Envision Racing has confirmed that two of its current Formula E drivers, Sébastien Buemi and Joel Eriksson, will leave the team at the end of the season, triggering a fresh bout of speculation about who will take up two seats at one of the championship’s best-known outfits. The announcement arrives with the 2025/26 campaign nearing its climax, as Envision prepare for the final rounds scheduled at the London Excel.
The departures are significant not only for the team’s immediate plans but also for the broader timeline of Formula E. With Formula E entering the first phase of the GEN4 era in 2026/27, Envision’s need to reshape its line-up mirrors a league-wide transition that is already influencing driver markets. According to the FIA Formula E report, the team has yet to name who will partner for the 2026/27 season, even as it signals the end of its current pairing.
The swap also underlines how quickly team dynamics can evolve from season to season. Eriksson joined Envision’s driver line-up as a rookie in Formula E’s current cycle, joining Buemi for a full campaign that has mixed learning curves with flashes of competitiveness. As the team heads into its home stretch, it finds itself positioned within the fight for the standings: Envision are seventh in the Teams’ Championship heading into the weekend at London Excel for the concluding rounds of the year.
For Buemi, the exit closes another chapter with a driver who has long been associated with Formula E’s identity. Buemi is described in Formula E reporting as one of the sport’s most decorated figures, with 114 race starts, a record 13 wins, 30 podium finishes and 16 pole positions across his career to date. Those numbers reinforce why his departure is likely to feel consequential to Envision’s fans and to the competitive balance of the grid beyond 2025/26. The FIA Formula E grid preview also frames Buemi as a long-time benchmark inside the championship’s modern era, marking him out as a driver who brings experience as well as pace.
Eriksson’s spell at Envision, by contrast, has been about bedding into a series at the highest level. He is a Swedish-born racer who, prior to becoming a full-time Formula E driver, had worked in roles that prepared him for top-flight racing, including time with Jaguar as a test and reserve driver. FIA Formula E’s Season 12 driver-line-up profile notes that Eriksson had earlier participated in Formula E races before his full-season debut, including a period replacing Nico Mueller at Dragon partway through Season 7 and stepping in as a super sub when Envision needed coverage during the Berlin E-Prix in Season 10.
While Eriksson’s first full campaign has been marked as a developing run, the FIA Formula E report indicates he has still amassed a “respectable” points haul and delivered a standout result. The team’s confirmation of their departures includes the detail that Eriksson achieved a podium at the 2026 Shanghai E-Prix, Round 13—evidence that, even as a newcomer, he has been able to convert opportunities into elite outcomes.
With Buemi and Eriksson confirmed to go, Envision now must plan for two incoming drivers in time for the next campaign. That task is complicated by the fact that the last races of 2025/26 will also decide key elements of the GEN3-era story. The preview coverage around London positions the weekend as a title-decider moment across Rounds 16 and 17, underlining that Envision’s final meetings at the London Excel will be both competitive and symbolic.
The timing also matters because Formula E’s calendar and regulations have created a natural pressure point for driver announcements. Teams often use the end of a season to make room for contracts and testing schedules that align with off-season work. Envision’s choice to confirm these departures before the final rounds suggests it is prioritising clarity for its operational planning—while giving itself the flexibility to complete its GEN4-era line-up well before the first major milestones of 2026/27.
The underlying narrative is therefore about transition. Envision Racing is moving away from its current combination just as the series looks forward to technical evolution and a new competitive phase. Yet, for supporters and rivals alike, what will define the next chapter is not only who Envision appoints but how quickly new chemistry forms. Buemi’s track record implies a steadying influence, while Eriksson’s emergence from rookie pressure into podium contention suggests he brought adaptability and momentum—qualities that any replacement pair will need to match.
As London approaches for the season’s final sprint, the immediate focus for Envision remains on finishing strongly, particularly given its position seventh in the Teams’ standings. But once the chequered flag falls across the concluding rounds, the attention will shift rapidly to the open seats. The FIA Formula E report has already made clear that Envision has not yet revealed who will make up its all-new driver line-up for 2026/27, ensuring that the next stage of Formula E’s 2026 driver market will begin in earnest. FIA Formula E will be expected to provide further updates as the team brings its GEN4 plans into focus.
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