Paddock Whispers: News ticker on all the important Formula E paddock topics in Sao Paulo
Jasmin Fromm
FIA Formula E
The first race of the 12th season of Formula E takes place in Sao Paulo this weekend. Find out what else is keeping the paddock busy at the circuit in Brazil in the latest edition of our "Paddock Whispers" series. We will update this ticker regularly throughout the weekend.
>>> "Welcome" to the Lola Garage
[06.12. | 4:19pm] From now on, when you walk past the Lola Yamaha Abt garage, you will be greeted by a sign welcoming you. The sign features the word "welcome" written in different languages. The languages chosen are those spoken at each of the Formula E race venues in the current season. On Instagram, Lola driver Zane Maloney used the time during the cancelled first practice session to present the sign in a video.
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>>> Mortara: "We have usually quite a good package in these conditions"
[12/6 | 3:51pm] Fans and drivers at the Sao Paulo race track alike are having to battle with higher outside temperatures, which are around 28 °C. We at e-Formula.news asked Mahindra driver Edoardo Mortara how he is coping with the heat:
"It's kind of like business as usual. We used to come to a warm venues. For example last year we had a Jakarta that was even hotter. Usually when it's hot, it's a little bit more difficult in terms of managing battery temperature, tyre temperature, also break temperatures. But it's the same for everyone and we've been proving actually that in these conditions as a team we have usually quite a good package."
>>> Rowland: "Makes me look a bit younger"
[12/6 | 3:33pm] Not much has changed for the reigning Formula E world champion this season: same team, same teammate and same team principal. However, something has changed about him: the British driver's face is no longer adorned with his usual beard. When asked by e-Formula.news he shared:
"Makes me look a bit younger. Yeah, honestly, I'm a bit lighter in weight, which is a good thing. I feel good. I'm just relaxed."
>>> Cassidy feels well prepared at Citroen
[12/6 | 12:51pm] Vice world champion Nick Cassidy is competing for a new racing team this season: the New Zealander has moved from Jaguar to Formula E newcomer Citroën. Despite this, he tells e-Formula.news that he feels well prepared for the coming season:
"I think that the race is gonna have a couple of challenges that will be new experiences for me with with this powertrain. So I'm kind of confident about how we can roll out and practise and qualifying, but the race will be will be a challenge in my opinion."
>>> Wehrlein enters the new season feeling positive
[12/6 | 12:40pm] Season 11 went well for the Porsche Formula E team: the German team came out on top in the team standings. Porsche driver Pascal Wehrlein is looking forward to the new season and is starting it feeling positive. Wehrlein told e-Formula.news:
"I feel very good. First of all, I'm happy that everything is starting from scratch again, that everyone is starting from zero and that we've had a little time to work on the issues we had last year. And I'm optimistic that we'll have another good year – fighting for victories, fighting for the championship and being able to start right here."
>>> Günther wants more reliability in season 12
[12/6 | 10:50am] DS Penske driver Maxililian Günther responds to a question from e-Formula.news about where the team needs to improve in the current season, saying:
"Reliability, quite simply. We had a few reliability failures last season, three to be precise. If you take those out of the equation or calculate based on the position we were in at the time of the failure, we would have been in the top 5 in the championship, which would of course have cast the season in a different light."
>>> Müller: "I feel good and am looking forward to getting the ball rolling"
[12/6 | 10:35am] Nico Müller, the new addition to the Porsche Formula E Team, is delighted about the start of the new season. In an interview with e-Formula.news, he said:
"I feel good and am looking forward to getting the ball rolling. It's always such a special moment at the start of the season, regardless of whether you've changed teams or not. But this year even more so because I'm looking forward to the season. And the focus now is simply on having a good weekend, taking one step at a time and getting the season off to a solid start."
>>> Associacao PiPA becomes recipient of Better Future Fund in Sao Paulo
[12/6 | 10:24am] Formula E has announced the first recipient of its Better Futures Fund. In Sao Paulo, the €25,000 grant will go to Associacao Pipa, a charity that promotes educational equity, digital inclusion and environmental awareness in particularly disadvantaged communities. This will be achieved through the introduction of a new educational programme for literacy, mathematics and digital inclusion. The money will also be used to finance core tasks in the areas of volunteering, fundraising and communication. This is the second time that the Better Futures Fund has chosen this organisation in Sao Paulo.
Daniel Mariano de Almeida, Social Director of Associacao PiPA, is delighted with the financial support: "The support from the Formula E Better Futures Fund is transforming what’s possible for children and families in Jardim Peri and Brasilândia. These resources allow us to strengthen learning, expand digital access, and provide safe spaces where young people can grow with confidence. With this renewed funding, we can reach more children, engage families more deeply, and continue building long-lasting opportunities in communities that have historically been overlooked."
