The Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi has announced that he will leave the Formula E at the end of this season, a change motivated by the impossibility of combining his commitments between this competition and the World Endurance Championship (WEC), which also expands starting from 2027.
With the upcoming final of the London E-Prix on the horizon, his team, Envision, has confirmed that Buemi will take on an advisory and development role, ceasing to be an active driver. Trying to juggle competitions, Buemi expresses that starting next year, the workload in Formula E, along with the arrival of the new Gen4 era, will make it extremely complicated to have a dual program.
Since the beginning of Formula E, Buemi has been one of its original drivers. However, the new calendar, which will include 13 events, will greatly increase his commitment to Toyota, with whom he competes in the WEC. The driver commented that, although Formula E had adjusted the schedule to avoid overlaps, conducting tests would be an almost impossible challenge to manage.
In a statement regarding his change, Buemi said: ‘The decision has been a joint effort, but ultimately the team determined the time I could dedicate to both categories.’ Recognized for his dedication, he also mentioned that having a family and three children influenced his decision to prioritize a single professional path.
Buemi has raced for Toyota in the WEC since 2013, and his current contract states that the Japanese brand has priority over his commitments with Envision. At the same time, Buemi acts as a simulator driver for Red Bull in Formula 1, requiring several visits to its work center in Milton Keynes.
Experts indicate that the calendar for Formula E for the 2026-27 season will only have one conflict with the WEC, with the Shanghai E-Prix scheduled to coincide with the 6 Hours of São Paulo. With these changes, Buemi will focus on achieving results with Toyota, leaving behind a successful chapter in Formula E.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_e3c201bbf5851e1d22c85e746a21f0730e56452e