What can Fortescue Zero’s fast and fiery all-British line-up bring to Formula E’s Gen4 era?
“We are building a new team with serious ambitions.”
Fortescue Zero’s team principal Jim Wright has been candid in his outlook for Formula E’s upcoming Gen4 era. The championship’s long-standing technical partner will now undertake a new journey.
One that will certainly bring more eyeballs to their entry, with the aggressive signing of the series’ effervescent entertainer, Dan Ticktum, alongside the already-announced Taylor Barnard.
It sets up a tantalising prospect for the Formula E community and the wider motorsport world, with two hungry British drivers at the top of their careers in the championship, scrapping for bragging rights and the numero uno status at a new team.
Fortescue Zero’s plans to make a grand entrance onto the Formula E grid are well known. The first Australian-owned team on the grid, they pulled this off in an exciting trailer video and sleek graphics, after acquiring the remains of the erstwhile DS Penske outfit.
DIVEBOMB had reported on the team’s entry into Formula E earlier, and its desire to bring a unique perspective to Formula E by working towards its Real Zero goals. It certainly marked an unusual trajectory to the grid, with Fortescue known more for owning a range of mining ores in Australia for over two decades.
When most manufacturers looked to utilise Formula E as a space to harness technologies for their future road cars, Fortescue have looked at the championship as a larger opportunity to advance the technology used to power their transportation and mining equipment, and enhance their high-performance precision machinery used outside the championship.
Fortescue Zero acquired the erstwhile Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) arm in 2022, the battery supplier to the championship for its Gen1 and Gen3 eras. The company has also supplied the Pit Boost chargers for Formula E since Season 10.
But the company’s goals have reached far beyond remaining a technical partner in one of motorsport’s fastest-growing environments. An ever-growing desire to become a part of something special has always been on the cards, and Formula E’s Gen4 era has served as the perfect opportunity to officially join the grid.
“Progressing from the pit lane to the grid is the next chapter in our motorsports story. We’re here to race, to win and to innovate,” read a bold statement of intent from the team, highlighting this desire to involve themselves more deeply in the sport.
Fortescue Zero took over the outgoing DS Penske outfit, after the future of this entity remained largely at stake ever since DS Automobiles announced its decision to depart Formula E at the end of Season 12.
Only days after their announcement to join the grid, Fortescue Zero appointed Jim Wright as their team principal. With four decades of experience across Formula One and Formula E, Wright’s established stature in the sport leaves Fortescue Zero with an important figure as their Formula E entry navigates the initial steps.
Wright’s primary goal was to ensure Fortescue Zero made it to pre-season testing in Jarama with two Jaguar-powered Gen4 machines. But before that, he faced another task at hand: Signing two drivers capable of taking the team forward in the Gen4 era.
The young hotshot continues: Barnard joins Fortescue Zero
Even as Formula E’s grid fortified for the upcoming campaign, and drivers looked to pen fresh deals for the Gen4 era, Taylor Barnard was one driver whose name had not flashed up on many rosters.
The young Briton had undoubtedly looked to firm up his future, and may have remained in the fray for talks at any team, given the vast talent and proven track record he brought to the table. However, even as the grid approached the season finale in London, Barnard hadn’t penned a fresh deal for the upcoming season.
DS Penske teammate Max Günther had already acknowledged the uncertainty around the Penske entry’s future, moving to Envision Racing for the Gen4 era. Barnard also highlighted the high costs of motorsport on the eve of Formula E’s London weekend, telling the BBC that talent alone wasn’t enough to secure a spot on the grid.
Barnard had already shattered several records, and ensured he broke another with a special drive to take victory on home turf. Key to this result was a late pass on race leader Nyck de Vries, executed with aplomb into the final corner in a way that made pundits stand up and applaud.
But was it too little too late for Formula E’s hotshot? Heading into the off-season, it certainly panned out as a difficult wait for Barnard. The number of options available, unofficially at least, had thinned out. Several top teams had already confirmed their driver pairings for the Gen4 era, and so had newcomer Opel, with Mitch Evans joining Théo Pourchaire.
