FE's Rookie Free Practice Session taking shape

The lineup for Formula E’s annual Rookie Free Practice Session, taking place in Miami later this week, has been firmed up with Nissan, Jaguar TCS Racing, Envision Racing, and Lola Yamaha Abt all confirming their drivers.

All teams must run one car in the 40-minute session, but Nissan – which is one of only two manufacturers (along with Lola Yamaha) to not have a customer team this season following the withdrawal of McLaren at the end of last year – is running two to maximize its track time ahead of the first Formula E race at Miami International Autodrome.

The Japanese squad will be fielding its rookie and simulator driver Abbi Pulling (main image), who has taken part in the official pre-season Women's tests for the last two years as well as last season's Rookie Test in Berlin. While the Miami International Autodrome is a new venue for Formula E, it’s one that Pulling has experience of, having won twice there during her triumphant 2024 F1 Academy campaign.

“It’s a pleasure to be back on-track with Nissan Formula E Team and I feel very fortunate to be working with such a great outfit,” said Pulling. “I’m delighted to be trusted with this Rookie Free Practice session as it’ll be the first official running at a brand-new circuit for Formula E so data collection will be crucial. 

“This is now my fourth outing in the Nissan e-4ORCE 05 and, alongside my work in the simulator, I feel like I’ve now got a good understanding of the car. I’ve raced at Miami International Autodrome before in F1 Academy and, even though the track layout will be different, it will be a great spectacle across the weekend.”

In the second car will be Formula 2 driver Gabriele Mini, a member of sister brand Alpine's driver academy, will be in the team's other car having driven for the team in the Berlin Rookie Tests for the last two seasons, as well as last season’s Rookie Free Practice in Jeddah.

“It feels great to be back with Nissan Formula E Team in Miami for the Rookie Free Practice session,” said Mini. “I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo car following Jeddah and Berlin last year. We showed strong pace in both of those sessions and I learned a lot, so I’m aiming for more of the same this time around. 

“The Miami track will be new for the teams, so the main goal of the session is to collect lots of data and information for the team to use throughout the weekend.”

Envision Racing will also be giving track time to one of its simulator drivers, with Zak O'Sullivan once again driving for the team after having previously participated in the Rookie Free Practice session in Jeddah and the Rookie Test in Berlin last season.

Lola Yamaha Abt is also turning to a somewhat known quantity with its driver choice of Hugh Barter, who took part in the 2023 and 2025 Berlin Rookie Tests for Maserati MSG Racing and Lola respectively. He, too, serves as his team's regular test and simulator driver and has been working on the manufacturer’s new GEN4 platform alongside current season commitments.

“We are very pleased that Hugh is returning to the track with Lola Yamaha ABT,” said Mark Preston, Lola Yamaha ABT team principal. “He has provided invaluable feedback both in the sim, and behind the wheel of the GEN4 car we are currently developing, so we look forward to getting additional input from him in Miami while giving him crucial development time on track.”

Finally, Jaguar TCS Racing is giving the nod to Formula 3 driver Alessandro Giusti, who at 19-years-old, is the youngest driver participating.

“I am really looking forward to driving the Jaguar I-TYPE 7 at the rookie free practice session in Miami,” said the Frenchman. “It will be a great feeling to test a Formula E GEN3 Evo car once more, and I am thankful to Jaguar TCS Racing for the opportunity and look forward to working with the whole team.”