Due to technical issues, free practice 1’s start time was delayed an hour, eventually being cancelled as the issue persisted—certainly an interesting opening session to season 12 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
With no on-track running to discuss, the drivers’ press conferences shifted towards their hopes for the weekend ahead and the significance of Brazil within Formula E.
Brazilian Pride and Strategic Reflections
Drivers Jake Dennis, Lucas di Grassi, and Mitch Evans opened the day’s media briefings. Di Grassi expressed his satisfaction at seeing greater Brazilian representation on the grid, acknowledging the wave of new talent entering Formula E.
Attention naturally turned to Evans’ remarkable victory in São Paulo last season, where he won from last on the grid. Though unforgettable, Evans was realistic about the chances of repeating such a result.
“It’s never ideal; it definitely took the pressure off before the race. It was just like, ‘Let’s see what’s going to happen,’ but I think this race is one lap shorter than last year, so the race dynamic could change slightly, so track position may be a little more critical.” – Mitch Evans
Evans offered a grounded assessment: a repeat performance would require a strong qualifying session and flawless execution. Jake Dennis provided further insight into adapting to team changes, whether through altered weekend formats, new machinery, or fresh teammate pairings.
“Over the time we’ve had away from the track, we’ve managed to play some rounds together and get to know each other. Speak about the pros and cons of the team and where we need to improve.” – Jake Dennis
Documentary Reactions and Clearing the Air
The second group—Taylor Barnard, Antonio Félix da Costa, Oliver Rowland, Dan Ticktum, and Pascal Wehrlein—offered some of the day’s most engaging comments, particularly when asked about the new Formula E: Driver documentary on Amazon Prime.
Rowland highlighted how important it was for viewers to see a more in-depth and human side of the drivers. Ticktum, known for his forthrightness, spoke frankly about the show’s editing style and the portrayal of his supposed rivalry with Barnard.
“I think the drama of a rivalry that doesn’t exist was sort of a bit much. I don’t have anything against Taylor I want to make that very clear.” – Dan Ticktum
Both drivers stressed there was no real tension, simply the heat of competition among world-class racers. As far as Barnard is concerned, there is no issue between them and recalling the race back in China, it was a move anyone else would have done. De Costa also weighed in about his last season with Porsche.
“What the series portrayed is what happened; it’s not something I look for. It’s not the type of environment I look to have in a garage. But it happened. We were racing; everybody wanted to beat each other, and we got on with it. I left that team with a lot of good relationships on good terms.” – Antonio Felix De Costa
Wehrlein echoed these sentiments, acknowledging that while competition affected relationships, the team remained professional, ultimately securing two championships.
Stability vs. Pressure
Team Principals Tommaso Volpe from Nissan, Florian Modlinger with Porsche, and Cyril Blais from Citroen Racing opened proceedings. Volpe defended Nissan’s decision to maintain stability in both its driver line-up and team structure.
“We did a deep analysis on why and how he didn’t perform well, and it’s definitely in his reach to do much, much better. There was a series of circumstances and also mistakes from his side of the garage, so it’s not just up to him. We try to focus on what the weaknesses were and to start this season with a completely different spirit in preparation.” – Tommaso Volpe
The conversation moved on to Modlinger, who emphasized the need for precision and error-free execution. Especially considering Wehrlein’s dramatic crash in São Paulo last year.
“Everything will be really close together; all avoidable mistakes need to be avoided, and we need to squeeze out everything from the car on every race day.” – Florian Modlinger
Blais likewise stressed the importance of consistency and collective ambition across the Citroën camp.
High Expectations and Managing Confidence
In the second team principal conference of the day, Cyril Blais, Tommas Volpe, and Ian James, once again discussed the changes to the team and expectations for the season.
Blais acknowledged that their lineup—widely regarded as one of the strongest on the grid—comes with pressure to deliver consistent progress. Volpe offered a philosophical reminder about the volatility of Formula E:
“In Formula E I think you can never be confident; you need to be able to progress as soon as you start to go into a comfort zone, or if you think you are good, you will quickly not be good.” – Tommas Volpe
James concluded by addressing this final season of the GEN3 Evo era, underlining the importance of testing and the team’s full focus on the present campaign. He praised the ongoing involvement of Jamie Chadwick and Juju Noda in the programme, reinforcing the value of developing future talent.
Ultimately, despite a disrupted start to the weekend, the tone across the paddock was one of focus and determination. With Season 12 now underway, both drivers and teams appear fully locked in on the battles ahead.