Photo: Andretti Global
Formula 2 racer Jak Crawford leads the latest batch of junior single-seater stars being called up to drive in Formula E’s rookie test in Berlin next month.
Crawford will be in action with Andretti Global, who signed him as its FE reserve driver last November. The 20-year-old American is currently fourth in the F2 standings with two wins, and is also a junior driver for the Aston Martin Formula 1 team.
“I’m looking forward to getting back the car for another outing,” said Crawford. “It feels like it hasn’t been that long ago that I was driving in free practice zero in Jeddah, so I’m excited to get back out and put in some good work for the team.
“I really enjoyed driving the track in Berlin at last year’s rookie test and felt I performed well, so very much looking forward to getting some more laps under my belt.”
In Andretti’s other car will be Frederik Vesti, who was 2023 F2 runner-up and has been Mercedes-AMG’s F1 reserve driver since then. He drove for Mahindra in FE’s 2024 rookie test, and currently races hypercar class prototype sportscars in IMSA.
Porsche has made the surprise decision to hand car racing rookie Elia Weiss the chance to drive in Berlin.
The German, who only just turned 16 and therefore became eligible for the race license required to participate in the test, is backed by his national federation and won its championship for X30 Senior karts last year.
Weiss also came ninth in the IAME Euro Series in 2024, and was 16th in the WSK Euro Series for X30 Junior karts in 2023.
His car racing career began this March as he joined Cram Motorsport for the final two rounds of the Formula 4-spec Formula Winter Series. He had a best finish of 13th, and then embarked on a full Italian F4 campaign with Cram. Three rounds in, his best race result is a 16th place and he sits 34th in the standings.
“I’m incredibly proud – no doubt everyone dreams of being able to drive for Porsche!” Weiss said of his FE call-up.
“The fact that I get to do this is insane. It’s a huge step for me, which is why I have a lot of respect for it. But I’ve already practiced in the simulator in Weissach. It was all really positive: I was able to get to know the systems, felt right at home there, and got on really well with the engineers. Other than that, I’m preparing myself as best I can.
“In a FE car, you need a lot of strength and fitness, so I’m training particularly hard in those areas at the moment.”