Felipe Drugovich will join the Andretti Global Formula E team next year, having secured his first full-time racing role since winning the 2022 Formula 2 title. The Brazilian joined Aston Martin as a reserve driver after that triumph, in the hope of making the step up to a Formula 1 race seat.
But that opportunity has never arisen for Drugovich, 25, despite holding talks with multiple teams. And after failing to land one of the two new race seats available at fledgling outfit Cadillac, who chose instead to sign experienced duo Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, he has now committed to racing elsewhere.
"I'm so happy to announce that I'll be joining Andretti Formula E, and I'm really excited about what's ahead," he said. "My team and I have been in touch with Andretti ever since I won the Formula 2 title, so it's great that we've managed to stay connected all this time and finally have the opportunity to work together."
Mirror Sport understands Drugovich will leave his role as Aston Martin reserve as part of his full-time switch. Maserati MSG driver Stoffel Vandoorne has combined his Formula E racing with his duties with the Silverstone-based outfit, though Drugovich will not follow the same path.
An Aston Martin spokesperson could not confirm his impending departure and said: "Aston Martin Aramco have Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll contracted as race drivers until the end of 2026. The wider driving squad for next year will be announced in due course."
Cadillac have yet to confirm a reserve driver for their 2026 debut. Drugovich is likely to be a strong candidate, given the 11th F1 team is owned by American company TWG Motorsports which also operates the Andretti FE outfit.
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In his new full-time racing gig, Drugovich will partner Britain's Jake Dennis who won the Formula E title in 2023. He is set to make his debut at the 2025-26 season opener in Sao Paulo on December 6, which will be his first competitive race in his homeland for more than a decade, when he was a child in karting.
He said: "It has been far too long for me without racing, so I am incredibly motivated to get back on a racetrack. It means a lot to know I will be competing in every session and not just serving as a reserve, as I have done the past few years. I am very thankful to the entire Andretti Global organization for believing in my potential and for being so supportive."
Andretti FE team principal Roger Griffiths said: "I am personally very excited to welcome Felipe to the Andretti Formula E team. Felipe is a driver who has been on our radar for some time, and we have watched his progress throughout various Formula E test sessions with a great deal of interest.
"He's a fast and intelligent driver who has already demonstrated he can quickly adapt to the demands of the championship, as we saw during his debut in Berlin. As we look at the re-development of the team under our new ownership structure, we see Felipe working alongside Jake as a hugely important part of both our present and our future in the series."
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