Barnard’s options lay between a Lola team transitioning into a new era, the Porsche customer team that wasn’t a certainty back at the end of August, or awaiting the future of the Penske squad. The latter option, though, became more viable with Fortescue Zero reportedly looking for an entry onto the Formula E grid.
Even as the deal had been completed, it was no secret that Barnard was the front-runner to take the seat at the team. There was little doubt when team principal Wright looked into the driver market for the best possible signing available to him.
“Taylor is exactly the kind of driver a new team wants to build around,” Wright said, speaking on the announcement of signing Barnard’s services for the Gen4 era.
And there was little doubt about this; the Briton has already been a part of two Formula E squads, and showcased stellar pace in both seasons. If Season 11 had brought a breakthrough campaign with silverware, Season 12 had been all about building on this experience and maximising the best out of a difficult campaign.
Wright has been quick to take note of Barnard’s achievements over a short span of time in his Formula E career, noticing the consistent drive he has shown to be quick even in the face of adversity.
“Barnard is young, hungry and has a huge amount of potential. Just as importantly, he understands how to work with engineers and extract every bit of performance and efficiency from the car."
Barnard’s season with DS Penske in 2026 has been a perfect example of extracting everything from a Formula E machine. Success has been harder to come by, but Barnard never lost his speed during the season.
The Briton made it to the duels stage 11 times in 17 qualifying rounds last season, ending up on the losing side of a final as many as three times. For a driver of Barnard’s calibre, who had secured two poles and the accolade of Formula E’s youngest pole position, he had nearly doubled this count from his maiden season, marking a stronger step forward.
Barnard also scored points 11 times all season, another step up from his nine points scored in Season 11. But a more important reading from his trajectory in Season 12 showcases his consistency: Barnard never went two races in a row without points all season.
It’s no secret why Wright, much like the Formula E paddock, rates him so highly and is delighted to retain his services for Season 13. For Barnard, this serves as an opportunity to be a part of a unique project and be a crucial figure in shaping the team’s direction for the Gen4 era.
“This is a new team with a huge amount of ambition, and I want to help turn that ambition into results on the track,” Barnard had mentioned when signing for the team earlier in October.
“We know there is a lot of hard work ahead, but that is exactly what makes this opportunity so exciting. I can’t wait to get started,” Barnard continued, looking at the road ahead.
Fortescue Zero may have already secured one of the biggest names in the series today, but Wright, ambitious in his project, was not done yet. And when the opportunity to sign up Formula E’s most viral name came up, he needed no second invitation in doing so.
Dan Ticktum: The formidable other half of the Fortescue Zero line-up
Formula E’s driver market has borne unpredictability in some force in the lead-up to the Gen4 era. While Evans had emerged as one storyline to follow early on, Ticktum’s future emerged as a bigger talking point heading into the off-season.
For the first time in his Formula E career, he had to spend much of the off-season shopping for a spot elsewhere on the grid. The odds of securing a seat at former employer Cupra Kiro had grown slim, in light of preceding events earlier in the season.
Ticktum is known to be one of Formula E’s more outspoken figures, and had been viral for the stewarding decisions during Season 12. His outburst at Mexico City brought one formal reprimand from his team, after discussions with team principal Russell O’Hagan and Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds.
The second of these instances came during the Monaco E-Prix in May. Ticktum, fighting for a podium, moved left to defend from the chasing António Félix da Costa. A misjudgement caused heavy contact between the duo at the Nouvelle chicane, eventually leading to a drive-through penalty for Ticktum.
As he was unable to serve this penalty in the closing stages, it was converted into a 33-second time penalty, costing Ticktum his first podium appearance of the season. The Briton, undoubtedly furious with the decision, left the track early and skipped his media duties for the event.
This cost him a second reprimand from Cupra Kiro, and the possibility of a race ban was even floated on the sidelines. Despite the team not pushing for such a measure, it was clear to see Ticktum and Cupra Kiro hadn’t quite spoken on a future deal yet.
