Silly season and the Gen4 era: How Formula E’s driver market is shaping up for Season 13
- Vyas Ponnuri
- 2 hours ago
- 12 min read
Formula E is coming to the end of its current campaign at the London E-Prix this weekend. With new constructors set to join the grid for Season 13 and the Gen4, the driver market is expected to run strong, with plenty of drivers on course to switch teams for the upcoming campaign.
As always, with the rumour mill delivering, DIVEBOMB takes you through the biggest talking points from Formula E’s annual ‘silly season’ in 2026, and who emerges as the biggest movers.
Mitch Evans to Opel Motorsport
One of the biggest stories in 2026 remains Opel’s upcoming entry into Formula E, aided by their big signing of 2023 Formula 2 champion Théo Pourchaire. The Frenchman, currently racing for Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), will debut in Formula E in 2027.
However, with Opel chasing a balance of experience alongside Pourchaire, several drivers have been under consideration to join the German manufacturer. While Taylor Barnard and Nyck de Vries commenced talks, Mitch Evans has emerged as the front-runner to take the other seat alongside Pourchaire at Opel.
The rumour, which began to take shape early in the year, became more certain with Evans departing Jaguar at the end of the current campaign, after a decade of racing with the Big Cat.
It’s no surprise why Opel are seeking a racer of Evans’ calibre and experience to spearhead their first-ever Formula E campaign. The New Zealander brings plenty of talent to a new environment, and knows what it’s like to fight at the front of the field for victories.
Despite not being able to secure a title, Evans will find himself in the same position as he did in the early days of his Formula E career with Jaguar. And one look can tell how that panned out several years later.
This story has emerged as one of the strongest talking points ahead of the Gen4 era. Stellantis, the parent company of both Citroën and Opel’s Formula E entities, are eyeing Evans’ services to complete the star quartet, alongside the aforementioned Pourchaire, and the continuing duo of Nick Cassidy and Jean-Éric Vergne down at the French outfit.
DIVEBOMB’s verdict: Strong rumour
Stoffel Vandoorne to Jaguar
With Evans ending Formula E’s longest driver-team relationship, Jaguar may not need to look too far away to find a potential successor to the 32-year-old.
Belgian driver Stoffel Vandoorne may just serve as the perfect replacement at the Big Cat for the Gen4 era. Currently serving as the reserve driver at Jaguar, Vandoorne races in the World Endurance Championship for Peugeot this year.
While a long off-season saw him only confirm a Peugeot seat late in the year, Vandoorne’s affirmation at the Jaguar outfit looked certain ever since Ian James took over the reins at the team, leading up to Season 13.
James served as the team principal at the erstwhile Mercedes EQ outfit, with whom Vandoorne won his only Formula E title in Season 8, before the team transitioned to McLaren the following year.
Vandoorne spearheaded Maserati’s final Formula E campaign, with victory in Tokyo in 2025 marking the last time he finished on the podium to date, before his move to Jaguar in a reserve capacity.
However, with Evans leaving, he emerges as the closest like-for-like replacement at Jaguar, bringing championship-winning experience alongside remarkable consistency.
Vandoorne has extensively tested the Gen4 cars in several private tests since November 2025, with the latest Jaguar test at Estoril in August marking his sixth appearance in a Gen4 car. Preparation to be the successor? Perhaps.
DIVEBOMB’s verdict: Strong rumour
Max Günther to Envision Racing
One of the more recent stories emerging from the silly season has been that of DS Penske’s Maximilian Günther. The German is expected to swap black and gold for a shade of green as it heads into the Gen4 era.
While this had not originally been the case, Günther is understood to have charted an alternative course for the upcoming year, even as Penske has yet to unveil its plans for the upcoming Gen4 era, with DS departing Formula E at the end of Season 12.
Penske’s hurdles have emerged in terms of securing a powertrain supplier for the coming season. With Porsche set to supply Kiro and their upcoming second factory unit, Jaguar supplying Envision, and Nissan announcing a deal to supply Andretti with powertrains in the Gen4 era, the options remain slim for the Penske entry.
Mahindra have opted to go solo into the upcoming year, while DS’ departure and Opel’s arrival rule out any re-alliance with Stellantis for the Gen4 era.
