ABB FIA FORMULA E WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO VALENCIA FOR FIVE DAYS OF PRE-SEASON TESTING
- Damian Hall
- Oct 26, 2025
- 4 min read
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Valencia, Spain, for the first time since 2023, kicking off five days of official pre-season testing ahead of what promises to be the series’ most ambitious campaign yet. From 27 to 31 October, all ten teams will take part in eight sessions as preparations begin for Season 12 of the world’s premier all-electric racing championship.
A Return That Means More
This year’s test carries special significance. Valencia has been a mainstay of Formula E testing since 2017, but devastating floods in 2024 forced the series to relocate. The championship has since helped raise more than €50,000 to support local recovery efforts, a gesture not lost on Formula E Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer Alberto Longo, who reflected on the return to Spanish soil.
“We’re delighted to be back in Valencia for Season 12 pre-season testing,” said Longo. “Spain is my home country, and I was especially heartbroken by the devastation that hit Valencia last year. I’m incredibly proud that Formula E supported vital work in restoring mobility to those in need, and we continue to support the region’s recovery efforts.”
Longo added that the test marks the first of two Spanish rounds on the calendar this season, with Formula E heading to Madrid for the first time in 2026, a landmark moment for both the championship and Spanish motorsport fans.
What’s New for Season 12
Following the FIA World Motorsport Council meeting in October, Formula E has introduced several key updates to its sporting regulations and race format.
The Qualifying format has been refined, with shorter 10-minute group stages and revised duel timings designed to make sessions faster and more competitive. Meanwhile, ATTACK MODE, a staple of Formula E’s strategy-based racing, has been updated to maintain unpredictability, introducing flexibility for races with or without PIT BOOST activations.
A notable change to the championship’s financial regulations ensures maternity and paternity pay are now excluded from the cost cap, strengthening Formula E’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness across teams.
On the sporting side, the Rookie Free Practice will debut at the 2026 Miami E-Prix, while the Rookie Collective Test will take place following the 2026 Madrid E-Prix, giving rising talents a chance to gain experience in Formula E machinery.
Season 12 also welcomes Citroën Racing to the grid and expands to 17 races across 11 venues, the championship’s largest calendar to date. The series will return to Sanya for the first time since Season 5, joining Shanghai as part of Formula E’s growing presence in China.
The Return of Formula E’s Women’s Test
After a successful debut in 2024, the Formula E Women’s Test returns in Valencia with double the track time and participation from all ten teams. The initiative underscores Formula E and the FIA’s long-term commitment to diversity and equality within motorsport, providing a platform for elite women drivers to showcase their talent in current GEN3 Evo cars.
Each team is required to field at least one woman driver, with the option to enter two. This year’s line-up includes some of the most exciting names in global motorsport, such as Jamie Chadwick, Abbi Pulling, Tatiana Calderón, and Bianca Bustamante.
The 2024 edition proved successful, with five drivers securing team roles afterward, three of whom remain with Formula E teams full-time.
Driver Market Shake-Up
There is no shortage of off-season intrigue ahead of Season 12. The newly formed Citroën Racing has joined the championship, signing Nick Cassidy and Jean-Éric Vergne, while Taylor Barnard steps into Vergne’s former seat at DS PENSKE. Felipe Drugovich joins Jake Dennis at Andretti Formula E, and Antonio Félix da Costa switches to Jaguar TCS Racing, partnering Mitch Evans.
Elsewhere, Norman Nato returns to Nissan Formula E alongside reigning champion Oliver Rowland, while Josep Maria Martí makes his Formula E debut with CUPRA Kiro, joining Dan Ticktum.
Season 12 Calendar Highlights
Season 12 will officially begin in São Paulo on 6 December 2025, before heading to Mexico City on 10 January. Formula E will then return to Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium circuit and make its long-awaited debut in Madrid on 21 March 2026.
From there, the championship continues across Europe with double-headers in Berlin and Monaco, before heading to Sanya, Shanghai, and Tokyo for an exciting Asian leg. The season concludes in London on 15 and 16 August 2026, the city that has hosted every Formula E finale since Season 9.
Insights and Inclusion
As the world’s most sustainable motorsport championship gears up for its biggest season yet, the mix of new venues, driver movements, and progressive policy updates highlights Formula E’s continued evolution.
The return to Valencia not only signals the start of a new chapter but reinforces the series’ commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and global growth, values that remain at the heart of the all-electric championship.
Follow the Action: Fans can keep up to date with all the developments from the Season 12 Pre-Season Test via Formula E’s official channels and app, which will provide live timing, session reports, and exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage from Valencia.
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