"I don't have a seat currently. It's been a bit tricky with my team, but I have interest from elsewhere,” Ticktum said, speaking to DIVEBOMB during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
And alongside Cupra Kiro, he had juggled three further offers over the course of the off-season. A private test with Lola at Guadix in late August had amounted to discussions and talks of a seat at the team.
Ticktum had also been in the running for a seat at Porsche’s upcoming customer team, Fusion, with whom he had competed in a karting shootout earlier. The third of the options outside his team was Fortescue Zero.
At the time, Lola had been a front-runner to secure his services. But over time, as Ticktum and his father David, also his manager, explored options, the offer put forward by Fortescue Zero proved convincing enough to bring about a deal.
The bold ambitions unveiled to him by team principal Wright and Fortescue Zero’s desire to build a legacy stood out from the off. Powered by the title-winning Jaguar powertrains, the entry had all the potential of becoming a dark horse in the coming campaign.
“What I love about Fortescue Zero Racing is that they want to do things differently,” Ticktum described, on signing his new deal for the Gen4 era.
“To get to race and represent Fortescue Zero Racing in its first season is a huge honour. Getting to be part of building a team from scratch is exciting, especially one that’s got a long history of competing and winning.”
Ticktum will be a part of the team’s unique journey, building on from a technical supplier to becoming part of an exciting project for the Gen4 era. The desire to constantly fight at the front of the field and capitalise on the opportunities is what appeals to team principal Wright.
“We want that hunger in our garage, matched with the discipline and teamwork needed to deliver results. Dan brings experience, strength and a winning personality to the team,” Wright described, eager to work with the British driver for the Gen4 era.
“Dan (Ticktum) has a reputation for being incredibly quick and racing hard. As a new team, we have a lot to prove, and together we can all show what Fortescue Zero Racing can do.”
This desire to unlock the true pace has spurred Ticktum on in his new story with Fortescue Zero, coupled with the pent-up frustration from the missed opportunities, and the factors beyond his control that cost him several points-scoring opportunities in Season 12.
Ticktum started the season with three consecutive DNF’s, with two being as a consequence of getting caught up as a bystander in incidents.
He cleared this torrid run and scored points in Jeddah and Madrid, with two top-fives to build his campaign. But the familiar woes returned. A technical fault cost him a podium in Berlin, before the pair of Monaco races brought little to cheer, despite two pole positions for the weekend.
Ticktum was also caught up in an incident in Sanya, failing to score points from the weekend once again despite making it to the duels. A similar fate followed in Shanghai as he was caught out on a wetter track on both occasions.
The repeated misses from all the duel appearances in qualifying played on Ticktum. Despite an unlikely win in Tokyo, the Briton converted only two top-eight starts into points all season, highlighting the scale of missed opportunities and what could have been.
But all through a career that has involved driving difficult machinery, Ticktum has never lost sight of his desire to be right at the forefront. The dismay in his voice has always been evident after a non-finish, while he has also been the first to showcase his joy after a big result.
His experience and stories of building Cupra Kiro from the ground up come as a useful asset for Fortescue Zero in the lead-up to a first Formula E campaign. Fortescue’s decision was also accelerated by the fewer names with prior experience in the championship.
The squad had been looking at several options, including Envision’s axed duo of Joel Eriksson and Sébastien Buemi, with prior connections to powertrain supplier Jaguar. Outside these names lay the prospect of fielding a rookie for the Gen4 era.
But few could offer such versatility and speed as Ticktum brought to the team. At 27, Ticktum is also on the younger side of the grid and can offer the prospect of being on the team’s vision board for the longer term.
It all serves up an exciting prospect for the Gen4 era, accelerated by a prior face-off between the British duo that can hang over their maiden campaign as teammates.
Fast and fiery: The prospects of Ticktum and Barnard as teammates
On track, Fortescue Zero have secured two hungry Formula E talents on their roster. Both drivers have plenty of racing years ahead and are yet to hit top gear in their careers.
