Porsche is considering a potential change in its driver lineup for the 2024-25 Formula E season following a recent test with Abt Cupra driver Nico Mueller. The team is currently leading the drivers’ championship with Pascal Wehrlein, who has had strong performances while his teammate Antonio Felix da Costa struggled initially but has since achieved top six finishes in Sao Paulo and Tokyo.
Mueller is now being linked to a potential move to Porsche for next season and is believed to be available at the end of the current campaign. When asked about the test, a representative from Porsche stated that they follow the standard process of testing other drivers for future evaluations but did not disclose the names of the drivers tested.
The test is believed to have focused on the upcoming Gen3.5 changes for next season, indicating that Porsche may make changes to its current lineup. Wehrlein has a secure deal and option with Porsche for next season, while the details of da Costa’s contract are unknown but likely include an option on his services.
Mueller’s test suggests that a move for the Swiss driver, who has worked closely with Modlinger in the DTM, is imminent or already underway. Abt Cupra declined to comment on Mueller’s test. Mueller faces complex choices as he also represents Porsche’s rival Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship, where Peugeot’s parent company Stellantis is already represented by DS and Maserati.
Mueller already has a connection to Porsche’s parent company, the VW Group, through his Abt team’s branding deal with Cupra. He has delivered impressive performances for Abt Cupra, scoring all of the team’s points since last summer and consistently performing well in qualifying. He has been instrumental in the resurgence of the Mahindra Gen3 design that Abt runs as a customer.
Wehrlein has outscored da Costa by 43 points this season, but da Costa achieved his best result for the team since June last year by finishing fourth in the most recent race in Tokyo.
In addition to Mueller’s test, Porsche will also be conducting Formula E tests with Thomas Preining, Dennis Hauger, and Matt Campbell at upcoming E-Prixs. Preining has previously tested with the team, while Hauger and Campbell will have their first Formula E experience. Campbell has had a successful start to his season, winning prestigious races in Porsches, and impressed at the opening round of the WEC. Hauger is competing in his third F2 season, while Preining will continue racing for the Manthey squad in this year’s DTM.