Strong Start to Season 12 for Buemi and Envision Racing in São Paulo

Sébastien Buemi and new team-mate Joel Eriksson kicked off Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with a solid double-points finish in a dramatic opening race in São Paulo.

Buemi brought home P8 at the end of a chaotic E-Prix, showcasing experience and consistency on a track known for its unpredictable nature. Starting from P11 on the grid, the Swiss driver managed to stay clear of trouble during a race interrupted by multiple Safety Cars and a Red Flag. Despite seeing his final Attack Mode activation neutralised by the Safety Car, he maintained a strong position and crossed the line well inside the top ten.

Alongside him, Joel Eriksson made a remarkable debut as a full-time Envision Racing driver, climbing from P18 on the grid to finish P7. The Swedish driver opted for a patient approach in the opening stages, saving energy before launching a late-race charge that paid off.

The weekend got off to a challenging start for the team, with Friday’s FP1 session cancelled due to a radio communication issue. That limited running time, particularly impacting Eriksson, who had never driven the São Paulo circuit before. In qualifying, Buemi looked strong in Group B but a small mistake in his flying lap cost him a spot in the duels, eventually starting P11 after penalties. Eriksson concluded his first Formula E qualifying session in P18.

In the race, both Envision Racing drivers made clean starts and gained positions early on. With energy management once again playing a critical role, the team’s split strategies looked promising—until an untimely Safety Car deployment nullified their final Attack Mode activations. The chaos peaked with a Red Flag following a heavy crash, leading to a one-lap shootout after a rolling restart. Both Buemi and Eriksson held their ground to finish P8 and P7 respectively.

Ten points on the board and fifth in the Teams’ Championship is a strong platform for Envision Racing as they look ahead to Round 2 in Mexico City this January.