Former Formula 1-world champion Nico Rosberg has been working behind the scenes of Formula E for quite some time now. Ahead of the Berlin E-Prix, the German took the Gen2 car out for a drive on the streets of Berlin and talked about what the series means to him.
The car is a real racing car. But Formula E is not just about racing – it’s actually about so much more than just motorsports.
In this series, we actually have some incredibly strong drivers. So I definitely could not simply jump behind the wheel and challenge for any of the top positions. That’s just not in the cards! The level of driving in Formula E is so enormous and it would take quite some time to get settled.
It’s a good thing as it is going to boost the series even more. BMW, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes – they are all joining as a customer which is going to be gigantic. I am not sure whether we ever saw something like this in motorsport history. It’s just sensational that these four German manufacturers are going to fight against each other in Formula E.
I see it as a big chance. Of course, you always have to plan ahead and see how the future will unfold. But that’s something Alejandro [Agag] is doing – and we’ve been talking about it as well.
In my opinion, that’s definitely the right way to do it. Racing series such as Formula 1 don’t really reach the younger audiences anymore because they are that interested in games. So Alejandro is completely right to go into that direction. If you actually have a good and creative idea, why not do it?
My strategy is very simple: I am completely convinced of e-mobility and the surrounding environment. It is a big chance for our world to make a step towards sustainability. We’re living in extremely fascinating times and nothing like this has ever happened in mobility. The potential is immense and that’s the reason why I back Formula E – which is the epicentre to showcast these new technologies.