Talks between Günther and Envision accelerated at the same time as the incumbent Sébastien Buemi’s conflict between Formula E and his WEC campaign with Toyota.
Despite Formula E bringing Monaco forward by two weeks to avoid an overlap of dates, Buemi is expected miss the Shanghai double header in July, given its clash with the 6 Hours of São Paulo. As such, despite a multi-year contract signed at the beginning of 2025, Envision are in talks to find an arrangement for the upcoming campaign.
Günther recently tested the Jaguar Gen4 prototype in a private test at Estoril. With his entry, three drivers are now in the race for two seats, alongside Season 12 rookie Joel Eriksson. But a late twist in the tale has seen a fourth figure enter this conversation, from within the Envision camp.....
DIVEBOMB’s verdict: Strong rumour
Zak O'Sullivan to Envision Racing
The entry of Envision reserve Zak O'Sullivan into the team's race for two full-time seats now makes it a good selection headache to have for the team in green.
A seasoned figure now in Formula E circles, the Briton has served as Envision's Formula E reserve ever since he departed Formula 2 at the end of 2024. Rookie appearances in Jeddah and Berlin in Season 11, and further returns in Miami and Jarama in 2026 have further enhanced his prospects down at the team.
O'Sullivan currently competes in Super Formula for the Impul outfit, and recently scored a podium in Fuji. While he currently sits 10th in the standings with two more weekends to go, he was also recently involved in Jaguar's private Gen4 test in Estoril, a week prior to his recent weekend at the SUGO venue.
This also marked O'Sullivan's first test in a Gen4-spec car, with Envision also considering him a prospect to take over one of their full-time seats in the upcoming season. It's not unusual for teams to hand out testing opportunities to reserves, but Envision certainly value O'Sullivan's stock much higher today.
The British driver has emerged as a strong prospect during his junior racing years, finishing second in Formula 3 in 2023, before pulling off a shock victory in Monaco's Feature Race after a late strategy call. A Formula E debut hasn't followed yet, but with Buemi's commitments in the WEC, the time isn't too far away for an officlal first appearance in the championship.
Envision do love to nurture future talents through reserve and simulator roles, with Eriksson stepping up to a full-time seat after years on the sidelines. O'Sullivan is certainly following the same trajectory, and certainly adds rookie intrigue to a trio of veteran Formula E figures competing for a seat at the team in green.
DIVEBOMB Verdict: Rumour
Robert Shwartzman to Lola Yamaha
With Lucas di Grassi departing Lola Yamaha ABT and calling time on his Formula E career after the London E-Prix, questions have ranged around the Brazilian’s successor.
While Zane Maloney is expected to continue, two rookie drivers have emerged in contention to join and aid Lola’s growth going into Season 13. One of those figures is 2025 Indy 500 pole-sitter Robert Shwartzman.
The 2019 Formula 3 champion and 2021 F2 runner-up has experienced a whirlwind journey, driving the No. 83 Ferrari hypercar in 2024 apart from dovetailing this with regular Free Practice 1 appearances for Ferrari’s Formula 1 outfit.
The trip stateside proved historic, though, with the aforementioned rookie pole in PREMA Racing’s maiden IndyCar campaign. Yet, despite his success, Shwartzman did not secure a spot on the grid for 2026, the Italian team cutting short their campaign stateside after a lack of funding and internal restructuring.
As such, the youngster, who has driven in rookie appearances for DS Penske in the past, has emerged as a front-runner for the Lola seat, due to his success elsewhere in motorsport and past interactions in the championship.
Yet, this rumour has still run under the carpet. With Pourchaire expected to fulfil his Formula E campaign for Opel, Shwartzman’s name has entered the rounds for a return to the top class of endurance racing since 2024.
It will be interesting to see where he goes next year. But Lola do have the option to turn elsewhere if Shwartzman’s Stellantis commitments come through……
DIVEBOMB’s verdict: Likely
Richard Verschoor to Lola Yamaha
Alongside Shwartzman, Richard Verschoor has emerged as another contender in the running for a seat at Lola for Season 13. The Dutchman graduated from F2 in 2025, finishing third for MP Motorsport after a career-best campaign that reaped four victories.
Verschoor is well known within the Lola camp, having completed the Madrid Rookie Test earlier in March. He completed the morning session with a solid ninth in the classification, before wrapping up the day’s running in 11th in the afternoon.
