Date clash between WEC and Formula E: what will the drivers concerned do?

As in 2024, the same headache. This year again, the WEC and Formula E have failed to reach an agreement on their respective calendars and this year again, two events will take place on the same weekend. The weekend of July 12-14 will feature WEC (6 Hours of São Paulo, Brazil) and Formula E (Berlin E-Prix, Germany). A scenario far from ideal when you consider that several drivers participate in both world championships…

In 2025, there are six people affected by this “date clash” between the WEC and Formula E: Robin Frijns (BMW in WEC / Envision in Formula E), Jean-Éric Vergne (Peugeot / DS Penske), Stoffel Vandoorne (Peugeot / Maserati), Sébastien Buemi (Toyota / Envision), Nyck De Vries (Toyota / Mahindra) and Norman Nato (Cadillac / Nissan). All six will have to abandon one of the two disciplines in favor of the other, taking the risk of losing important points in the deserted championship. Especially since, in the case of Formula E, Berlin hosts a "double header" with not one, but two rounds organized on the same weekend.

On the sidelines of the 1812km of Qatar, the opening round of the 2025 WEC season, several teams affected by this calendar problem have given some answers on the presence – or not – of their driver concerned in São Paulo, in July. This is particularly the case for Robin Frijns: the BMW driver will not compete in the 6H of São Paulo with René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde and will be present in Berlin with Envision Racing.

"Robin's priority is Formula E, so he will miss Brazil, Vincent Vosse confided from Sportscar365, in Losail. It is an unfortunate situation, but many teams were considering using only two drivers for the entire championship, so that will not be a problem. That we do Brazil with one of the drivers IMSA or with two drivers, it is not yet decided, but we are in a comfortable situation."

Peugeot with two-driver crews in São Paulo

On the Stellantis side, as in 2024, two drivers are concerned by this clash of dates: Jean-Éric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne. And as in 2024, priority should be given to Formula E: thus, the Frenchman and the Belgian will drive respectively for DS Penske and Maserati on July 12 and 13, in Berlin. Despite the absence of two of its drivers, Peugeot should manage with two crews of two drivers on the n°93 and the n°94: a situation that had already been experienced in 2024, during the 6 Hours of Spa. Theo Pourchaire, Peugeot Sport's reserve driver, is not expected to be in the starting line-up for the 6 Hours of São Paulo: the Grasse native will however be present in Brazil in the event of a last-minute withdrawal among the four other drivers from the French team.

Like Peugeot, Toyota finds itself with two drivers stuck between the two championships. At the moment, it seems that Sébastien Buemi and Nyck de Vries are in the running for the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo in the WEC. However, depending on the situation in both championships, the Japanese team could change its plans and release the Swiss and the Dutchman. "Normally we have priority with them, said David Floury, Toyota's technical director. But we will use common sense [and examine] whether there is a stake in one of the two championships."

The last driver affected by this date clash: Norman Nato. During the off-season, the Frenchman changed manufacturers in both championships, moving to Nissan in Formula E and continuing the adventure with JOTA, now associated with Cadillac in WEC. Unlike 2024, where he did not participate in the 6 Hours of Spa with Will Stevens and Callum Ilott – winners of the race – Norman Nato should compete in the 6 Hours of São Paulo with Cadillac JOTA. “The WEC is his priority,” said Sam Hignett, co-founder and principal of Hertz Team JOTA, still with Sportscar365. We will have the same six drivers for all the events." Nissan will therefore have to find a replacement for him and could rely on Sergio Sette Camara, the Japanese team's new reserve driver.

WEC / Formula E
What choice during the “date clash”?

Robin Frijns (BMW / Envision) : Formula E with Envision
Jean-Eric Vergne (Peugeot / DS Penske) : Formula E with DS Penske
Stoffel vandoorne (Peugeot / Maserati) : Formula E with Maserati
Sébastien Buemi (Toyota / Envision) : WEC with Toyota
Nyck de vries (Toyota / Mahindra) : WEC with Toyota
Norman Born (Cadillac / Nissan) : WEC with Cadillac
(in italics: to be confirmed)

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