Written by Jake O’Callaghan, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
May’s Berlin ePrix weekend will see multiple Formula E regulars missing in the paddock, as they will be fulfilling their World Endurance Championship (WEC) obligations, as the Formula E race weekend clashes with WEC’s 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps race.
WEC’s race will be completed on Saturday, whilst Formula E will have two races across Saturday and Sunday. With FIA regulations barring drivers not competing in the first race of a double header from taking part in the second, as they are considered part of the same event, Envision Racing and Mahindra have confirmed replacements for those drivers.
Envision Racing
Both of Envision Racing’s regular drivers Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns have prior commitments to WEC, ruling them out of Formula E’s German race weekend. Buemi will take control of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s No.8 Hypercar, whilst Frijns will pilot BMW M Team WRT’s No.20 Hypercar around Spa.
Envision have thus announced their pairing to fill in at the Berlin ePrix. Formula 2 racer, and rookie Paul Aron will partner Joel Eriksson. Eriksson has prior experience in Formula E, having competed in eight races for Dragon / Penske Autosport in 2021, recording one top ten finish in London.
Eriksson will also be jumping in with the experience of a double-header weekend in Berlin, which should help him get up to speed more quickly. Eriksson had been working as Jaguar TCS Racing’s test and simulator driver this season, but Jaguar agreed to release him to compete for Envision for this race weekend.
Paul Aron is a Formula E rookie, though he is one of the most highly-touted young drivers in Europe. He currently sits second in the Formula 2 standings, and Envision has put him through various practice programmes in order to prepare for Berlin, including a scheduled rookie test this weekend at Misano.
The team has also confirmed he will complete an extensive simulator programme, in order to best prepare for a challenging debut weekend.
Eriksson said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to be racing in Formula E again, this time with Envision Racing. After taking part in my first ever Formula E test with Envision, it’s great to be racing for them in Berlin, and we’ll be working hard together to have a successful weekend.”
Aron stated: “It’s a great opportunity to race for Envision Racing in Berlin. I’m very much looking forward to experiencing Formula E for the first time and working with the team. We’ll be working hard up until the race to prepare for the event, starting with the rookie free practice session this week in Misano.”
Mahindra Racing
Mahindra Racing similarly confirmed Nyck De Vries would not be taking part in the Berlin race weekend, due to his commitments to drive Toyota Gazoo Racing’s No.7 Hypercar. He will be deputised by Jordan King for the weekend.
Jordan King is a rookie to Formula E, but he is familiar with the team and their car, having been a test and development driver for Mahindra since 2020. His extensive experience also includes stints in Formula 2, IndyCar, and work as a test driver in Formula One. Mahindra confirmed that King will also take part in this weekend’s rookie free practice session at Misano.
King said: “It goes without saying that I’m hugely excited to make my debut in Formula E next month in Berlin. It’s a team that I know inside and out after four years of working together, and a car that I’m already incredibly familiar with and helped to develop.
“My focus is on keeping the team’s momentum going on the development front, and of course to enjoy the opportunity to be out there racing again.”
King will pair up with series regular Edoardo Mortara, who will race in Berlin as planned.