Felipe Drugovich is poised for a sustained return to single-seater racing, having committed to Andretti for the 2025/26 Formula E season through a multi-year agreement.
This marks an important juncture for the young Brazilian, who has frequently observed from the sidelines despite a noteworthy record in junior racing categories.
While he was the inaugural signing to the Aston Martin development program shortly after clinching the 2022 Formula 2 title, Drugovich hasn’t been able to secure a full-time single-seater opportunity since that victory.
As a test and reserve driver for Aston Martin, a role he currently shares with Stoffel Vandoorne, Drugovich has gained firsthand insights and exclusive access to the Formula 1 team over the past three years.
He has also piloted the car during race weekends, recently substituting for an injured Fernando Alonso during FP1 at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, in addition to participating in several in-season Pirelli tire tests, including one at Monza earlier this month.
The 25-year-old has also ventured into endurance racing, competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours with Cadillac Whelen for the past two years and participating in five rounds of the European Le Mans Series in 2024. Additionally, he completed two Formula E rounds with Mahindra Racing in the 2024/25 season.
Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin F1 Team
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
However, this wasn’t sufficient. Upon being crowned F2 champion, Drugovich was hailed as a promising talent in motorsport, but Aston Martin’s commitment to its existing driver lineup of Alonso and Lance Stroll hindered any potential advancement to the highest level.
“Since the year began, I was eager to return to racing instead of waiting on the sidelines,” Drugovich stated.
“It was something I truly desired, to get back behind the wheel. I’ve missed it since the day after my final race in F2, and it was essential for my well-being. Securing this opportunity, especially with a renowned team like this, is fantastic. I’m delighted to race not only for myself but also with a team like Andretti.”
“Most of my recent races have been endurance events, which involve a lot of sharing. While I enjoy that, I missed having my own dedicated team, car, engineer, and mechanics. It’s what I was accustomed to since the beginning of my career, and I really missed that feeling, though I wasn’t entirely sure if I’d embrace the challenge.”
He undeniably made a positive impression during his Formula E appearances, having demonstrated speed in rookie sessions and scoring points in his second race after a remarkable climb from 19th to seventh at the Tempelhof airport venue.
Expectedly, offers for a full-time position ensued, but a prior conversation with Andretti played a significant role in Drugovich’s decision.
“I was initially approached by the team in 2023 when they were at their peak with Jake Dennis [who had just secured the drivers’ title], which gave me a very favorable impression of the team,” he explained. “Being approached again was great, and I think that’s the primary reason I chose them, remembering that initial approach when they were at the top.”
Felipe Drugovich, Mahindra Racing
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
“They’re all very quick, and the team is generally strong in most races. Having now met most of the team, it’s reinforced my belief in their capabilities. Hopefully, we’ll soon be competing for wins and championships.”
Formula E is set to have a record-breaking schedule for the 2025/26 season, with 18 races commencing with Drugovich’s home race in Sao Paulo on December 6.
“It’s amazing to race in front of my home crowd,” he added, “something I’ve always wanted to do, particularly in a significant series like this that’s a world championship. I saw footage from last year’s race, and the grandstands were packed, so hopefully, there will be even more fans this year!”
However, there are scheduling conflicts between Formula E and Formula 1, including the season opener which coincides with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Additionally, the Berlin, Shanghai, and Tokyo E-Prix rounds overlap with the Miami, British, and Hungarian Grands Prix in 2026.
When questioned about how this new Formula E seat would impact his test and reserve role with Aston Martin, Drugovich remained guarded: “I’m not sure yet, to be honest. The main priority was to finalize this agreement with Andretti. I’ll need to assess what will be beneficial for me.”
As the Formula E driver market continues to solidify, Stoffel Vandoorne may find himself without a seat in the all-electric championship, as Citroen, replacing Stellantis’ sister brand Maserati, has confirmed Nick Cassidy and Jean-Eric Vergne as its drivers for next season.
Vandoorne currently shares test and reserve duties with Drugovich at Aston Martin, making it unlikely that both will be competing in the series simultaneously. Aston Martin’s young driver, Jak Crawford, who served as the reserve and development driver for Andretti in Formula E last season, is also expected to join Cadillac’s F1 team as a potential reserve driver following the signing of Colton Herta as a test driver earlier this month.
