Lucas di Grassi seals Venturi move for 2022 Formula E season
Formula E champion Lucas di Grassi has joined Venturi for the 2022 season following Audi’s decision to quit the all-electric world championship.
The 37-year-old Brazilian has contested every season of Formula E with Audi since the series’ inception in 2014 and has won a total of 12 races, as well as the 2016-17 championship title.
With the German marquee exiting Formula E at the conclusion of season seven, di Grassi has sealed a switch to Venturi, where he will parter Edoardo Mortara, in a move that was announced on Wednesday.
“Anyone who knows me knows how competitive I am,” said di Grassi, who finished seventh in the 2020-21 world championship. “Driving for a team that I know can fight at the front and really challenge for the championship is essential for me.
“ROKiT Venturi Racing was simply the best choice and I’m really happy to be part of the team. The team performed very, very well last season. You can see that the team has progressed a lot in recent years. The momentum is really there, and they have shown clear improvements in every area.
“Edo had a fantastic season, really strong, he was fighting for the title until the very end and there were many times over the season that I was racing both Venturi cars and I could see how competitive they were.”
Monaco-based Venturi enjoyed its most competitive Formula E campaign yet in 2020-21, winning two races on its way to finishing seventh in the constructors’ standings, while Mortara claimed runner-up spot behind champion Nyck de Vries.
Venturi team principal Susie Wolff said: “Last season we demonstrated that we have a strong package, there were many highlights throughout the season starting with a podium and finishing with a win.
“Edo showcased to everyone what we have known all along - that he’s a World Championship contender. Moving forward to Season 8, Edo is joined by Lucas - a proven Formula E Championship winner who also brings a wealth of experience.
“They will push each other and drive us forward as a team. To have both cars scoring points in every race is essential for us for the Team’s Championship and with our new driver line-up, there’s a lot to feel optimistic about heading into Season 8.”
