Paddock whispers: news ticker on all the important Formula E paddock topics in Madrid
Jasmin Fromm
CUPRA KIRO
The first Madrid E-Prix in Formula E history is taking place this weekend at the Jarama racetrack . Find out what else is keeping the paddock busy at the circuit in the Spanish capital in the latest edition of our "Paddock Whispers" series. We will update this ticker regularly throughout the weekend.
>>> Rumours about the drivers for Opel
[03/21 | 2:39 pm] Opel was announced this weekend as a new team for next season. However, the driver line-up has not yet been revealed. According to information from our colleagues at The Race, Mitch Evans and Theo Pourchaire are names that could be in the running for two the seats.
>>> Juan Pablo Montoya spotted in Madrid along with Carlos Sainz Sr
[03/21 | 2:25 pm] Among the crowds at the Madrid circuit, other familiar names from the world of motorsport have been spotted: Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya is at the track on race day to watch the action. His son, Sebastian Montoya, who is also involved in motorsport, is also in Madrid. “It’s the first time I’ve been here in person. I can’t wait to see the race,” said Montoya Jr.
Rally driver Carlos Sainz Sr is also on site. The son of Carlos Sainz, Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr, used to live with Felix da Costa, and the connection between Felix da Costa and the Sainz family has remained strong ever since.
>>> Pepe Marti’s film crew robbed in Madrid
[03/21 | 8:15 am] On the morning of E-Prix Saturday, Cupra Kiro driver Pepe Marti announced on his Instagram account that his film crew’s cameras had been stolen on their way to the circuit. This came as a huge shock to the Spaniard.
‼️🇬🇧| Part of Pepe’s filming crew had cameras stolen while heading to the track.
— Pepe Martí Updates (@PMartiUpdates) March 21, 2026
If you noticed a car with a covered rear license plate around 07:15–07:30 near Las Tablas, please contact Pepe, CUPRA KIRO or us. 🙏
‼️🇪🇸| Parte del equipo de grabación de Pepe sufrió el robo de… pic.twitter.com/aFNw9D9WKq
>>> Madrid almost like a home race for Antonio Felix da Costa
[03/21 | 7.59 am] For Jaguar driver Antonio Felix da Costa, the race in Madrid is a special one: the Portuguese driver announced that he has 80 guests visiting the circuit.
"I have 80 guests here and it feels like a home race", he explained. Spaniard Pepe Marti, for whom it actually is a home race, was shocked by this statement: "No wonder there were no passes! I asked for passes and they said no, they are all pretty much taken."
>>> Spanish motorbike racer Maria Herrera was riding on the circuit in Madrid
[03/21 | 7.30 am] On Friday afternoon, shortly before the start of the 1.Free Practice, motorcycle racer Maria Herrera rode her bike around the Jarama circuit – under the watchful eyes of the Girls-On-Track visitors.
>>> Rubens Barrichello and Sarah Bovi in Madrid
[03/20 | 6:15 pm] On the Friday of the Madrid weekend, there will be some familiar faces from the world of motorsport among the visitors at the circuit: former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello were there to watch the racing action. In the past, his son Fefo Barrichello drove the Formula E demo car during the lunch break at the 2025 Berlin Rookie Test. Rubens Barrichello was not present in the German capital at that time.
Sarah Bovi, racing driver and member of the Iron Dames team, is also in Madrid to watch the action.
>>> Special Cupra livery for Madrid
[03/20 | 1:30 pm] The Cupra Kiro team is featuring a slightly different livery for the Madrid E-Prix. The special livery, which will make its track debut on Friday 20 March during the first free practice session, is inspired by the El Raval district of Barcelona – the name of Cupra’s brand-new car, the Cupra Raval.
In a statement from Cupra, Ignasi Prieto, Cupra’s Chief Brand Officer, said:
"The Cupra Raval Madrid E Prix is a milestone for our brand. For this race, we wanted our car to embody the spirit of Raval, so we created a special livery inspired by its bold, unconventional design. It reflects our attitude: progressive, electric, and ready to challenge the status quo. Racing is part of our DNA, and with this livery we are bringing the essence of the Raval streets to Madrid, showcasing the true character of the Cupra Raval to fans and to the world of electric racing."
