Formula E: Robin Frijns Leaves ABT CUPRA After Season 9 Final Race in London
Before the Hankook London E-Prix Round 16, team head Thomas Biermaier confirmed to, Formula E's German broadcast partner, that the Dutchman will definitely be leaving the Kempten team following the Season 9 finale.
By Divyam Dubey
The conclusion of the 2022–23 Formula E season marked the official end of Robin Frijns' time with ABT CUPRA. The team confirmed Frijns' contract termination for 2024 just before the last race in London began, freeing him to pursue other opportunities. After the Rome E-Prix, it was claimed that the two-time Formula E champion has struck a contract with his previous side, Envision, to return to the Silverstone-based team. After Sam Bird's departure from Jaguar TCS Racing, Nick Cassidy is set to be named as Bird's successor. Robin Frijns will form a very experienced driver combination with Sébastian Buemi if ends up in Envision. The Kempten-based squad had the least competitive package on the grid, therefore Frijns' comeback this season was a bust. Mahindra, their powertrain provider, also had a terrible year, which contributed significantly to the disaster.
Formula E: Robin Frijns' Season 9
The 2022/23 season for the experienced Dutchman did not go as smoothly as anticipated by either side. Mueller easily outpaced his colleague in his comeback to the competition, despite the fact that ABT CUPRA's Mahindra powertrain lacked acceleration and efficiency at times. After breaking his hand in the first race of the season in Mexico City, Frijns had to sit out four races.
Despite finishing Season 9 with only two points-scores and six overall compared to Mueller's fifteen, the highlight for ABT in Berlin was winning the Julius Baer Pole Position on home soil. Driver market silly season was in full swing over the London weekend, and rumours abounded that the Dutchman would return to drive for his former team, Envision Racing, while the runner-up in the 2022/23 Drivers' Championship, Nick Cassidy, would replace the departing Sam Bird at Jaguar TCS Racing.
Also Read: Formula E London E-Prix: Envision Racing Clinches Team Championship with Nick Cassidy's Finale Win
Formula E: Sam Bird Set to Leave Jaguar
In his three years with Jaguar, Bird scored two race victories, seven podium finishes, and 233 total points. After the first season with GEN3, the British driver finished eighth and received high praise for his "fundamental" role in the team's success in Formula E. In Race 1 of the Formula E season, held in Diriyah, Bird started his 100th race. The British man referred to the ups and downs of his season. In Hyderabad, he had a collision with teammate Mitch Evans, who was also in contention for first place. The two got into it again in Jakarta, when Evans was in seventh place; the altercation cost a lot of time and money, and it may have decided the Drivers' and Teams' World Championships in the end.
London's paddock was buzzing with speculation as Formula E reached its season finale. There was a lot of buzz around Bird before Jaguar officially confirmed his move, with rumours suggesting he may join NEOM McLaren in Season 10.
