Everything you need to know about 2022 season including more powerful cars and knockout-style qualifying

NEXT season will see Formula E introduce its ground-breaking Gen3 car – which promises to be the fastest, most powerful electric racing car.

But that doesn’t mean this season’s car will not get an upgrade.

Here’s the new powered-up field for the 2022 Formula E campaignCredit: Rex

MERCEDES-EQ aces Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries sandwich Chelsea icon Didier Drogba and singer Gabrielle LeMaire at the Saudi season openerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Power will be boosted from 200 kW to 220kW for racing while the power during Attack Mode will also increase to 250kW from 235kW.

The biggest shake up is the change to qualifying as the field is split into groups based on championship position.

That will create a knock-out format pitching drivers against each other in a series of duels for pole position.

Other tweaks will see races increased by up to 10 minutes if they have been impacted by safety cars or yellow flags.

The calendar has also been swollen to 16 races with new ePrix races in Seoul and Jakarta.

MERCEDES-EQ
5: Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL), 17: Nyck de Vries (NLD)

The reigning champions retain their successful pairing for season eight. De Vries clinched the title last year to become the first Dutch world champion before countryman Max Verstappen‘s success in F1.

Vandoorne will be in with a shout of snatching that title from his teammate this season.

JAGUAR TCS RACING
9: Mitch Evans (NZL), 10: Sam Bird (GBR)

Jaguar enjoyed their most successful season in Formula E last season, finishing the team’s championship in second place.

Mitch Evans and Sam Bird offer the team plenty of experience in development and race craft. Evans is now looking to beat Mercedes to the title.

He said: “We’re looking for marginal gains but we’ve got a really strong package, a great team and we’re working well together. Hopefully we can go one better.”

DS TECHEETAH
13: Antonio Felix da Costa (POR), 25: Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA)

One of the sport’s most successful teams had to settle for third in the championship in 2021 after a poor end to the season.

They return this season with the same line up of double champion Jean-Eric Vergne and Antonio Felix da Costa, both have a lot of experience.

ENVISION RACING
4: Robin Frijns (NDL), 37: Nick Cassidy (NZL)

Despite not having the backing of a manufacturer, Envision Racing have always proved to be competitive.

Back this year with an all-new green livery, they have an exciting line-up of  Robin Frijns and Nick Cassidy behind the wheel.

AVALANCHE ANDRETTI FORMULA E
27: Jake Dennis (GBR), 28: Oliver Askew (USA)

Jake Dennis produced one of the best performances from a rookie last season as he finished third in the championship.

The 26-year-old Brit has a comprehensive CV having raced in lots of categories. He shares his time racing in Formula E with his duties as Red Bull Racing’s development driver.

ROKiT VENTURI RACING
11: Lucas di Grassi (BRA), 48: Edoardo Mortara (CHE)

Venturi have recruited former Formula E champion Lucas di Grassi this season to partner Edoardo Mortara.

The Brazilian ended his seven year stint with Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler after the manufacturer moved on at the end of Season 7. Di Grassi is one of the most knowledgeable drivers in FE.

TAG HEUER PORSCHE FORMULA E TEAM
36: Andre Lotterer (DEU), 94: Pascal Wehrlein (DEU)

Porsche are looking to make more improvements in season eight as they stick with Andre Lotterer and Pascal Wehrlein in an all-German line-up.

Porsche made a few mistakes in their debut season and should be much stronger this time around.

MAHINDRA RACING
29: Alexander Sims (GBR), 30: Oliver Rowland (GBR)

An all-British line up for Mahindra, who were much-improved in 2021. Alex Lynn’s win in London was the highlight, but he departs and another Brit in Oliver Rowland now partners Alexander Sims.

Sims has a race win and podiums to his name in Formula E, and Rowland joins the team having made the move from Nissan e.dams.

NISSAN E.DAMS
22: Maximilian Guenther (DEU), 23: Sebastien Buemi (CHE)

Nissan e.dams have replaced Oliver Rowland with the highly-rated Maximilian Guenther.

The rapid German brokered a deal to join the Franco-Japanese team when a seat became available and with wins to his name, he’s proven himself in battle. He joins one of the most experienced drivers on the grid in Sebastian Buemi.

DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT
99: Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA), 7: Sergio Sette Camara (BRA)

Dragon pulled off a real surprise to land Antonio Giovinazzi, the Italian F1 driver from Alfa Romeo.

He has some work to do to get up to speed with the complexities of FE, but has bags of tallent. Sergio Sette Camara goes into his second FE season looking to build on his performances last year.

NIO 333 Racing
3: Oliver Turvey (GBR), 33: Dan Ticktum (GBR)

Another British pairing and one that has potential to cause an upset – in more ways than one. Oliver Turvey is the stalwart while Dan Ticktum is the third and final rookie on the grid.

The Brit is a Formula 2 race winner and has worked in F1 with Red Bull and Williams – but he is also not short of controversy or opinions – which is brilliant for FE.