The 25-year-old has been actively seeking opportunities in the Formula E paddock, and it’s no surprise why he remains in the running for a Lola seat. A consistent performer during his F2 days, Verschoor’s final season with MP Motorsport delivered a true marker of the talent at his disposal.
However, being a part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, he is in the running for a spot at McLaren’s upcoming hypercar entry. It becomes an arrangement he must look to sort out, if signed alongside former F2 rival Maloney in Lola’s Formula E outfit.
Verschoor currently races for the Duqueine outfit in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), and aims for a path to keep in touch with single-seaters and endurance racing as he goes into the future.
DIVEBOMB’s verdict: Likely
Victor Martins to Nissan
French racer Victor Martins has emerged in the running for a Formula E seat heading into the Gen4 era at Nissan. Martins is expected to be a straight swap at the Japanese outfit for Norman Nato, whose performances have been well adrift of teammate Oliver Rowland since his return to Nissan in Season 11.
Nato has managed a best finish of fifth in his two campaigns, scoring a total of 21 points in Season 11 and 19 so far in Season 12, through a factor of poor luck and being unable to match champion teammate Rowland’s pace over a season.
While Nissan retained the same line-up heading into the current season, the think tank at Nissan’s bases in Paris and Tokyo may have hinted at a driver change ahead of the Gen4 era, a new dawn for the franchise.
Martins has remained an integral figure in this plan; the young Frenchman is currently piloting Alpine’s No. 36 hypercar in their final campaign in endurance’s top class. Now without a drive for the upcoming campaign, a switch to Nissan definitely marks a way forward for Martins next year.
The former F2 race-winner took part in the Madrid Rookie Test for Nissan alongside Rookie and Simulator driver Abbi Pulling. Martins set the fourth-quickest time in the afternoon session, improving on his 11th-place finish from the morning session and impressing the team with his runs.
Martins recently got his first taste of the Gen4 machine at a private test in Navarra in June, and remains the front-runner to take the seat alongside Rowland for next season.
The Frenchman has certainly impressed across disciplines, having qualified consistently towards the front of the field during his F2 days, a trait he will look to carry into the all-electric championship.
DIVEBOMB’s verdict: Strong Rumour
Ayhancan Güven to Porsche’s second factory team (or Cupra Kiro)
DTM champion Ayhancan Güven has emerged as a central figure in Formula E’s driver market for the upcoming season.
The Turkish driver, the reigning DTM champion, has been a regular figure in Porsche’s rookie appearances, taking part in the Rookie Free Practice in Miami and the Madrid Rookie Test later on. However, Porsche are aiming to find a spot for the man currently driving the No. 91 Manthey Porsche in WEC in 2026.
With Porsche set to bring in a second factory team for next season, a prime contender to take the seat at the team is Güven. A fierce racer, the Turkish driver is best known for that daring last-lap lunge at the Sachs curve that won him the DTM title in 2025.
Despite extensive Formula E testing experience, Güven currently sits on six super licence points thanks to his DTM success, and is chasing a further nine points to obtain an e-licence. Having covered over 100 km of running in rookie appearances in Berlin in Season 11 and later at Miami and Madrid in Season 12, the Turkish driver now needs only 15 points for his e-licence, as compared to 20 otherwise.
Finishing second overall in WEC’s LMGT3 class will earn Güven a total of 10 super licence points, enough to earn the crucial e-licence to take part in Formula E next year. However, the No. 91 entry only sits 14th in the standings at the halfway point in 2026.
Güven’s season is being closely monitored by Porsche, who are looking to fast-track him into Formula E for the Gen4 era in their second factory entry. However, should this project not materialise for Season 13, Güven can find himself in the hunt for a seat at Porsche-powered Cupra Kiro, taking over the seat currently held by Dan Ticktum for 2027.
As such, it remains to be seen how this decision will be made at Porsche and Cupra Kiro for Season 13, later into the year.
DIVEBOMB’s verdict: Strong Rumour
Dan Ticktum to Porsche’s second factory team (or stay at Cupra Kiro)
With Güven high on Porsche’s radar for a Formula E seat, the spotlight falls on Ticktum, who has endured a painful season with poor luck throughout the season.
