Gabriele Mini is set for another Formula E outing with Nissan, as the rising Italian talent will participate in the rookie practice session at the Jeddah E-Prix next week.
The Alpine Academy prospect is preparing for his first full season in Formula 2 with Prema but will take a brief detour into the all-electric championship as Nissan continues its collaboration with Alpine’s driver development program.
Mini’s Growing FE Experience
This won’t be Mini’s first taste of Formula E machinery—he previously drove for Nissan in the rookie test in Berlin last May, where he got his first hands-on experience with electric racing.
Reflecting on his previous test and the challenge ahead in Jeddah, Mini stated:
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity after working with the team at the Berlin Rookie Test last year. It was my first time in an electric race car then and I learned a lot, which I’m confident can help me in Jeddah.”
Mini acknowledged that Formula E’s energy management complexities make it a completely different challenge compared to traditional single-seaters.
“The biggest challenge when I discovered Formula E was the complexity of the race simulation, and having to be quick but also efficient, with energy management, at the same time. I’ve worked in the simulator to prepare for the challenges in Jeddah, but there will be unknowns as this is a new circuit. My goal is to help the team for the remainder of the weekend by collecting as much data as possible.”
Nissan Sees Mini as a Valuable Asset
Nissan Formula E Team Principal Tommaso Volpe emphasized Mini’s strong performance record and the importance of having an experienced rookie for a brand-new street circuit like Jeddah.
“We’re delighted to be working with a great talent like Gabriele again after the Berlin Rookie Test in Season 10. He’s shown impressive performance with us since the beginning and has also had a very strong season in 2024, finishing second in Formula 3 and securing an F2 podium on his debut.”
With Jeddah hosting its first-ever Formula E race, Nissan aims to maximize its learning curve during the rookie session, and Volpe believes Mini’s feedback will be crucial.
“This Rookie Free Practice session is going to be very important as it will be the very first time that the cars will be on track at a brand-new location. We’ll be looking to collect as much meaningful data as possible during those 40 minutes, and that’s precisely why we wanted to get Gabriele back for this session, as we know he can help us with the initial car setup.”
What’s Next for Mini?
As he juggles his F2 campaign with Prema and his continued affiliation with Alpine, Mini’s Nissan Formula E outings could indicate a long-term connection with electric racing—whether as a future FE driver or as part of Alpine’s F1-backed sustainability efforts.
For now, his focus remains on Jeddah, where he’ll look to extract valuable insights for Nissan while refining his adaptability across racing disciplines.