Barnard has emerged as a brilliant overtaker and has taken to Formula E effortlessly. Prime evidence are moves on da Costa in Tokyo and de Vries in London helped him claim the race lead both times. Having surmounted the landmark of a first victory, he will be itching to build on this success and stamp his legacy at Fortescue Zero as the top dog.
But Ticktum, on the other hand, has been the hard charger many have known over the years, as a driver who never gives up, no matter the odds or the machinery he drives. Persevering through difficult years has given way to remarkable moments of success, such as a maiden win in Jakarta in Season 11, or the Tokyo win at the end of a tough spell of form in Season 12.
Both drivers know what it takes to nail a qualifying lap, with repeat duel appearances in Season 12. Through their journeys in the championship, you can put them as two of the biggest prospects to look out for as Formula E takes to a new dawn in the Gen4 era.
But what can happen when you put two fiery young names on the same side of the garage?An unyielding desire to come out on top, and the prospect of two hungry young talents battling on the same team will certainly generate plenty of eyeballs for a new Fortescue Zero side.
Both drivers may bring plenty of success to the team, but sparks may fly if they find themselves in each other’s way. A past rivalry between the two could certainly, in all likelihood, take a new direction.
The championship’s latest documentary, Formula E: Driver, captures their tussle as one of its main talking points in Season 2. Barnard’s aggressive defence on Ticktum during the Shanghai E-Prix in Round 10 forced his countryman wide at Turn 1, before contact on the final lap broke Ticktum’s front wing.
At the time, Ticktum was quick to call Barnard’s manoeuvre a ‘reckless’ move, with Barnard then responding, “I don’t take what he says in interviews too seriously.”
The duo, who slugged it out in a duel in qualifying at Jakarta, saw Barnard make it through to the semi-final by five milliseconds. An angry Ticktum then referred to the McLaren man as a “f***ing annoying little kid”.
Barnard, on the other hand, added, "I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to win, and that's the way it's always been."
A year on, it remains to be seen how the two personalities unite under one roof as teammates, and whether this hatchet can be buried. Two drivers with personalities that differ, and one emerges more outspoken than the other.
But if things do go sour between the pair again, expect team principal Wright to have an interesting dilemma on his hands to work out, in order to keep the spirits up.
DIVEBOMB’s verdict
Ticktum’s signing at Fortescue Zero only highlights just how quickly things can change in this driver market. At times, the motto has been, “Act in haste, repent at your leisure.”
Teams and drivers have valued stability over uncertainty in the off-season. But as the picture of the Gen4 grid has emerged, several teams have assembled mighty driver pairings to drive their pair of cars in Season 13.
Mahindra have retained their ever-powerful line-up in de Vries and Edoardo Mortara, while Citroën continue with stability in Nick Cassidy and Jean-Éric Vergne.
Porsche and Andretti have also retained their tried-and-tested line-ups for the upcoming season, but the newcomers have gone bold in their driver line-ups. Opel have gone for an aggressive mix between Pourchaire and Evans, while Fortescue Zero may just have assembled a line-up that presents itself as a dark horse for the season.
Barnard brings a trajectory that is unmissable, and will relish the challenge of the faster Gen4 cars. Should Fortescue Zero bring a package that is quick in Season 13, Barnard will emerge as one of the front-runners.
Ticktum, on the other hand, is more than capable of matching and exceeding his younger teammate on days, and will be looking for a series of good showings to start the season.
Together, they present an unmissable line-up whose progress is definitely worth following well into the future. Formula E’s precocious youngster pairing up with the championship’s most viral figure, who refuses to shy away from a spicy soundbite, means Fortescue Zero will have a lot more following their story in the first year of the Gen4 era.
As for the Formula E driver market, expect the grid to fall into place more quickly as official pre-season testing in Madrid is only three weeks away, and upto five seats on the grid are yet to be filled. Expect plenty more suspense and surprises along the way!
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