Formula E’s Rookie Free Practice session at the Jeddah E-Prix will feature the likes of former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat and 2023 Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire.
Eleven drivers are set to take part in the 40-minute session on Thursday at 4pm local time, getting a taste of the new Gen3 Evo machinery – which features softer Hankook rubber and four-wheel drive – on a new, shorter layout of the circuit which hosts F1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Kvyat stands out as the only former F1 driver to take part and will drive the DS Penske entry. A Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri and Red Bull racer during his time in the world championship, he has represented Lamborghini, previously in the WEC's Hypercar category and now in IMSA's GTP class since 2024.
Set to take the wheel of the Maserati, Pourchaire has struggled to reignite his career after failing to graduate to F1 following his F2 success at the tender age of 20.
The Frenchman was seen in Super Formula with Team Impul early in 2024 but took part in only one race before switching to IndyCar with Arrow McLaren; initially announced for the remainder of the season, that partnership ended prematurely in unclear circumstances. He now is Peugeot’s reserve driver in the WEC.
Pourchaire will share the track with Peugeot regular Mikkel Jensen, who is entered by Cupra Kiro. Other experienced drivers include 2023 DTM champion Thomas Preining for Porsche – which is no surprise, given his longtime links to the German manufacturer.
IMSA GTD racer Tatiana Calderon will turn out for Lola Yamaha Abt, and so will three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick at Jaguar, having tested with the team on several occasions since 2020.
Chadwick’s racing programme for 2025 is an ELMS campaign with IDEC Sport in the LMP2 category.
The remaining five drivers are youngsters. Mahindra’s reserve driver Kush Maini is logically stepping into the Indian car as he prepares his third Formula 2 season with DAMS, having taken 13th place last year; his new F2 team-mate Jak Crawford, an Aston Martin young driver, will drive the Andretti.
Former Williams protege and 2023 F3 runner-up Zak O’Sullivan, who is moving to Super Formula with Kondo Racing, is testing for Envision, while Alpine Academy member and 2024 F3 title contender Gabriele Mini has been brought in by Nissan – another brand from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.
Finally, McLaren will test its junior Alex Dunne, who was the GB3 runner-up in 2023 but finished only 14th in F3 last year. The 19-year-old is now graduating to F2 with Rodin.
| Team | Rookie Driver |
|---|---|
| Porsche | Thomas Preining |
| McLaren | Alex Dunne |
| Jaguar | Jamie Chadwick |
| Nissan | Gabriele Minì |
| Mahindra | Kush Maini |
| DS PENSKE | Daniil Kvyat |
| Andretti | Jak Crawford |
| Maserati | Théo Pourchaire |
| Envision | Zak O’Sullivan |
| CUPRA KIRO | Mikkel Jensen |
| Lola Yamaha ABT | Tatiana Calderón |
