Formula E heads to Madrid for Round 6 of the 2025/26 season, but the action doesn't stop after the E-Prix, because on Sunday, the rookie test returns - giving motorsport’s biggest talents the chance to sample Formula E's latest car, the GEN3 Evo.
NEWS: Rookie Test set for CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix race weekend
What is the Madrid Rookie Test?
The mandatory test sees all 10 teams field two ‘rookies’ to get behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo for an all-day test. It has become an annual event, with Formula E and its teams having a long history of providing talent, working their way up the motor racing ladder, equal opportunities in current racing machinery.
This has also expanded over time, with the championship breaking new ground with the Women's Test, which has taken place during Pre-Season Testing for the past two seasons. There was also a Rookie Free Practice held in Miami ahead of the Miami E-Prix earlier this season.
PREVIEW: Madrid makes its Formula E race debut as Spain hosts Round 6
All 10 teams have now confirmed the talent that will be jumping into the cars during the Season 12 Madrid Rookie Test, with drivers that include the reigning DTM champion, recent FIA Formula 2 race winners, and a Formula 1 podium finisher.
Who is confirmed for the 2026 Madrid Rookie Test?
Here is the full confirmed list of drivers for the Madrid Rookie Test:
| Team | Driver | Driver |
| Andretti | Freddie Slater | Callum Voisin |
| Citroën Racing | Théo Pourchaire | Joshua Dürksen |
| CUPRA KIRO | Bianca Bustamante | Cian Shields |
| DS PENSKE | Nikita Bedrin | Daniil Kvyat |
| Envision Racing | Ella Lloyd | Zak O'Sullivan |
| Jaguar TCS Racing | Juju Noda | Bryce Aron |
| Lola Yamaha ABT | Hugh Barter | Richard Verschoor |
| Mahindra Racing | Kush Maini | Théophile Naël |
| Nissan | Abbi Pulling | Victor Martins |
| Porsche | Elia Weiss | Ayhancan Güven |
The Rookie Tests have been a proven pathway to Formula E too, with the likes of Taylor Barnard (DS PENSKE), multi-race winner Nick Cassidy (Citroën Racing), Max Guenther (DS PENSKE) and former champion Nyck de Vries (Mahindra Racing) all graduating from rookie tests into full-time seats.
Andretti
Two young Brits make up Andretti's Madrid Rookie Test line-up, Freddie Slater and Callum Voisin. For Slater, the upcoming test will be his first opportunity to get behind the wheel of Formula E machinery, whilst for Voisin the test marks a second chance to develop his skills and knowledge of the GEN3 Evo.
Slater currently competes in FIA Formula 3, and recently became the first driver to join the Audi Driver Development Programme. Voisin has most recently finished his second season in FIA Formula 2 and currently races in the Asian Le Mans Series for High Class Racing.
Citroën Racing
Théo Pourchaire is no stranger to testing Formula E machinery, having impressed many in the paddock with his performance in the Miami Rookie Free Practice session, after finishing the session in P2, just 0.093 off the fastest time. The 22-year-old currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Peugeot.
Citroën will also give an opportunity to FIA Formula 2 race winner, Joshua Dürksen - his first time in the GEN3 Evo. This year, Dürksen continues in Formula 2 for a third season, representing Invicta Racing.
CUPRA KIRO
CUPRA KIRO will field their official Development Driver, Bianca Bustamante for the Madrid test. The Filipino talent raced in W Series before joining F1 Academy, and after securing two victories and a total of five podiums in a highly competitive field, Bianca stepped up to the hotly contested GB3 Championship for 2025.
Completing the teams' line up is 21-year-old FIA Formula 2 driver, Cian Shields, who will get his first opportunity to test Formula E machinery. Last year, Shields made his full season debut in FIA Formula 2 with AIX Racing, as well as representing Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team in FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in his capacity as team test driver.
DS PENSKE
Over at DS PENSKE, Formula 1 veteran, Daniil Kvyat, will return to the team for the day-long session. The Russian-born driver has taken part in rookie sessions before, at the 2024 Rookie Test in Berlin with then-NIO 333. The Russian also took the wheel of the DS E-TENSE FE25 during the FP0 session at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, as well as last year's Berlin Rookie Test.
On the other side of the garage, Nikita Bedrin returns to the championship. Bedrin is multiple winner in international karting competition, having made headlines by dominating the 2020 WSK Super Master Series. More recently, he captured his first FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race victory in 2024, confirming his potential at the highest levels of junior single-seater racing.
