Envision Racing has announced that Joel Eriksson will race alongside Sebastien Buemi in Season 12 of Formula E, signing a multi-year deal.
Eriksson is no stranger to the Silverstone-based team, taking part in a rookie test with Envision back in 2018. Since then, the Swede had been racing in various GT series while looking for an opening in the all-electric category.
The 27-year-old also demonstrated his race capabilities in FE back in 2021, when he filled in for Nico Müller at Dragon/Penske Autosport in the final eight rounds of the season, achieving one points finish in London.
He faced a similar opportunity in Season 10, when he subbed in for Robin Frijns – the man is he replacing – in Berlin due to scheduling conflicts, managing to take points in the second race of that weekend.
Eriksson’s move to a full-time role with Envision follows Frijns’ departure from the team, having opted to sign the him to a multi-year deal. Eriksson said in a statement:
“I am delighted to have signed with Envision Racing. It is a huge moment in my career and one that I have been working towards for a while.
“I am very thankful to the team for their trust, and I can’t wait to get started for my first full season of Formula E.”
Eriksson has spent ‘a lot of years’ working for an FE seat
Speaking to media including Motorsport Week Eriksson touched on how he has had his eyes on competing in Formula E for some time.
“I mean, ever since our first test together back in 2018 in Marrakech at the Rookie Test, it really gave me the sign that this is the championship and the car I want to race in,” he said.
“So it’s really been quite a lot of years working towards this.
“Then obviously, after the opportunity I got from the team last year in Berlin, I mean, everything worked very smoothly and we obviously knew each other already before, like mentioned already in 2018.”
Eriksson spoke about how the team helped him get up to speed quickly, especially when he jumped behind the wheel for his Berlin outing.
“Working with the team, they welcomed me with open arms, and they really did everything to get me up to speed.
“Because obviously, going into the Berlin race weekend last year without any proper testing. I obviously worked as much as I could in the simulator to be as prepared as possible.
“It worked out pretty well with some points in race two. But I really think our strongest point of the weekend was race one, where we really had some strong pace.
“So I think that was really where we all recognised or realised that there is some potential that we should definitely try.”
The Swedish driver highlighted his appearance in Berlin during Season 10 as the catalyst for him securing a full-time drive in FE. Eriksson admitted he felt that was the turning point as he “‘raced in the right way.”
“I really felt that I raced in the right way. So I think with this strategy, I mean, combined with how the team wanted us to play it out in the race.
“We then combined with a bit of optimisation during the race, as everything changes, obviously, it never really goes to plan.
“Then, with my decisions behind the steering wheel, were working out really well.”
The handling of FE cars, in comparison to the GT machinery Eriksson was used to, posed a challenge to the driver, and yet the Swede quickly got to grips with the cars’ handling.
“I actually really suited the Formula E racing style,” he said. “There was also the sign for myself that, yeah, this is really working for me and it’s coming more or less naturally to me, how you race in a Formula E car.
“As we all know, it’s not flat-out racing. There is a lot of stuff in the background going on.”
Eriksson had hoped the opening might come in Season 11, but with the team committed to their line-up, the Swedish driver was forced to hold off a little longer.
“I think that’s where it all started, to be honest. Obviously, there was no opportunity for the season after Berlin last year, because the team already had a driver signed, unfortunately.
“But now, as everything opened up, the opportunity came and the team offered it to me.”
Envision ‘excited’ for Eriksson’s ‘extensive knowledge’
The team released statements regarding the Swede’s multi-year contract with Envision Racing. Envision Racing Managing Director & CTO, Sylvain Filippi, said:
“We are very excited to announce Joel as our newest driver. We have known Joel for a number of years now, going back to his first-ever Formula E test with us, and racing for us last season in Berlin.
“On both occasions, he proved to us how talented he is and adapted very quickly to the Formula E style of racing in Berlin, delivering points on debut.
“With Joel’s extensive knowledge and experience working on the simulator with Jaguar, we are confident that he will deliver for us, and we will be doing all we can to help him hit the ground running.”
Franz Jung, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Envision Racing, said: “We are very happy and proud to welcome Joel to Envision Racing.
“Joel impressed us last season in Berlin, and we are looking forward to building on this as he begins his new venture as a full-time driver.”
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