Nyck de Vries, Formula E inaugural World Champion, secures a full-time seat with Mahindra Racing alongside Edoardo Mortara ahead of Season 10, the squad announced on Wednesday.
In the build-up to Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Mahindra Racing, the only Indian team on the grid, announced the team’s new driver’s line-up on Wednesday.
Following a challenging 10 Grand Prix stint in F1 with Red Bull Racing’s sister brand AlphaTauri, Dutchman Nyck de Vries returns to Formula E on a multi-year contract to drive for Mahindra Racing from the 2023/2024 season.
“It’s really exciting to be joining such a major automotive manufacturer as Mahindra and to represent them in Formula E,” De Vries shared.
“I’m particularly excited about the future plans for the team. The basis is already strong, and the team has all the attributes to succeed.
“I believe going forward we will be able to extract even more potential from the project and the organization, so to be a part of that process was very appealing for me.”
The 28-year-old will team up with Swiss-Italian driver Edoardo Mortara, who moved from the Maserati MSG Team after six seasons together to join Mahindra, one of the FIA Formula E’s founding teams, also on a multi-year agreement.
Speaking about his new challenge in the all-electric series, Mortara, a street circuit specialist, commented: “I’m extremely excited to be joining Mahindra Racing. It’s a team that I’ve been looking at for several years now; they have been in Formula E since the beginning of the Championship, so there’s a lot of experience there.”
“What I could also feel from the people here is that we share the same values. We have a great project in front of us, but I can see a lot of determination and motivation from everyone in the team, and this is so important,” the 36-year-old driver remarked.
“Mahindra is also a big automotive manufacturer with a worldwide reputation. I’m extremely proud to join and be a representative of this prestigious group.”
“I can’t wait to get started, and Im sure that if we put in the necessary amount of work, we will be able to be successful in this very competitive championship in the future.”
The experienced drivers’ duo will debut on track with the outfit next month at the series’ official pre-season test in Valencia, Spain, held at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
The squad based in Barbury, UK, experienced a difficult start to Season 9, which saw the introduction of the new Gen3 regulations.
For the upcoming season, the car manufacturer bids to take a step forward in performance, building its path back to winning ways, with the ultimate goal of becoming Championship contenders.
In that regard, Mahindra Racing CEO Frederic Bertrand outlined: “I am delighted to welcome Edo and Nyck to the Mahindra Racing family. As a team, we are all embarking on a journey to bring Mahindra Racing back to the front of the grid in the coming years.”
“With their speed and experience, Nyck and Edo will play a key role in driving the team towards that goal, and I know everybody is feeling very motivated to work with them. Equally important for the team are the driver’s appetites for a long-term project, which makes them the perfect fit for Mahindra Racing at the beginning of this journey.”
Furthermore, he talked about the long-term goals, stressing: “We anticipate next year will be another year of development and progress, and in a championship like Formula E, success is impossible to achieve overnight. But the signing of Nyck and Edo, along with new recruits within the wider team, puts down a solid foundation on which we can build.”
“Much as Mahindra Automotive seeks to lead a revolution in the commercial space, we aim to match that ambition and innovation on the track. The support and synergy across the brand between both programs will be invaluable as we aim to similarly make progress on track.”
De Vries’ short-lived run at the pinnacle of motorsport finished at the Hungarian Grand Prix when Scuderia AlphaTauri announced that Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo would replace him with immediate effect.
An abrupt end to a journey that was set in motion last season when the 2020-21 FIA Formula E World Champion got the call to sub in Alex Albon at the Italian GP in Monza, who was unwell due to appendicitis.
And the Dutchman made the most out of his one-off appearance for Williams, out-qualifying teammate Nicholas Latifi, crossing the finish line in ninth place on his race debut.
Moreover, he showed he could perform under pressure, making a difference at the wheel at the Temple of Speed.
At the time, De Vries was acting as Mercedes F1 reserve driver, combining his full-time driving duties for the team in Formula E.
His performance impressed the Formula 1 paddock, and eventually, he earned a full-time seat with the Faenza squad for 2023, replacing Frenchman Pierre Gasly, who left the team to join BWT Alpine F1.
After turning the page, the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Champion is focused on starting a new career chapter in the pioneering electric single-seater series.
“Coming back to Formula E will feel like coming home. I’ve been part of the Formula E family for three seasons; I know everybody very well. I’m looking forward to being back in a familiar environment, and to being back somewhere where ultimately, I’ve always enjoyed my racing.”