Madrid Formula E rookie test - who’s taking part?

These Formule E Rookie Test days always conjure a little bit of excitement. Who’s there, who will be fast, who can match the times of drivers on the grid? All pertinent questions, but the reminder “it’s just testing” remains. Nonetheless, who’s taking part is answered below!

*=has no previous Formula E test experience

Andretti

Callum Voisin

Former F3 driver Voisin is one many hoped to see more of in single seaters, and with any luck, impressing in Formula E tests maybe his best bet. The British driver has previously tested with Cupra but will now link up with Andretti.

Freddie Slater*

Hotshot British teenager Slater is making his FE testing debut on the largest stage as he steps in with Andretti. Signed with Audi’s F1 development setup he’s already got an impressive CV, with two F4 titles and two Formula Regional titles to his name. He’s racing in F3 for Trident this year and undoubtedly, aiming high.

Citroën

Théo Pourchaire

Théo Pourchaire has somewhat endured racing since winning the Formula 2 title in 2023, bouncing from Super Formula to IndyCar, reserve driver duties and test duties.

Lately, everything is coming up roses for Pourchaire; a full time drive for Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship, signed as a development driver to Mercedes in F1 and now, being a French driver for a French team in this test - his second for Citroën.

Joshua Dürksen*

Another test debutant, Paraguay F2 star Joshua Dürksen will step in with Citroën. Like Pourchaire, he’s newly announced as a development driver for Mercedes. He’s already got an F2 win to his name this season with Invicta Racing and will hope to take that momentum to Madrid for this test.

CUPRA Kiro

Bianca Bustamante

Bianca Bustamante is a seasoned professional when it comes to Formula E testing, and will again step in for Cupra after previously testing with McLaren. Between all women’s tests, and these ones she’s now vastly experienced.

She’ll race in Eurocup-3 this season, moving from GB3 after her step up from F1 Academy.

Cian Shields*

After his end of season F1 debut with Aston Martin, Scottish racer Cian Shields will now debut in Formula E, joining Bustamante with Cupra.

Much maligned, Shields will be eager to prove himself here and prove he’s much more than a pay check to the team - and I believe he is.

DS Penske

Daniil Kvyat

Incredibly underrated as an F1 driver, Kvyat has spent much of his post F1 career dabbling in other series’, flirting with the idea of ‘what’s next?’.

NASCAR, Le Mans, WEC, IMSA and now Super GT he’s got a wealth of experience and knowledge - valuable to any team, and back with Penske after a previous test with the team.

Nikita Bedrin

Kvyat is joined by his fellow countryman, Nikita Bedrin. The 20 year old ex-F3 driver is another example of a driver familiar with Formula E testing, having first received the call from Penske last summer.

After strong F3 performances he’s struggled for funding and remains in lower formulae, this season signing with VRD Racing in GB3.

Envision Racing

Zak O’Sullivan

Ex-Williams F1 academy driver O’Sullivan is currently racing in Japan’s Super Formula series, and also serves as simulator driver for Envision, making his inclusion in this test a no brainer after some previous outings.

Ella Lloyd

F1 Academy driver Lloyd has been taken part in Formula E tests since 2024 when she made her bow with McLaren, and the Madrid test will take her to four outings and her second with Envision.

Jaguar TCS Racing

Juju Noda

Juju Noda seems to have been around for a while, but at just 20 years old she still has a very long career ahead of her and is about to start her sophomore season in Super Formula.

This’ll be her second outing with Jaguar after taking part in the women’s test.

Bryce Aron*

Indy NXT driver Bryce Aron comes to Madrid with zero previous Formula E experience and will be eager to make his mark.

After spending much of his junior career in Europe he’s been racing in America since 2024 and is a strong competitor.

Lola Yamaha ABT

Richard Verschoor*

Another debut! However, this one is particularly well known as Formula 2 veteran and Macau winner Richard Verschoor steps in for Lola.

The Dutch driver will race LMP2 cars this year and serves as development driver for McLaren.

Hugh Barter

Simulator driver Hugh Barter has been a valuable asset to Lola and has previous test experience, so will be in familiar surroundings.

Another who’s struggled for funding, he’s not announced race plans for 2026.

Mahindra Racing

Kush Maini

Like Verschoor, Maini has become a Formula 2 veteran as he enters his fourth season with a fourth different team, and backed by Alpine.

He’s got previous experience, with the very team he’ll partake in this test again with, and who he serves as reserve driver for.

Théophile Naël*

Hot on the heels of winning Macau and into a second season of F3 with a new team, Théophile Naël now makes his Formula E now with Mahindra.

In my opinion, he’ll be one to watch too as I believe he’s incredibly talented and perhaps even eventually F1 material.

Nissan

Abbi Pulling

Another well known name, Abbi Pulling is well accustomed to Formula E testing and well accustomed to what Nissan expects of her. She’s regularly quick in these tests so it’ll be good to see her go for it again.

She’s also back racing in GB3 this season for a second successive campaign.

Victor Martins

Victor Martins isn’t new to Formula E, but returns to the Nissan setup for the first time since the 23/24 season.

He’s at a stage of his career where perhaps Formula E becomes a solid option if he wishes to remain in single seaters and this test is a huge opportunity to prove himself. He’ll race WEC this year but his team - Alpine - will leave the series for 2027.

Porsche

Elia Weiss

By far the youngest testing participant, 16 year old Elia Weiss will again step in for Porsche after previous outings in 2025 where he handled himself well.

He’s racing at F4 level currently but obviously is very ambitious - one to watch. He’s the son of German racing driver Claudia Hürtgen who has competed in Extreme E previously.

Ayhancan Güven

Last but not least, Turkish DTM driver Ayhancan Güven is another returning driver. The reigning DTM champion from 2025 will sit in for Porsche again having previously debuted with the German team.

📸Image credits: ABB FIA Formula E, DTM, Formula Motorsport Limited.