Our favorites for the 2023 Formula E season

3 stars

Stoffel vandoorne

The favorite is him. Stoffel Vandoorne is the reigning champion of the Formula E and will be the man to beat this season. The Belgian was impressive in his consistency last year, with a crown gleaned by winning only once. Crowned world champion for the first time in his career, at the age of 30, the native of Kortrijk reached a milestone in 2022. The former driver of Formula 1 also changed sides during the winter: finished Mercedes, place at DS-Penske. The French manufacturer, double Formula champion at the time of its collaboration with Techeetah in 2019 and 2020, has built a real dream-team with Vandoorne and Vergne. A line-up that will have to be managed if the two men were to fight for the title…

Stoffel Vandoorne will defend his title with his new team, DS-Penske © Germain Hazard / DPPI

2 stars 

Jean-Eric Vergne

…and precisely, Jean-Éric Vergne does not intend to submit to his teammate this season. The Frenchman, double Formula E champion in 2018 and 2019, is one of the most successful men (10 wins) in the electric championship. Present in the fight for the title last season, the DS driver had to settle for 4th place in 2022. After 6 years spent with Techeetah, Jean-Éric Vergne will experience a new collaboration with Penske, still with the group's brand Stellantis. No doubt: the duel between Vergne and Vandoorne at DS-Penske will be one of the big shocks to watch this season!

Antonio Felix da Costa

Another former champion of the electric championship is one of the main outsiders in 2023: Antonio Félix da Costa, crowned in 2020. The Portuguese left DS to join Porsche at the end of the 2022 season. Always present at the forefront, the championEndurance in LM P2 had a frustrating campaign last year, with several mishaps in the race and an anonymous 8th place in the championship. With the Stuttgart manufacturer, the six-time E-Prix winner will aim to play the leading roles in the fight for the championship, among the drivers and among the manufacturers.

With Porsche, can Da Costa play for the title? © Eric Alonso /DPPI

Edward Mortara

Will the third be the right one for Edoardo Mortara? The Swiss finished the last two Formula E championships on the podium: 2nd in 2021, 3rd in 2022, the Maserati driver came very close to a first coronation during the last two years. The arrival of the Italian manufacturer – which replaces Venturi from 2023 – should change the situation. With the new powertrain supplied by DS, the Trident firm impressed during pre-season testing in Valencia (Spain) last December. Edoardo Mortara will therefore be eagerly awaited in the fight for the title, once again.

Mitch Evans

The 2022 world vice-champion obviously has a good place among the title contenders this season. Mitch Evans gave Stoffel Vandoorne a hard time last year, but despite his 4 victories against just one for the Belgian, his lack of consistency cost him dearly. In 2023, still loyal to Jaguar with whom he will participate in his 7th season in Formula E, the New Zealander will have to look for this consistency which he sorely lacks. Speed, he will undoubtedly have it.

1 star

Sam bird

Placing Sam Bird among the outsiders in the championship has become a habit. The experienced British rider with 98 starts in Formula E remains a reference in the category, despite a clear loss of speed in recent seasons. Only 13th in the championship last year, the Jaguar driver was no match for his teammate Mitch Evans. However, if the car English is performing well with the introduction of the Gen3, Sam Bird's experience could be an essential asset in 2023. An opportunity that he should not miss...

Maximilian Gunther

Judging the performances of Maximilian Günther last season, it might seem a little daring to place him among the outsiders in 2023. The German had performed poorly at Nissan e.dams, with only 6 small points scored. But the ex-BMW driver changed teams during the off-season, landing at Maserati… and the pre-season tests were promising. Günther set the best time in Valencia and regularly held first place in the timesheets during the half-day tests. Without drawing hasty conclusions, this remains a sign that the performance is there within the Italian team. Enough to give a little credit to the Bavarian pilot.

Rene Rast

2023, a year of changes for René Rast. Loyal to Audi for more than a decade, the German left the brand with the rings to move towards new challenges, with BMW in Endurance and with McLaren in Formula E. The three-time champion of DTM will be responsible for leading its team to a new title, the English manufacturer having taken the torch from Mercedes at the end of the 2022 season. After a year of absence in the electric championship, doubt still persists over its true level in Formula E. His experience in motorsport will be very useful to him in taming the new Gen3. 

McLaren is banking on René Rast for the championship this season © Paulo Maria / DPPI

Lucas di Grassi

Like Sam Bird, Lucas di Grassi is a true leader of Formula E. The most experienced driver on the grid with 100 starts in… 100 E-Prixes since the creation of the championship, the Brazilian is often present in the good blows. The 2017 champion has always finished in the top 7 of the championship since his debut in 2014. After a stint with Venturi last year, Di Grassi will join Mahindra this season, with the aim of winning a second Formula E title.

Sébastien Buemi

Let's not forget Sébastien Buemi among the outsiders of the season. Champion in 2016 and co-holder of the record for victories in Formula E with 13 successes (tied with Di Grassi), the Swiss has certainly experienced two difficult seasons with Nissan e.dams, but he remains no less competitive. The three-time Endurance World Champion left e.dams, his long-time Formula E team, to join Envision in 2023. A change of scenery that could suit him to return to the top of the grid.

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