Despite his stellar lunge on Jake Dennis in a last-corner, last-lap move to win in Tokyo, the Briton only sits 15th in the standings, eight adrift of rookie teammate Pepe Martí, who has experienced a stellar campaign so far.
A combination of reliability concerns and incidents have hurt Ticktum’s campaign. He hadn’t converted a duels appearance into a points score until his Tokyo heroics. Being an unlucky third party in São Paulo and Mexico cost him vital points, while a 33-second penalty for his incident with da Costa in Monaco dropped him out of a podium.
Reliability concerns in Round 7 in Berlin ruled out more points for Ticktum. Apart from his struggles on track, the British driver has received two official reprimands from Cupra Kiro during the season, apart from a fine for not completing his media duties in Monaco.
While Cupra Kiro’s natural aim is to to retain the man who brought about the team’s restructuring in 2024, a recent exclusive by DIVEBOMB revealed Ticktum was still not assured of a seat at the team for 2026. “I don't have a seat currently. It's been a bit tricky with my team, but I have interest from elsewhere,” he expressed, speaking at the recently concluded Goodwood Festival of Speed.
But where does Ticktum go for next year? The top Porsche and Jaguar squads are expected to lock out their squads for next year, while Mahindra too look set to continue with their existing pairing of Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara.
Andretti, Opel and Citroën have filled up their driver roster, while Envision are looking to sign two out of three options available for next season.
Ticktum’s biggest option remains a fresh deal with his team heading into the Gen4 era, or to spearhead Porsche’s upcoming second factory team. Even if a step down, it can serve as an opportunity to build a new entity using his experience of racing in the championship.
Driving under the Porsche factory setup can open up for a promotion to the current works team in the future, if things do indeed fall Ticktum’s way in the coming years.
Despite the current uncertainty around his Formula E future, there’s no doubt Ticktum is set to be in long discussions with all interested parties as he prepares to race the Gen4 car next season.
DIVEBOMB’s verdict: Strong Rumour
The curious case of Taylor Barnard: Where does he go?
Amidst all the silly season chatter, one name may just be left searching for a seat for next year’s Gen4 era as the months tick down. That name is DS Penske’s Taylor Barnard.
With little information revealed on Penske’s Gen4 plans, Barnard’s camp has been in talks elsewhere for any opportunities. Initial talks with Opel have died down, with the German team set to bring Evans into their fold for next season.
Any thoughts of heading to Jaguar or its customers Envision Racing look to have been quelled, with both Vandoorne and teammate Günther already looking towards both entries for a seat in Season 13.
Will a last-gasp attempt come through with Lola Yamaha for next season? The thought of moving over does make sense, with the team seeking a new face to take over from di Grassi heading into Season 13.
Barnard’s breakout in Season 11 and his steady consolidation amid a difficult current season in 2026 might certainly give Lola some interest, and the Briton’s prowess will definitely help the team launch themselves into the midfield more often.
However, if Lola has already penned a contract with one of the rookies in contention for next season, then Barnard may end up playing the waiting game and looking to Penske to find a solution and bring their Gen4 entry together for the coming season.
Other rumours around the grid
Former MP Motorsport F3 driver Tim Tramnitz remained in contention for a seat at Opel in Season 13. While the German connection between team and driver enabled initial talks, Tramnitz’s signing with BMW’s sports car outfit ended the chances of him moving over to Formula E for the Gen4 era.
Mahindra look set to continue with their current pairing of Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara heading into Season 13, unless any sudden decision requires them to pivot and change their driver line-up. De Vries was another figure in initial talks to join Opel, before Evans emerged as a stronger option for the team.
However, should either driver depart the team, Mahindra do have their full-time reserve in Kush Maini as an option. The Indian driver currently sits sixth in the F2 championship in 2026, his best campaign in the series so far.
Jake Hughes, who joined the Banbury-based manufacturer, is another contender, having shaken down Mahindra’s first Gen4 prototype at the Abingdon airbase recently.
Andretti have already confirmed their line-up of Jake Dennis and Felipe Drugovich for Season 13, the first time the American outfit has retained their line-up for a second successive year.
Formula E’s silly season has always delivered plenty of surprises and twists, and there is no doubt the upcoming two months will bring plenty to look forward to, as teams accelerate talks and pen contracts heading into the upcoming campaign.
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