The Nissan e.dams team have revealed its list of drivers that could join the team for the coming season. The pool of drivers in consideration for replacing the outgoing Oliver Rowland include, Alex Lynn whom Rowland will replace at Mahindra Racing next season, Maximilian Gunther former Formula E Champion Lucas Di Grassi and Formula 1 podium sitters Alexander Albon and Daniil Kvyat with Albon and Di Grassi rumoured to be prime contenders.
Written by Andrew Lwanga, edited by Tanishka Vashee
Alexander Albon has tested for Nissan and was actually slated to race for the team in 2018 however Helmut Marko and Toro Rosso approached the British-Thai driver with an offer for a seat in Formula 1. Three years later it may seem that Albon may return to where it all began.
“Obviously he [Albon] is amongst the ones we are considering and he kept contact with us so we are talking regularly,” said Nissan team manager Francois Sicard.
“He’s following what we do, so we are very close to Alex and he could be amongst the one we can select. But there are others and you have to know that Alex might also have other opportunities.”
Nissan global motorsports director Tommaso Volpe was more coy and less revealing when discussing Rowland’s potential stating
“We haven’t made a decision yet, which is the truth. The reason why we haven’t taken a decision is not because we don’t have options. We have very good options, actually.
“But we just want to take a little bit more time to be sure we make the right decision. This is the period of the year when you have different conversations going on.
“We want to confirm the driver line up before the end of the season. So, if we finally make a decision in this sense, ideally, we will definitely make it public the day after we took the decision.”
When quizzed on the subject of his future Albon told the official Formula 1 that his prime goal remains a return to Formula 1 but admitted chances were slim.
“There isn’t much” said Albon “”In some respects, I’m reliant on others not performing. It’s just the driver market in F1.
“I was lucky when I got my chance in F1, with Daniel [Ricciardo] moving – that shifted everything over.
“This year it looks a little stale in that sense. If a race seat isn’t available here, there are a couple of teams out there that there are possibilities with. It’s just one of those things where you have to wait and see.”
With the Formula E Championship coming to a close relatively soon Albon may have to make a decision early as most teams would prefer to have their driver pairings sorted early. This is in contrast with Formula 1 as the championship is barely halfway through.