Envision Racing
Envision Racing, will be bringing back Brit Zak O’Sullivan for his fourth opportunity in Formula E machinery. The Brit joined the Envision Racing squad in 2025 as their Simulator Driver, and has been playing a crucial role behind-the-scenes, supporting drivers Sébastien Buemi and Joel Eriksson. This year, O'Sullivan is set to compete in Super Formula, his second season in the championship.
Joining O'Sullivan, for what is also her fourth opportunity in the GEN3 Evo, is McLaren Development Driver, Ella Lloyd. Last year, Ella competed in F1 Academy, finishing the season 4th in the championship with 109 points - she continues in the championship this season.
Jaguar TCS Racing
Two international rising stars make up Jaguar TCS Racing's Madrid Rookie Test line-up, Juju Noda and Bryce Aron. For Noda, the test marks her second opportunity in the GEN3 Evo, having previously taken part in the 2025 Women's Test in Valencia. In 2024, Juju made history by becoming the first Japanese woman to race in Super Formula, Japan’s premier single-seater championship.
Formula E newcomer, Bryce Aron, will also join the test, the 22-year-old is currently embarking on his third season in the Indy NXT series, where he has achieved two podiums and multiple top-ten finishes.
Lola Yamaha ABT
Lola Yamaha ABT's Simulator Driver, Hugh Barter, will get his fourth opportunity to experience Formula E machinery, having most recently taken part in the Miami Rookie Free Practice session earlier this season, where he finished ninth. In his role with the team, Barter plays a crucial role in helping to optimise car setup and strategy for this season
Formula 2 race winner, Richard Verschoor, will get his first opportunity in Formula E machinery, representing Lola Yamaha ABT. Verschoor has wealth of motorsport experience, having achieved victory at the 2019 Macau Grand Prix, as well as multiple race victories in Formula 2.
Mahindra Racing
Having signed with the team in Season 10, Mahindra Racing Reserve Driver, Kush Maini, has continually impressed during the testing opportunities he’s been given in-season which includes topping the 2025 Jeddah Rookie Free Practice. Taking part in the Madrid test, Maini's knowledge and experience behind the wheel will no doubt help to gather valuable data for the Mahindra squad.
The team has also called upon 18-year-old Théophile Naël, who will get his first experience of Formula E's all-electric machinery in Madrid. The Frenchman has achieved victories in the F4 Spanish Championship - where he was crowned champion - and a win at the 2025 Macau Grand Prix.
Nissan
Nissan simulator driver, Abbi Pulling, will get her fifth outing in the GEN3 Evo. Pulling was the quickest driver in the inaugural Women’s Test, held in Madrid, and continued to look rapid over the course of the Valencia test held ahead of the start of this season. Pulling, who won the F1 Academy title in 2024, is set to compete in the GB3 championship this season with Rodin Motorsport.
Joining her will be Williams F1 Team Test and Development Driver, Victor Martins. Martins has previously driven Formula E machinery in the 2023 Berlin Rookie Test and the Valencia pre-season test that occurred ahead of Season 10. In 2026, he will take part in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Alpine's Endurance Team.
Porsche
Two familiar faces return to Porsche for the upcoming Madrid Rookie Test. Reigning DTM champion, Ayhancan Güven will get his third opportunity behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo in the Madrid Rookie Test. The 28-year-old Turkish driver previously took part in the Miami Rookie Free Practice session earlier in the season, as well as the Berlin Rookie Test, held last July.
The final driver announced for the test is 16-year-old Elia Weiss. Last year, Weiss became the youngest driver to test Formula E machinery, having celebrated his 16th birthday just three weeks before last year’s Berlin Rookie Test. Weiss has just finished his first season in the UAE4 Series.
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2026 CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix, Round 6
For Round 6 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Madrid hosts an E-Prix for the very first time! We’ll be heading to the Circuito del Jarama for a race weekend that promises plenty of action and entertainment, as Spanish driver, Pepe Marti, hopes to put on a show in front of his home crowd on Saturday March 21.
Free Practice 1: Friday 20 March, 16:30 local / 15:30 UTC
Free Practice 2: Saturday 21 March, 08:30 local / 07:30 UTC
Qualifying: Saturday 21 March, 10:40 local / 09:40 UTC
Race: Saturday 21 March, 15:05 local / 14:05 UTC
View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.
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