Most notably, the man from New Zealand scored points twice in Berlin, starting from 21st on the grid to finish fifth in Round 13, while he scored an improbable race victory in Round 14 the following day. 

Cassidy’s presence would be indispensable at the outfit, one that has experienced high turnover rates in their short-lived campaign. The Monaco-owned, Italian marque has cycled through five drivers in three seasons, their best haul coming in Season 9 with 140 points and sixth in the standings.  

Should Maserati continue on the grid into 2026, or rebrand into a new outfit, there’s no doubt a driver of Cassidy’s stature would lend a sense of stability and consistency within the Stellantis fold. Another major draw for Cassidy can be a potential endurance drive with Peugeot, giving him a shot at racing in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans in the future. 

Status - Unconfirmed, but highly likely

Taylor Barnard to move to DS Penske 

Barnard could be set to swap papaya for black and gold in 2026 | Credit: Ryan Fleming

The departure of the McLaren Formula E outfit, and subsequent inability to find a new buyer ahead of the 2025-26 Formula E season, leaves the current all-British pairing of Taylor Barnard and Sam Bird without a drive for 2026. 

While the latter, a veteran, is potentially expected to move to the Woking outfit’s hypercar set-up ahead of their endurance debut in 2027, rookie Barnard’s future looks certain in the all-electric racing series. If recent reports are to stand true, the man from Norwich has turned down IndyCar and endurance contracts to stay in the Formula E fold.  

A potential reason for this could be a move opening up to head into the DS Penske fold for 2026. Recent sources revealed a multi-year contract already signed with the black-and-gold outfit to bring on the British youngster into the team’s stable. 

It’s a move that makes plenty of sense for both parties. Barnard has fared strongly on his way to becoming the highest podium holder for McLaren in their Formula E career. In a season featuring five podiums and several records, Barnard could potentially finish as high as second, behind his protege and recently crowned Formula E champion Oliver Rowland. 

DS Penske would also gain the rare chance to snap up one of the series’ hottest emerging stars heading into 2026, with the team seemingly appeared to have turned a corner in Season 11. A rookie with a high ceiling, coupled with an established name in the championship, makes for a match made in heaven for both team and driver. 

Not to forget potential opportunities opening up for Barnard to dabble with an endurance racing drive in the future, as an add-on with the Stellantis fold. 

Status - Unconfirmed, but highly likely

The Jean-Éric Vergne conundrum: Where does Formula E’s most successful driver go next?

Have we seen the last of Vergne in black and gold? | Credit: Anna Knaak

With Barnard and Cassidy’s names being thrown into the ring, it creates a case of six drivers potentially in the race for four Stellantis seats. It opens up a question: Where does Formula E’s most successful driver go next?

While Barnard’s name gets thrown into the ring, and teammate Maximilian Günther has a multi-year contract with the Stellantis name, it certainly raises questions about whether Jean-Éric Vergne would even remain on the Formula E grid heading into 2026. 

Two Formula E championships put him in rare territory, but Vergne hasn’t won a race since the Hyderabad E-Prix in 2023, despite being a consistent force across the Gen3 era and finishing in the top five in both completed seasons. 

While a potential option at the team replacing McLaren on the Formula E grid has now disappeared, another option remains, joining Cassidy and remaining within the Stellantis fold, at the current Maserati outfit. 

It certainly remains a go-to option for Vergne, who would form a strong pairing alongside the New Zealander. Should it come down to a shootout between the Frenchman and his former teammate Stoffel Vandoorne, you could expect Vergne to get the nod, given his latest Formula E campaigns and the two championships to his name in the series. 

Status: Unconfirmed, likely to happen

Is the Big Cat the next stop for Vandoorne?

Could Vandoorne be heading to Jaguar in 2026? | Credit: Ryan Fleming

With Cassidy firmly in the conversation for a seat in the Stellantis fold, and the aforementioned names of Barnard and Günther all set to confirm their places, it leaves the likes of Stoffel Vandoorne, Vergne and Jake Hughes all scrapping for one seat among the four. 

As we’ve mentioned earlier, Vergne remains a front runner to secure a Stellantis seat, which leaves Vandoorne evaluating his options, should an extension with his current team not materialise. 

An option for the Belgian would be to enact a direct swap with Cassidy and take over his old seat at Jaguar, teaming up alongside Mitch Evans. It’s a move that suits both parties too, with Vandoorne a proven Formula E champion and a consistent force to have on any team, despite his slightly poorer track record in the Gen3 era. 

