Speculation ahead of the Formula E pre-season tests in Valencia: Who will be Cupra Kiro's second driver?

Just before the start of the Formula E World Championship tests in Valencia, the tension surrounding the Cupra Kiro Formula E team is increasing noticeably. The team is the only one in the field that has not yet announced a driver pairing for the 2025/26 Formula E season. While there are many indications that Dan Ticktum will remain with the team for the coming season, David Beckmann has already been officially bid farewell via the team's social media channels.

The search for his successor is now causing plenty of speculation in the Formula E paddock - several names are already being bandied about. The team is also keeping a low profile when it comes to deciding on the manufacturer of the upcoming Gen4 vehicle. Behind the scenes, however, discussions with a potential partner have probably been going on for some time. The connection to Porsche seems strong, but we will probably not find out until spring 2026 whether this partnership will continue into the next generation of vehicles.

The newcomer: Pepe Marti

One of the hottest candidates for the vacant cockpit, according to the colleagues at The Race, is Josep Maria "Pepe" Marti. After three years in Formula 2, the Spaniard has fully exhausted his learning curve and is now at a decisive point in his career. A promotion to Formula 1 is hardly realistic at present: the driver market in the "premier class" is simply overcrowded. A move into Formula E would therefore be perfectly understandable. With several victories in Formula 2, Marti has shown that he has speed and nerves of steel. And a Spanish driver in a team with the Spanish title sponsor Cupra - that would simply fit.

The safe bet: Jake Hughes

Jake Hughes is also considered a serious contender. Following the end of the Maserati MSG Racing team, which will compete as the Citroen Racing Formula E Team in the coming season, the Briton is without a cockpit. His advantage over the other candidates: He has plenty of Formula E experience. Together with Dan Ticktum, he could provide Kiro with stability and expertise straight away. Hughes knows the peculiarities of the series and knows exactly what it takes to survive in the tight Formula E field - an experienced, reliable man that every team would love to have in the car.

The outsider: Ayhancan Güven

A more exciting outsider option is Ayhancan Güven, the newly crowned DTM champion. The Turkish driver has been under contract with Porsche for years - an interesting detail when you consider how closely Kiro and Porsche worked together last season. David Beckmann already benefited from this connection. Güven has impressively proven in the DTM that he is fast, focussed and consistent. A leap into Formula E would definitely not be an unrealistic step for him, but rather the logical next step.

The disadvantage: a double programme consisting of DTM and Formula E would not be possible in the coming season. The last four Formula E race weekends in Sanya, Shanghai, Tokyo and London all clash with DTM race dates at the Lausitzring, Norisring, Oschersleben and Nürburgring. Güven would therefore have to forgo his title defence.

We will find out in a week's time at the latest who will end up in the cockpit. That's when the list of participants for the pre-season tests in Valencia will be published. But one thing is clear: whether Marti, Hughes or Güven - from a sporting perspective, all three would have deserved to start the new Formula E season with Cupra Kiro.