Photo: Chris Jones
Caio Collet spent 2024 as Nissan’s Formula E reserve driver, leading to a race outing, but has not remained in the role this year as he focuses on Indy Nxt.
Nissan utilised Collet in FE’s rookie practice session and rookie test during the 2023-24 season before calling him up to replace the ill Oliver Rowland at the Portland E-Prix. He started 13th and finished 18th on debut, and the next day was slowest in qualifying but finished 16th in the second race.
A week later, Collet was back with HMD Motorsports in Indy Nxt and claimed his first pole and win at Mid-Ohio. He came third in IndyCar’s primary feeder series as a rookie, with five other podium finishes. He has remained with HMD for 2025, and as the highest-placed returnee is considered a title favourite.
“For sure [being in FE] was something that helped me to develop a lot as a professional driver,” Collet reflected.
“That experience and that championship, the level is really high of competitiveness. It’s one of the highest I think today in the world. And it was really nice to be able to work and to be able to race in Portland.
“This year we tried 100% to focus on the United States, and Indy Nxt. Last year I travelled quite a bit to attend all the other races, so it was something where said ‘this year, let’s try and be 100% on the Indy Nxt and focus on getting to IndyCar’. But I’m really grateful for everything that I’ve learned and also everything that I experienced in FE. It’s a really nice championship, but this year we are 100% in Indy Nxt.”
Collet’s target is title honours, and believes the “patience” learned from 2024 will be key.
“[I learned] to be patient and wait for my time. Especially the oval racing I went a little bit too impatient, and also I underestimated a bit how things work. So to learn from that and also to improve for this year. And to be consistent. I think we have a big chance, especially at the beginning of the championship, to do good results. And for sure the expectation, together with the team, is to win.”
On ovals, his average position in races was outside of the top 10, despite making the podium in the Nashville Superspeedway finale.
“That [podium] was really important. I think the first three [ovals] were not that good. Especially the first two,” said Collet.
“We worked hard to improve. And to finish off the year in Nashville, not really fighting for the win but to be there on the podium was really important. Not only for me, but for my confidence and for the team to be able to show that we can learn from the mistakes and we can be there this year.”
The season begins in St. Petersburg, where Collet thinks “it’s really important to show what we came for” by laying down an early marker in the title fight.