PREVIEW: Formula E heads to the Sunshine State for Round 3 in Miami

Feature by Katy Fairman

Welcome back to Miami, Formula E. The all-electric motorsport World Championship returns to the sandy shores of Miami, Florida, this week as it hosts Round 3 of Season 12. Although the series has raced twice before in the Sunshine State, this will be the first time an E-Prix has been hosted at the iconic Miami International Autodrome. 

Nick Cassidy currently leads the Drivers’ World Championship standings, following an amazing victory for Citroën Racing in just their second race. The driver from New Zealand has hit the ground running with the French manufacturer, picking up two podiums in the first two races after excellent comeback drives up the grid. 

With two rounds down, after a stunning season opener in São Paulo and a magical masterclass in Mexico City, all eyes are on Miami to see where the season takes us next. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Miami E-Prix on Saturday 31 January 2026.  

Same Miami, New Circuit 

This will be the third running of the Miami E-Prix, with the inaugural event being held in 2015 and using the Biscayne Bay Street Circuit in the heart of downtown. It was the fifth race in our history, having just celebrated our 150th event in Mexico City earlier this month, and was won by Nico Prost for e.dams Renault. Jean-Eric Vergne, now at Citroën, secured the Julius Baer Pole Position for Andretti Autosport and Scott Speed recorded the only podium for a US driver in Formula E when he finished second at his home race. 

The championship then returned a decade later for last year’s event at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, which saw Pascal Wehrlein win and his teammate Antonio Felix da Costa classify third for Porsche, with Lucas di Grassi scoring a maiden podium for the Lola Yamaha ABT team when he finished second. Norman Nato (Nissan) also managed his first Formula E pole position. 

Now back for a third time, the paddock will be racing at the Miami International Autodrome. This venue will be familiar to some of our grid, after it hosted the inaugural EVO Sessions in 2025, where some of the biggest names in entertainment and sport got the chance to experience the GEN3 Evo machinery with the help of some of our full-time drivers. 

Subject to FIA Homologation, the track is 2.32km long and consists of 14 turns. 

Season So Far

We might only be two rounds into the 2025/26 season, but there have already been some huge storylines to follow. Andretti’s Jake Dennis won the first race of the season in Brazil, winning the 2025 Google Cloud São Paulo E-Prix from pole position – something that had never been achieved before. The Anhembi Sambadrome circuit is known for needing to reserve energy, which typically doesn’t favour those at the front, but Season 9 champ Dennis played an excellent tactical strategy and took his first victory since Diriyah in Season 10. 

He was joined on the podium by reigning World Champion Oliver Rowland (Nissan) and Citroën’s Nick Cassidy in third. 

However, the race was somewhat overshadowed by a big crash for CUPRA KIRO rookie Pepe Martí, who miscalculated his braking for a FCY and was launched over the top of two cars. The result was a big incident and immediate red flag, but thankfully Martí was able to walk away unscathed thanks to the continuous safety efforts from the FIA - Formula E’s governing body.

Last time out in Mexico City, it was Cassidy on the top step of the podium. After qualifying down in 13th, Cassidy used his skill and experience to move his way up the grid and into the lead alongside a smart ATTACK MODE strategy, keeping Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara at bay during the final few laps. 

It was a brilliant drive, and moved Cassidy to the top of the championship standings and 40 points. It also places Citroën top of the Teams’ table on 44 points, eight points clear of Andretti on 36 and Nissan on 35. 

Rookie Free Practice Returns

Formula E will once again host its popular Rookie Free Practice for Season 12, this time taking place over the Miami weekend. This 40 minute session, held before Free Practice 1 on Friday 30 January, is an opportunity for drivers to experience the current generation of Formula E cars – the GEN3 Evo. 

The special session has previously been held in Jeddah, Rome and Misano, and has proved a great stepping stone to full-time race seat or Reserve Driver roles across the grid. 

All 10 teams must field a ‘rookie’ driver, defined ahead of the 2025/26 season as “a driver who has never participated in a Competition or entering a Competition for the first time will be considered as a “Rookie” until the end of the season of its first participation or until the moment it participates in two Competitions in different seasons. Participation in a dedicated Rookie Free Practice as defined in Article 32.6 is not counted as a Competition participation.”

Here’s who each team has confirmed: 

Formula E continues to make history 

Ahead of the Miami E-Prix, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship announced that it was the first sport ever to become B Corp certified. By securing this status, the series codifies its mission to ‘Make Progress Thrilling’, challenging a sports industry that has traditionally prioritised spectacle over systemic impact.

The status reminds the sporting world how Formula E continues to strive for success and breaking new ground, both on and off the track, and sets a new global standard for what modern sport can be. 

Critical to Formula E's B Corp certification were the strong social and environmental standards at race events, meaningful contributions to local communities through targeted social impact programmes, best-practice worker wellbeing strategies, and the company's commitment to transparency and accountability.

Formula E made the announcement at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, following the recent global launch of the GEN4 - the most advanced car in the all-electric series’ history - with 100% recyclable construction and 20% recycled materials, set for its race debut next season. Designed for racing at 200mph, the GEN4 proves that sustainable engineering does not compromise elite speed. 

Lucien Laviscount becomes a brand ambassador

Joining us in Miami will be one very important guest, actor Lucien Laviscount. The global star of the Netflix phenomenon Emily In Paris has been announced as an official Brand Ambassador for the 2025/26 season, building on the strong relationship developed over the past year working with the series.

Lucien has attended multiple Formula E races across key markets including last year’s Miami E-Prix, Mexico, Monaco and London - quickly becoming a familiar and welcomed face in the paddock. His growing influence across entertainment, fashion, and youth culture, as well as his authentic passion for the Championship and its values make him a natural fit for the role of Ambassador as Formula E expands its cultural footprint.

His portfolio includes stand-out performances in Tinsel Town, Scream Queens, Snatch and Amazon’s modern retelling of Your Christmas or Mine?, with a major year of international film and TV projects ahead including People We Meet On Vacation. 

SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2026 Miami E-Prix, Round 3

After an action-packed start to Season 12, you haven't got long to wait until ABB Formula E returns to your screen, and this time, we're returning to The Magic City: Miami. We'll be visiting the Miami International Autodrome. US teams Andretti, CUPRA KIRO and DS PENSKE will be looking to put on a show for their home fans on Saturday 31 January 2026.

Find out more

WATCH: How to watch every Formula E race in your country

UNMISSABLE: Watch the brand-new season of 'Driver' on Amazon Prime 

CALENDAR: Here's every race set for the 2025/26 Formula E season

FOLLOW: Download the Formula E App on iOS or Android

TICKETS: Secure your grandstand seats and buy Formula E race tickets

HIGHLIGHTS: Catch up with every race from Formula E IN FULL

HOSPITALITY: Experience Formula E and world-class motorsport as a VIP