Formula E: Miami set to host rookie test & additional free practice session

A double opportunity for Formula E's next generation: According to a media report, the Miami E-Prix in February 2027 is set to feature both the traditional rookie test and an additional rookie free practice session. The test, most recently held in Madrid, would move to the United States for the first time. Both events are expected to feature the new Gen4 cars, although different eligibility requirements will apply.

Formula E newcomers are expected to have another opportunity to gain experience with the new Gen4 cars at the Miami International Autodrome during the 2026/27 season. According to FE Notebook, both the rookie test and an additional Free Practice 0 session for rookies are planned around 20 February 2027 at the circuit surrounding Hard Rock Stadium.

This would see the rookie test change venues once again, following its move to Madrid in March 2026. Before that, the event had been held for several years at the former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin. In Miami, young drivers would have the opportunity to get to grips with the new Gen4 machinery during a full-day rookie test.

The rookie test traditionally consists of two three-hour sessions, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, with teams permitted to run both cars. The additional rookie free practice session was originally limited to one car per team. However, in Miami in 2026, teams were allowed to field a second car for the first time, an opportunity taken up only by Nissan. The new Sporting Regulations for Season 13 also require teams to field at least one rookie driver, meaning that running both cars remains possible.

Who is eligible for the rookie sessions?

Different eligibility requirements apply to the two events. The rookie test is reserved for drivers who have not previously participated in a Formula E race weekend and who meet the relevant licence requirements. The additional rookie free practice session, on the other hand, is also open to full-time drivers who still qualify as rookies under the regulations.

This means that Season 13 newcomers Theo Pourchaire and Zak O'Sullivan would also be eligible to take part in the free practice session. By then, both are likely to have competed in several Formula E races, but they would still be considered rookies as they are in their first season in the championship. Pourchaire already took part in the rookie free practice session in Miami in January 2026.

Rookie tests provide young drivers with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in Formula E and demonstrate their potential for a future full-time race seat. Several current Formula E drivers, including Maximilian Günther, Nico Müller, Nick Cassidy and Nyck de Vries, previously took part in such tests before securing full-time drives in the championship.

Official confirmation of the planned rookie events in Miami, along with their exact dates and schedules, is still pending.