Aston Martin driver 'considers' fresh challenge to take next step

Last weekend, two races were conducted in Formula E at the Tempelhof Circuit in Berlin. De Vries had to miss the second to last race weekend of this season due to a clash with the 6 Hours of São Paulo, and was replaced at the former airport by Drugovich.

Although Drugovich has tested in Formula E several times over the past few years, he had not yet had the chance to participate in a full race weekend.

Speaking to selected media, including GPblog, before his racing debut, he said, "It's really exciting. Every time I've driven the car I've enjoyed it. I've tested with this car a couple of times over the past two years and it's quite exciting that I'm finally allowed to race. I think it's also amazing that I can do it in a double header."

When asked by GPblog if De Vries had given him any tips, Drugovich laughed: "Drive fast, don't crash. Just what I would expect from him." The substitute emphasised that De Vries couldn't really offer much more advice, considering the Dutchman hasn't raced in Berlin for years.

In 2022, Drugovich won the Formula 2 championship, after which he joined Aston Martin as a test and reserve driver—a role he still holds to this day. Additionally, he has completed tests in Formula E, Formula 1, and IndyCar as well as racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the hypercar category. Thus, he has ample experience.

Asked how the various classes compare to Formula E, he said: "It's still a race car with four wheels, and there are things in terms of driving behaviour I can compare. The driving style of the Hypercar and these are not so different because both cars have quite little grip."

He then explained that the Cadillac he drove at Le Mans might even be more comparable to the Formula 1 car, given the way you need to save energy with the hybrid systems.

Drugovich has not had a permanent seat in a single-seaters series for years. But a switch to Formula E, he admitted, would be an option he would think about. "I think it's something to consider. It looks good for the future, especially with Gen4." This new generation of racing cars should be introduced in the 2026/2027 season and are expected to become even faster.

Asked whether he would miss the sound if he moved to Formula E, he laughed: "Yes, I would miss the sound. But I can play it on my phone before jumping in the car."

The Brazilian emphasised that a good result in Berlin could potentially help him secure a spot for the future, and he delivered. Drugovich finished the chaotic rain race on Saturday in a modest seventeenth place, but ended up seventh on Sunday, thereby scoring six important points for the team. In that respect, he certainly made his mark.