Who will be Formula E World Champion 2025/26? The editors of e-Formula.news give their predictions

In just a few days, the first world championship points in the 2025/26 Formula E season will be awarded at the Sao Paulo E-Prix. But who has what it takes to become Formula E world champion in season 12? The e-Formula.news team has already identified its favourites in advance.

Theresa König: Oliver Rowland defends his title!

Defending the title and Formula E don't really go together. Nevertheless, I believe that Oliver Rowland will also be world champion in 2025/26 and therefore win the back-to-back title for Nissan. The Brit is at his career high and, in my opinion, Nissan has the best car at the moment.

What's more, Rowland seems incredibly composed at the moment and simply delivers consistently at the top level. Even in chaotic races, he keeps his nerve and gets the maximum out of them. If Nissan can maintain this level, I honestly don't see anyone who can take the title away from them.

Jasmin Fromm: A Mahindra driver will do it!

I see season 12 as a strong year for Mahindra. The Indian team already showed a strong performance last season, especially towards the end, when they even managed to exceed their self-imposed target in the championship and finished fourth. They were also dominant during the pre-season tests in Valencia. With an unchanged driver pairing and even more experience with the Gen3 Evo car, I see a lot of potential for a strong 2025/26 season, perhaps even strong enough to win the drivers' or team championship.

Thomas Grüssmer: Antonio Felix da Costa will be Jaguar's first drivers' world champion

Towards the end of last season, Jaguar showed a clear improvement in form. With the I-Type 7, they still have a strong package, which I can see fighting for the championship from the start again in the coming season. In addition, the new team principal Ian James, who has already won several championships with Mercedes-EQ, and Antonio Felix da Costa bring a breath of fresh air to the team.

The Portuguese driver has already proven in the 2019/20 season that he is capable of becoming champion despite changing teams. Even though he never managed to win the drivers' title with Porsche, he still put in some impressive races. In my opinion, Felix da Costa definitely has what it takes to win more titles if the environment is right. However, team-mate Mitch Evans, who is now entering his tenth season with Jaguar, must also be taken into account.

Tim Neuhaus: Nick Cassidy brings Citroen the title in the debut season

I think the world championship will be extremely close again this year. We are in the last season with the Gen3 cars: most teams have now built up a strong base and a lot of experience, which is why the gaps will be closer than ever. It won't be the car that makes the difference, but the driver.

In my opinion, the world champion of the coming season will therefore be Nick Cassidy. Although the basis of the former Maserati team is weaker than that of the favoured manufacturer teams, I firmly believe that the fresh wind has what it takes to get everything out of the Citroen package. Cassidy will be the one who can make the difference and masterfully prove that leaving Jaguar was the right decision.

Luca Storms: Barnard becomes the youngest champion in history!

My favourite for the 2025/26 world championship title is Taylor Barnard. With a new team and a better car package, the 21-year-old is my favourite going into the new season. His new team-mate Max Günther brings experience and composure to the team, which can certainly help him in the title fight. The DS Penske driver has had his basic pace since his lightning stint for the then injured Sam Bird in Monaco 2024.

Although he is currently still missing a race win, that should be a matter of time. On the other hand, he should minimise, if not completely eliminate, his problems from last season - the many results outside the points. For the history books of Formula E, the title for Taylor Barnard would be a new entry with the title of "Youngest Formula E Champion of all time".

Timo Pape: Rowland does the double!

In my view, several drivers have what it takes to win the title. Mitch Evans and Antonio Felix da Costa are taking points away from each other in 2025/26, Pascal Wehrlein is not getting consistent top results, and neither is Dan Ticktum. A mature Taylor Barnard sets some highlights again, as does Nick Cassidy.

However, the cars from DS and Citroen are not at the top of their game on all circuits. The same applies to Mahindra. That leaves me with Rowland, who will be competing with the same powerful powertrain and the same mediocre team-mate - and will be crowned the second double champion of Formula E.

Tobias Wirtz: Pascal Wehrlein strikes back

In order to bring a little more variety into this round, I would like to bring Pascal Wehrlein into play. If Porsche manages to get to grips with the severe tyre degradation of the works team's 99X Electric, which was the German's undoing in Shanghai and Berlin, among other places, he is a very strong candidate for the title in my eyes. Regardless of this, the Porsche was consistently the best car last season, which is clearly demonstrated by winning the title in the team and manufacturer rankings.

The declining form curve of Rowland in the second half of last season, combined with the team changes of the four other drivers who finished in the top six last season (Cassidy, Barnard, Felix da Costa and Vergne) and therefore need some time to familiarise themselves with the car, play into Wehrlein's hands. My tip is therefore that the title will go to Wehrlein.

AI analysis tool: Oliver Rowland takes star number two

If I have to pick one name, it's Oliver Rowland. The Brit is not only the reigning world champion, but has also matured considerably since his earlier, somewhat wild Formula E years. Nissan is building on a functioning title package in 2025/26, Rowland brings the necessary qualifying strength and racing intelligence - a combination that promises a lot of points over 17 races.

Of course, Formula E can blow this tip spectacularly out of the water after two race weekends. If Cassidy, Evans or Wehrlein end up at the top after all: Then, of course, this wasn't a prediction, just a strictly scientific stress test of how much unpredictability this racing series can put an AI through.