This is how much Formula E is in the current Formula 1

Over the eleven seasons to date, the teams in the electric racing series have not only included familiar names from Formula 1. A large number of successful and less successful drivers have also found their way from the premier class into Formula E. Nevertheless, the exchange is not one-sided and the question arises: how much Formula E is there in the current Formula 1?

In the initial phase of Formula E, a whole host of drivers competed in the electric racing series who had previously been active in the self-proclaimed "pinacle of motorsport". For example, Jaime Alguersuari, Karun Chandhok, Jerome d'Ambrosio, Nick Heidfeld, Nelson Piquet jr, Takuma Sato, Bruno Senna and Jarno Trulli - all with Formula 1 experience - competed in the 2014 Beijing E-Prix, the very first Formula E race.

Later, ex-Formula 1 drivers Esteban Gutierrez, Antonio Giovinazzi, Kamui Kobayashi and Felipe Massa also raced in the electric series. Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 world champion, even competed in Formula E in season 2. Sebastien Buemi, Lucas di Grassi, Stoffel Vandoorne, Jean-Eric Vergne and Pascal Wehrlein still drive in Formula E today. However, there have also been drivers who have gone the other way round and are still competing in Formula 1 today after driving in Formula E in the past.

Alex Albon as Nissan regular driver

In 2018, Alex Albon finished a successful year in Formula 2 in third place behind George Russell and Lando Norris. Shortly afterwards, the multiple race winner in the junior category was announced as a regular driver at Nissan e.dams. As Buemi's team-mate, he was to compete for the Japanese manufacturer in Formula E in the 2018-19 season.

In the middle of the pre-season test week in Valencia, the Thai driver left unexpectedly and Nissan subsequently cancelled his contract. The reason for this was a contract negotiation with the then Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso, with whom he competed in Formula 1 in 2019 and was also promoted to regular driver at Red Bull Racing in the same year.

Pierre Gasly holds Formula E record

In 2017, shortly before the then GP2 champion Pierre Gasly also signed a contract with Toro Rosso, the Frenchman replaced the reigning champion Sebastien Buemi at the New York City E-Prix, who was competing in the World Endurance Championship at the same time. Gasly climbed into the Formula E car completely unprepared and also without the shakedown, which he missed due to simulator work for Red Bull Racing. In the first race, he drove up from 19th on the grid to seventh place.

The following day, he set the fastest lap time of the entire weekend and took fourth place on the grid after a mistake in the Super Pole session. In the race, he held his own in the battle for a podium finish until a scene familiar to many Formula E fans occurred on the last corner. Almost overtaking third-placed Nick Heidfeld, the two drove into the last corner together, leaving themselves too little space and crashing. Gasly crossed the finish line in fourth place with a wrecked car. To this day, the Frenchman holds the record for the best average finish in Formula E. However, his average of 5.5 is not very meaningful with only two starts.

McLaren out of Formula E

Until this year's season finale, McLaren had been a fixture in Formula E for three years. Rene Rast, Jake Hughes and Taylor Barnard celebrated podium finishes for the British team, while Sam Bird even took the Papaya-coloured team's first (and only) race win in Sao Paulo in 2023. McLaren junior Barnard even held his own in the championship battle for a long time last season, but in the end it wasn't enough. As the historic brand focussed on endurance racing and a return to Le Mans, it eventually withdrew from the electric racing series.

Four world championship titles for Mercedes

Before the McLaren team competed under this name in Formula E, team principal Ian James' team was called Mercedes-EQ. The German car manufacturer entered Formula E with a works team in season 6 and finally left again after season 8 - with the end of the Gen2 era.

In the last two seasons, the brand with the star was the measure of all things and won the team title twice in a row. Both Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne became drivers' world champions with the German manufacturer. For de Vries, the title was a springboard that subsequently helped the Dutchman to make his Formula 1 debut with Williams and sign a contract with Alpha Tauri. However, this did not go according to plan, so de Vries switched back to Formula E, where he now drives for Mahindra Racing.