Beyond Rebel. Chaos: the Spanish edition 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/oX3Vg4RziC
— CUPRA KIRO (@KiroRaceCo) March 20, 2026
>>> Zane Maloney tried his hand at ice hockey
[03/20 | 1:00 pm] Lola Yamaha Abt driver Zane Maloney found himself on the ice between the Jeddah ‘double-header’ and this weekend’s Madrid E-Prix. When asked by e-Formula.news, the driver from Barbados revealed that his cousin’s boyfriend had encouraged him to give it a go:
"My cousin's boyfriend, he's a hockey player so he was showing me a bit. I don't know what I am doing. But I got the photos to post, so I look like I know what I am doing. It was good fun. It was minus 20 where I was, for me that is way too cold. I prefer 30 degrees Barbados."
>>> Change Accelerated Live at the racetrack
[03/20 | 11:45 am] On Friday, a sustainability forum took place at the Emotions Club at the racetrack in Madrid. The event featured talks and panel discussions on topics such as the electrification of mobility, the energy transition, artificial intelligence applied to sport and the role of data in the development of new technologies.
Participating speakers included among others Alberto Longo, Chief Championship Officer and co-founder of Formula E, racing driver Chloe Chambers and Jaguar team boss Ian James.
>>> Tatiana Calderon drove Citroen cars in the centre of Madrid
[03/20 | 10:55 am] To ring in the race weekend in Madrid, Citroen Racing has come up with something very special: Colombian racing driver Tatiana Calderon, who has lived in Madrid for many years, drove a few metres in the Citroen racing car in the Spanish capital. The show run took place on Doctor Esquerdo Street in the centre of Madrid, watched by 8,600 spectators.
>>> Formula E participation in the Sustainable Markets Initiative with King Charles
[03/20 | 10:40] Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds represented Formula E last week as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative launched by King Charles in 2020. A meeting of the initiative was held at Hampton Court Palace, where over 300 CEOs and innovators from around the world came together to exchange ideas.
On Instagram, Dodds expressed his delight about the invitation: "It was a privilege to join over 300 CEOs and innovators from around the world to tackle the big questions: How can we scale faster? How do we make sustainability the core of value creation? Proud to represent the world's first B Corp certified sport and one founded with sustainability at its core."
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>>> Jaguar and Schaeffler announce collaboration
[03/20 | 10:25] German automotive supplier Schaeffler has announced its collaboration with the Formula E team Jaguar TCS Racing ahead of the Madrid race weekend. Schaeffler's many years of experience in automotive engineering and motorsport will enable Jaguar to explore new approaches to future-oriented drive technologies.
The CEO of Schaeffler E-Mobility, Thomas Stierle, shares his enthusiasm about the collaboration: "What happens on the race track doesn't stay on the race track. The intelligence we gain in Formula E becomes the blueprint for the next era of advanced and sustainable electric mobility. Racing remains the fastest catalyst for technologies with real-world impact. We look forward to a partnership that pushes the boundaries of what's possible"
>>> Jake Dennis extends with Andretti
[03/20 | 10:05 am] Jake Dennis, World Champion in Season 9, has announced his contract extension with his team Andretti in the time since the last Formula E race in Jeddah. The extension is a multi-year contract, the exact number of seasons was not disclosed. This makes Dennis and Andretti one of the longest-running driver-team pairings in the championship.</p
According to Dennis: "I’m absolutely thrilled to be signing a multi-year deal with Andretti Global. The belief the team has shown in me over the years has been incredible, and that trust means a huge amount. We’ve built something really strong together, and I’m proud to continue that journey with a group of people I know so well and genuinely enjoy working with. There have been so many great memories together, and I'm confident we can continue our success into the future."
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>>> Applications for volunteer positions during the Berlin race weekend
[03/20 | 9:55 am] The race weekend in the German capital is fast approaching and Formula E is still looking for hard-working volunteers to support the fans during the weekend. The volunteers, known as champions, show visitors the way around the track, encourage fans, take photos and videos for social media and provide support in the popular gaming arena. Applications to volunteer at the race in Berlin are now open on the Formula E website.
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