Felipe Drugovich
Formula 1 via Getty Images
The logical argument would be that a Formula 2 World Champion should secure a seat in Formula 1. But the path to the pinnacle is more a maze than a ladder, riddled with politics, paywalls, and just 20 coveted seats up for grabs.
“I got really close many, many times [to Formula 1]… it’s something I need to keep for myself, know how much I’m worth and how much I can do on track. Hopefully, I can deliver in places that give me the opportunity,” said Drugovich.
For three years, Felipe Drugovich stood at the edge of the F1 world as Aston Martin’s reserve driver, suited up and ready, yet never called to the grid. Now the Brazilian has stepped back into racing full-time, signing with Andretti in Formula E.
Felipe Drugovich joins Andretti FE for the 2025-26 Formula E World Championship
Andretti FE
It’s a decision that feels more about direction than destination. Aston Martin’s driver lineup, Fernando Alonso, the ageless competitor, and Lance Stroll, left no room for opportunity no matter how prepared Drugovich was. He waited, as many reserve drivers do, in the shadows of two drivers who weren’t going anywhere. For a time, he was the reliable insurance policy that never activated.
Talent is necessary, but timing is everything. A world champion in Formula 2 isn’t guaranteed a single lap in Formula 1. The sport’s revolving door spins for those with sponsorship, legacy, or sheer luck. Drugovich had the results, the discipline, and the patience. What he lacked was the opening. Until he decided that it was time to chase it elsewhere.
“At the moment, I’m happy I have this opportunity [at Formula E]. It’s a championship of massive calibre and people are racing at really high levels. I’m really looking forward to the competition,” he said.
“It feels very good… finally getting the rust a little bit off my body and getting back to race.”
The Move To Formula E
Back in 2023, Drugovich was part of the roster of drivers selected to test Formula E’s GEN3 car. That test came with Maserati MSG, where Drugovich clocked the fastest time of the session.
This year, he made his competitive debut at the Berlin E-Prix, stepping in for Nick de Vries at Mahindra. Though it was a one-off, the experience affirmed his ambition to race in Formula E. “I had the opportunity also to race in Berlin, which made me really think, OK, I really want to do this,” he said.
“I’m really happy with this [move to Andretti] and really happy its also in the championship as big as Formula E and also in a good team, as good as Andretti,” added Drugovich.
Shaping His Mentality
The term “rookie mistake” gets thrown around, often as shorthand for an inexperienced error. Drivers in their debut year often test the limits of their car, overstepping, trying to brake later, pushing a little too far sometimes. However, it can be argued that only then can they truly understand where control ends and instinct begins. That’s where real growth can happen.
Drugovich said, “I think I need to actually think a little bit more in a long term way…just try to dive in, make the mistakes and actually learn as much as I can at the beginning of the championship.”
This approach is almost the antithesis of how he handled the one-off races during his time away from full-time competition. The Brazilian driver kept his instincts sharp through appearances at Le Mans and in IMSA, experiences that demanded quick adaptation and limited learning windows.
“If I do a one-off race, for example, like I did in Le Mans, I need to learn as much as I can even though it’s not the perfect way of learning, but try to deliver as soon as possible,” he said. “Whereas you have a whole year to learn and you have time. Maybe you need to take a different approach, like start a little bit fresher.”
That sense of adaptability will be key in Formula E during high-stakes qualifying duels and chaotic races weekends.
“I think the stuff that is most difficult… is just reading the races a little bit, how energy sensitive, how you need to manage the energy throughout every race and the way you’re racing and where you’re positioning the car in every corner,” said Drugovich. “It will be also what I need to learn the most.”
Having been away from full-time racing, Drugovich is eager to reset his mindset, anchoring it in enjoyment.
“I need to be happy in the car. I need to be comfortable with the car…And I think also that can bring me a lot of good results…just being easygoing and in an enjoyable mindset.”
Learning from the Champion
Drugovich’s entry into Formula E comes alongside reigning champion Jake Dennis at American outfit Andretti. “I don’t see him as a rival at the beginning,” said Drugovich.
“I think he couldn’t be like a better guy for me to learn from. He’s really experienced. He knows how to do stuff in Formula E and I can really take him as a benchmark and try to match him as soon as possible,” he added.
For Andretti, pairing an experienced Formula E world champion with an ambition-hungry rookie hints at their long-term intent.
“We’re just trying to do the best for the team, actually put the team back on top…that’s the main thing,” said the Brazilian.
Formula E might not have been the next chapter many expected for Drugovich, but it’s one that lets him race on his own terms, to rediscover the rhythm, the purpose, the spark that first made him love the sport. And if happiness really is the secret to his best form, this might just be the start of something quietly powerful.
Disclaimer: This news has been automatically collected from the source link above. Our website does not create, edit, or publish the content. All information, statements, and opinions expressed belong solely to the original publisher. We are not responsible or liable for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any news, nor for any statements, views, or claims made in the content. All rights remain with the respective source.