Dragon confirms Muller for final 2020/21 FE spot
Dragon/Penske Autosport has finally confirmed that Nico Muller will remain at the Formula E team to partner Sergio Sette Camara for the forthcoming 2020-21 season.
Muller is the last driver on the 24-car grid to be officially confirmed and had been widely expected to keep hold of his seat after a decent first season for the American squad.
The 2020 DTM runner-up for Audi in the final year of the Class One regulations, Muller tested the new Penske EV-5 car in private sessions and in the three-day official pre-season test in Valencia earlier this month.
But due to delays in his contract, Motorsport.com understands the Swiss driver was not able to take part in media day filming, the footage of which will be used during TV broadcasts.
Muller said: “We have shown on multiple instances that the potential is there, and in our second season, we want to convert this into the results we know we all deserve. The whole team is very hungry for it, and we will never stop pushing and improving ourselves.
“I embrace the attitude everyone in the team has – we never give up even in the tougher times as we fight the biggest names in this championship.”
For the second year in succession, the Dragon team – which is owned by Jay Penske, Roger’s son – showed impressive pace during testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Muller ranked third quickest overall, having done so in 2019, while Sette Camara was second fastest and only 0.036s adrift of pacesetter Maximilian Gunther for BMW Andretti – the manufacturer, along with Audi, will quit FE at the end of the season.
But Dragon struggled in 2019-20, only achieving one points finish, which came courtesy of former Toro Rosso Formula 1 driver Brendon Hartley.
Hartley departed the team during the coronavirus hiatus to be replaced by Red Bull and AlphaTauri reserve driver Sette Camara for the six-race season finale in Berlin. Sette Camara proved particularly strong during qualifying, twice scoring a top-10 grid position, only to lose out in the races.
Team principal Penske added: “I am very pleased that our alliance with Nico will continue. Nico provided invaluable feedback throughout a challenging rookie season that we built into this year’s package.
“With the combination of his technical feedback, inherent race craft, and the additional resources we are bringing to the table to support the team, I am confident that we will give him a more competitive package for 2021.
“I expect him to deliver solid results during his second season in Formula E.”
Related video
Previous article
Venturi Formula E team sold to investor group
Next article
McLaren considering Formula E entry under Gen3 rules
About this article
| Series | Formula E |
| Drivers | Nico Müller |
| Teams | Dragon Racing |
| Author | Matt Kew |
Why the new Formula E season got off to such a controversial start
With the new Formula E season belatedly getting underway in Saudi Arabia, the championship appeared to try to make up for lost time with an overspill of action and controversy on and off the track. While some talking points could have serious repercussions, it was an explosive opener for many reasons.
The eight major plotlines to watch in Formula E 2021
The delayed 2020-21 Formula E season gets underway this week with a double-header in Saudi Arabia. The testing times were too close to call a favourite, but that's not the only area of interest to follow as the championship enters a crucial year
Why Formula E's 2021 season will be a crucial litmus test
As off-track politics threatens to overshadow events on it, the upcoming Formula E season is perhaps its most important since the championship's inception. And that's a shame, given that the focus should be on what promises to be its closest title fight yet.
How Mercedes and Porsche can avoid a difficult second FE album
Mercedes and Porsche compete to win and have done so across the board: in Formula 1, sportscars, the Dakar Rally and endurance road races - even working together to break land speed records. Next in the crosshairs is the Formula E teams' championship crown.
What Formula E must do for McLaren to act on its attraction
News that McLaren is formally considering a Formula E move is a much-needed boost for a series that took some punches at the end of 2020. But to allay any doubts that Zak Brown may have, FE must take action on its biggest potential stumbling block
Why BMW and Audi have pulled the plug on Formula E
BMW and Audi shocked the Formula E fraternity by announcing their departures at the end of the 2020-21 season. Overnight, the championship has been dealt something of a "wake-up call" - including questions about its relevance to manufacturers.
What we learned from Formula E's Valencia test
There was no shortage of intrigue surrounding Formula E's pre-season test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, dominated by talk of Audi's impending exit. But it still served to whet appetites for the start of another competitive season in January
The logic behind Audi’s surprise change of course
OPINION: Audi announcing its imminent Formula E departure on the eve of its first season with world championship status might come as something of a shock. But while it doesn't equate to a rejection of VW's electrification push, there is reason to it...
