"Putting my career on hold wasn't nice": Jake Hughes opens up about Formula E return

After a year without a full-time seat, Jake Hughes is returning to Formula E with Cupra Kiro. The Briton has opened up about his unwanted break, his success in endurance racing and the hopes he had of joining the team a year ago. The 32-year-old has ambitious goals for the Gen4 era, with race wins and championships firmly on his long-term agenda.

Hughes previously competed in Formula E from Season 9 to Season 11. He initially spent two seasons with McLaren before switching to Maserati for the 2024/25 campaign. However, his time with the Monaco-based team came to an end after just one season. Despite completing a private test with Cupra Kiro, Hughes was unable to secure a full-time Formula E seat for the following season.

Formula E return after 1 year: "Having to put my career on hold wasn't nice"

"My career was progressing really well, so having to put it on hold for a year wasn't nice. I certainly don't intend to miss another season. I'm very happy to be able to get back on board at the earliest possible opportunity," the Briton told Formula E Zone.

However, Hughes was far from inactive during his year away from the Formula E grid. Alongside his role as a reserve and development driver for Mahindra and his simulator duties with McLaren in Formula 1, he competed in the European Le Mans Series. "As a racing driver, experiencing different things is always good. It keeps you on your toes and keeps your brain working. It stops you from stagnating or even becoming lazy in terms of your work ethic," he explained.

In the European Le Mans Series, the 32-year-old secured two podium finishes, including victory in the 4 Hours of Silverstone. He has yet to win a Formula E race, despite having already claimed four pole positions and two podium finishes in the all-electric championship. His success in the ELMS gave him renewed confidence: "It gives me more confidence that I'm still very quick and that I can achieve success and race wins when trying something new, just as we did in the ELMS."

Hughes had already hoped to join Cupra Kiro in 2025

Back in autumn 2025, Hughes tested a Porsche Gen3 Evo for Cupra Kiro and hoped the opportunity would lead to a full-time race seat with the American team. However, that opportunity would not materialise until the following season. "I was hoping it might turn into a race seat for last year, but it didn't happen, which is absolutely fine. That's professional sport," he explained.

Hughes also recalled a conversation with team principal Russell O'Hagan: "I always had this feeling, or at least the hope, that I would race for this team in the future. When we did the test a year ago, I said to him: 'Don't worry! I still believe I'll race for you one day.'"

Gen4: New Bridgestone tyres & race formats present fresh challenges

Hughes made his Formula E debut at the beginning of the Gen3 era. With the significant technological leap being introduced for Gen4, he sees parallels with his arrival in the championship. One of his main priorities will be understanding the new Bridgestone tyres and the revised race format as quickly as possible. "Starting this new era with a new tyre from Bridgestone brings its own challenges," he explained.

"Another key area will be adapting to the new race format with the E-Prix Unleashed and understanding how racing might change compared to what we were used to in Gen3," he continued. "Some of what we learned back then will certainly still be useful. But we also have to accept that we're starting from scratch." Hughes also believes that working closely with his performance engineer will be crucial, particularly when it comes to understanding the behaviour of the car's active differentials and extracting its maximum performance.

Race wins & championships remain long-term goals

As Formula E enters the Gen4 era, Hughes returns to the championship with clear ambitions: "I want to prove to myself that I can achieve what I believe I'm capable of, which is winning races and championships in the future." Despite those long-term ambitions, Hughes understands that consistency will be particularly important in Formula E. "I think consistency is going to be the key word for us in the coming season," he explained.