Vandoorne’s championship-winning experience would also rub off on Evans, who can benefit from having a former champion around him in the stable. With McLaren team principal and former Mercedes EQ team principal Ian James potentially expected to move to the Big Cat, it’s a driver-team bond reunited for the first time since Vandoorne’s championship win in 2022. 

Although his bid to join Jaguar stands strong, Vandoorne will have to fend off competition from the likes of António Félix da Costa, who has potentially been rumoured to move away from a Porsche drive in recent times. 

Status: Unconfirmed, likely to happen

The tale of Jake Hughes: Will he stay on the grid?

Could Hughes potentially have to wait until late to confirm his 2026 seat? | Credit: Ryan Fleming

 With the Stellantis merry-go-round featuring several big names, Vandoorne’s current teammate, Jake Hughes, finds himself at crossroads and at most risk of losing his seat within the Stellantis camp. Now into his third season, Hughes hasn’t encountered a successful campaign, scoring points only twice since his early-season haul in Jeddah. 

Even if Hughes has a successful final two weekends, it could still become an uphill climb to secure a seat on the grid in 2026. His best chances could emerge at the Jaguar seat, should the British outfit see him as a possible candidate to replace the outgoing Cassidy. 

Should that not materialise, Hughes could find himself waiting and watching to see how the Cupra Kiro or Andretti seats play out. With Porsche reserve David Beckmann unable to open his points tally in 2025, and a far shadow of his more illustrious race-winning teammate, it opens up an opportunity for Hughes, a more proven face on the grid, to seize at the Porsche customer team. 

Hughes certainly gets along with Ticktum, and the duo would form a strong pairing to assist Cupra Kiro in their rise up the order. 

Status - Unconfirmed, likely to happen 

The Nico Müller case: Will he stay at Andretti into 2026?

Will Müller move elsewhere or stay put at Andretti? | Credit: Ryan Fleming

Hughes would certainly keep his eye on Andretti heading into 2026, especially given the incumbent Müller’s seat hasn’t yet been confirmed. The Swissman, who has been tracked by Porsche and brought into their driver programme, has been speculated to replace da Costa at the works team in 2026. 

However, the opportunity to jump into the seat next to Wehrlein remains an uncertainty, with the German manufacturer yet to decide who takes the seat alongside the 2024 champion. 

Should the Porsche opportunity not amount to fruition, Müller has a chance at remaining at Andretti, alongside Jake Dennis. After all, his points haul of 48 points remains the highest among the quartet of Dennis’ teammates in the past four campaigns. 

However, there remains speculation of Andretti potentially switching to Nissan powertrains for the Gen4 era, as reported recently by The Race. Should Andretti choose to groom a youngster such as Jak Crawford instead, and prepare for the transition into Gen4, it could leave Müller out of a race seat, given his close ties to the Porsche stable. 

In such a case, a move to Cupra Kiro could emerge, with Porsche potentially expected to place the current Andretti man alongside a resurgent Ticktum. 

Status: Certainty, either at Cupra Kiro or Andretti

Who partners Oliver Rowland for 2026?

Will Nato remain at Nissan into 2026? | Credit: Ryan Fleming

It’s all smiles down at Nissan, with Oliver Rowland currently celebrating being crowned Formula E champion with a 59-point margin heading into London. However, it’s been a Rowland show down at the Japanese marque, with the Briton scoring 184 of the team’s 205 points. 

Teammate Norman Nato hasn’t quite experienced the same level of consistency, scoring one pole position in Miami, while a brace of sixth position finishes in Miami and Shanghai mean he sits 19th in the standings, with 19 points to his name. 

With both Porsche drivers scoring consistently all the way across the season, it leaves Nissan chasing down the German marque in the constructors’ and manufacturers’ championship, sitting 23 points adrift in the former. 

Should Nissan not choose to renew with Nato heading into 2026, they would most likely be looking into their talent pool of youngsters, with Alpine junior Gabriele Minì and Formula 2 championship leader Richard Verschoor certainly on their radar. 

However, an ideal option would be to put more faith in Nato, an experienced head, hoping a second season helps him unlock the full potential down at Nissan. While Andretti’s Jake Dennis has been thrown into the race for a potential Nissan seat, his chances look unlikely, given the Briton still has a year left on his contract with the American outfit.