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The Formula E rookie test makes its return this weekend as 20 emerging talents prepare to get behind the wheel of the championship’s latest machine, the GEN3 Evo, following Round 6 of the 2025/26 season in Madrid.
While the spotlight will initially fall on the Spanish capital’s first-ever E-Prix at the Circuito del Jarama, attention quickly shifts to Sunday 22 March, when all 10 teams field two rookie drivers for a mandatory, full-day test — an initiative that continues to serve as a key pathway into the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
The Madrid Rookie Test is a compulsory session in which each team runs two drivers with limited Formula E race experience. Over time, the initiative has evolved into a cornerstone of the championship’s talent development structure.
Beyond the annual rookie test, Formula E has broadened its opportunities through initiatives such as the Women’s Test, held during pre-season testing for the past two years, and the Rookie Free Practice session staged earlier this season in Miami.
The results are tangible. Previous rookie test participants including Taylor Barnard, Nick Cassidy, Max Guenther, and Nyck de Vries have all progressed into full-time Formula E seats — underlining the competitive and professional significance of these sessions.
The confirmed entry list features a blend of reigning champions, Formula 2 race winners, development drivers, and even a Formula 1 podium finisher.
Slater, currently competing in FIA Formula 3 and recently announced as the first member of the Audi Driver Development Programme, will sample Formula E machinery for the first time. Voisin returns for a second GEN3 Evo outing, bringing experience from FIA Formula 2 and the Asian Le Mans Series.
Pourchaire impressed during the Miami Rookie Free Practice, finishing P2 just 0.093 seconds off the fastest time. He currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Peugeot. Dürksen, an FIA Formula 2 race winner, will make his GEN3 Evo debut as he continues his third F2 campaign with Invicta Racing.
Official Development Driver Bianca Bustamante returns to Formula E action after progressing from W Series and F1 Academy — where she secured two wins and five podiums — to the GB3 Championship. FIA Formula 2 driver Cian Shields will make his first Formula E appearance, having also represented Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team in FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.
Daniil Kvyat returns for another rookie outing, having previously participated in Berlin and Jeddah sessions. Bedrin, a former standout in international karting and a 2024 FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race winner, continues to build experience at the top levels of junior single-seater racing.
Zak O’Sullivan returns for his fourth Formula E test and continues to support Envision Racing as Simulator Driver. He is set for his second Super Formula season this year. Ella Lloyd, also taking part for the fourth time, finished fourth in last year’s F1 Academy standings and continues in the series this season.
Juju Noda returns for her second GEN3 Evo test after participating in the 2025 Women’s Test. In 2024, she became the first Japanese woman to race in Super Formula. Indy NXT competitor Bryce Aron, currently in his third season with two podiums to his name, makes his Formula E debut.
Simulator Driver Hugh Barter takes on his fourth Formula E test, having most recently finished ninth in the Miami Rookie Free Practice. Formula 2 race winner Richard Verschoor will experience Formula E machinery for the first time, adding to a CV that includes victory at the 2019 Macau Grand Prix.
Reserve Driver Kush Maini, who topped the 2025 Jeddah Rookie Free Practice session, continues his testing duties with valuable in-season experience. Théophile Naël, 18, makes his Formula E debut after winning the F4 Spanish Championship and the 2025 Macau Grand Prix.
Abbi Pulling, Nissan’s simulator driver, returns for her fifth GEN3 Evo outing. She was the fastest driver at the inaugural Women’s Test in Madrid and continued her strong form in Valencia. The 2024 F1 Academy champion will race in GB3 this season. Victor Martins, a Williams F1 Team Test and Development Driver, adds further Formula E testing experience to his résumé and is set to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Alpine in 2026.
Reigning DTM champion Ayhancan Güven makes his third GEN3 Evo appearance after participating in Miami and Berlin sessions. Sixteen-year-old Elia Weiss returns as well, having become the youngest driver to test Formula E machinery last year shortly after his 16th birthday. He has recently completed his first season in the UAE4 Series.
The Madrid Rookie Test once again highlights Formula E’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent while offering teams valuable data-gathering opportunities with the GEN3 Evo.
With a grid that blends youth, championship pedigree and cross-discipline experience, Sunday’s running at Jarama is more than a development exercise — it is a glimpse into the championship’s potential future.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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