>>> Drugovich mural in the Beco do Batman neighbourhood
[12/05 | 3:30 pm] For Andretti driver Felipe Drugovich, the race in Brazil is not only his first Formula E race as a regular driver, but also a home race. In honour of the local hero, a mural depicting Drugovich was unveiled in the street art district of Beco do Batman. The mural will be on display for one month.
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>>> Competition: VIP tickets for the official unveiling of the Gen4 car in Paris
[12/05 | 2:38 pm] In April 2026, Formula E will present its future generation of vehicles, the Gen4 race cars, at an official launch event in Paris. The series is now giving away two exclusive tickets for the event, including a passenger lap at the event. The winner will receive a ticket for themselves and one accompanying person, and Formula E will also cover the cost of flights, hotel and two hospitality passes for a race of their choice.
In order to take part in the competition, an online form must be completed. You can find it here.
>>> Formula E car on the runway at Guarulhos airport
[12/05 | 02:02 pm] Sao Paulo Airport in Guarulhos has been named the official airport of the Google Cloud Sao Paulo E-Prix 2025. As part of this partnership, Brazilian driver Felipe Drugovich presented the Gen3 Evo car on the Guarulhos runway on Wednesday morning. The airport is the largest and busiest airport in Brazil.
This is the first time that Sao Paulo airport has been closed for such an event. In addition, the race car will be on display in the Terminal 2 lobby in the run-up to the race.
Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E, says of the collaboration: "I am delighted that we can launch the Google Cloud Sao Paulo E-Prix 2025 with such an exciting activation. Felipe Drugovich has helped to reignite the passion of our Brazilian fans that we experience every year and this collaboration with Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport is the perfect start to the 12th season. Vamos!"
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>>> Formula E and Feastables continue partnership
[12/05 | 1:31 pm] Following their first collaboration at the Berlin E-Prix, Formula E and the snack brand "Feastables" from social media star MrBeast have now officially confirmed their long-term partnership. "We are delighted to announce that Feastables is now the official snack partner of Formula E! See you on the race track," reads the Feastables post on Instagram. The chocolate will be available at every Formula E race in future.
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>>> Porsche donates to good causes in season 12
[12/05 | 1:15 pm] The Porsche team is starting the 12th Formula E season under the motto "Racing for Charity". The manufacturer is donating 400 euros for every race lap completed by the works team's two Porsche 99X Electric cars. The proceeds will go to three organisations: Kinderherzen retten e. V., Interplast Germany e. V. and the Ferry Porsche Foundation.
"Our works team is not only fighting for world championship titles this season, but also for the highest possible donation amount", says Dr Michael Steiner, Deputy Chairman and Member of the Executive Board, Research and Development at Porsche.
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>>> Günther celebrates 100th E-Prix with special helmet
[12/05 | 12:40 pm] The race in Sao Paulo is a very special one for DS Penske driver Maximilian Günther. Not only because it is the season opener of Season 12, but also because it is the German racing driver's 100th Formula E race. To celebrate this, Günther will be competing this weekend with a very special helmet design: the normally black, white and gold helmet will also be adorned with numerous pink 100 logos this weekend.
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>>> Formula E confirms on-air team for Season 12
[12/05 | 10:47 am] Formula E has announced its English-speaking on-air team for Season 12. Nicki Shields returns as the main presenter, supported by pit lane reporters Alexa Rendell and Georgia Henneberry as well as commentators Tom Brooks and Ryan Myrehn.
The team of experts consisting of David Coulthard, Karun Chandhok, James Rossiter, Catie Munnings, Andre Lotterer and Billy Monger will be joined next season by 12-time E-Prix winner and Nissan reserve driver Sam Bird. Albert Lau, former chief engineer at McLaren Electric, will also contribute his knowledge as a strategy expert.
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>>> Applications for the Better Futures Fund are now open
[12/05 | 10:00 am] Formula E is now accepting applications for the Better Futures Fund for Season 12. The fund will support charitable projects or organisations in Madrid, Berlin, Monaco, Sanya, Shanghai and London that benefit people and the environment alike.
Each venue in Season 12 will benefit from a total donation of €25,000, which equates to a total of €275,000 for the entire season.
- Madrid, Spain - application open until 7 December 2025
- Berlin, Germany - application possible until 7 December 2025
- Monaco, Monaco - application possible until 7 December 2025
- Sanya, China - Bid possible until 18 January 2026
- Shanghai, China - application possible until 18 January 2026
- London, United Kingdom - application possible until 18 January 2026
Applications can be made here.
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