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PREVIEW: Jeddah brings back-to-back action for Rounds 4 & 5

FEATURE 08 Feb 2026 7 Mins

Formula E is back with two races in Saudi Arabia this week, as PIT BOOST also makes a long-awaited return.

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feature season 12

Preview by Katy Fairman

The first double-header of the 2025/26 Formula E season is here, as we get ready to race under the lights in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. There’s a lot to look out for this weekend, with the highly-anticipated return of PIT BOOST, and the top five in the drivers’ standings separated by just seven points after three rounds.

Season so far

Three rounds, three different race winners. Formula E remains one of the most unpredictable forms of motorsport out there, and it has certainly created close competition as Season 12 got underway with races in São Paulo, Mexico City and Miami.

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

Jake Dennis took first honours for himself and Andretti in Brazil, after breaking the curse and starting from pole to take victory. It was a long-time coming for the Season 9 champ, who had waited almost two years to stand back on the top step of the podium.

Next up was Nick Cassidy – our current championship leader – who climbed up the grid from 13th to first in front of the adoring Mexican fans, to take a first win for Citroën Racing; just two races into their single-seater debut. A man of his word, Cassidy is also supporting a new aerodynamic haircut, after promising to shave his head if he won the 2026 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix.

Most recently it was Mitch Evans and Jaguar TCS Racing who celebrated success, putting their first points on the board after a challenging start to Season 12. Evans, who now tops the all-time wins record in Formula E after his 15th career victory, drove from ninth to first during a wet race at the Miami International Autodrome which was a new race venue for this season.

Reigning Champion Oliver Rowland (Nissan) banked a good haul of points in the first two rounds with back-to-back podiums, but a disappointing qualifying and P12 race result in Miami brought that streak to an end. Both Porsche drivers are also in top five in the World Championship standings’, with new recruit Nico Müller achieving his inaugural Julius Baer Pole Position in Miami as well as finishing second place in the race. For Pascal Wehrlein, consistency leaves him second in the drivers’ championship as we head to Jeddah, despite Miami being his first podium of the season.

PIT BOOST is back

The Jeddah double-header will see a return of PIT BOOST in Season 12 – a revolutionary recharging technology that completely changes the strategy elements of racing. Only used in one race of the double-headers, this mandatory event sees drivers make a stop and receive a boost of energy during the middle of the race. From there, they are able to push harder with less emphasis on the need to manage energy levels which always leads to even more exciting racing!

PIT BOOST: Everything you must know about Formula E's battery boosting pit stops

How does PIT BOOST work in Formula E?

PIT BOOST is an innovative and mandatory mid-race feature that sees cars given a 10% energy increase (3.85kWh) through a 30-second, 600kW boost in the pit lane. It will be used during one of the two races across a double-header in Season 12.

All drivers must stop during the race for this extra energy, however each team is only provided one PIT BOOST rig which prevents them from doing any double-stacking. This will also create plenty of drama and excitement, as each competitor navigates an additional element of race strategy and could potentially alter race outcomes and tactics.

Drivers must take the PIT BOOST when their State of Charge (SoC) is below 60% and above 40% at the moment of the boost. The timing of this could vary from garage to garage depending on the strategy of consumption each driver has during the first phase of the race.

For this season, only one ATTACK MODE activation will be available during PIT BOOST races.

Don’t miss the EVO Sessions

After the huge success of EVO Sessions last year, drawing in names like Brooklyn Beckham, Sergio Agüero and Mr Beast, the event is back for Season 12. Announced during the broadcast of last month’s Miami E-Prix, the one-day extravaganza sees the world’s biggest creators get behind the wheel of the world’s fastest electric race car for the first time.

Taking place off the back of the double-header Formula E race weekend at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the spectacle will be available to stream live on YouTube on February 15.

All the names have now been revealed, with Senõr Frogs and the QuickStars taking on the day-long challenge. TheBurntChip, Vikkstar, Behzinga, WillNE, Arthur TV and Izzy Hammond are just some of the names associated with the Duel-style tournament.

Racing under the lights

As well as double the fun, with two races in Saudi Arabia on February 13 and 14, this also marks the first night race of Season 12. Racing at night comes with lots of new things to think about compared to the usual daytime routine, including tyres and battery efficiency.

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With sessions happening at night, track temperatures will be cooler than those experienced during the day, which certainly helps with the wear of the Hankook tyres. However, it can often be that drivers struggle to get the tyres to their optimal temperatures because of the cooler asphalt which leads to a lack of grip during crucial moments. As well as track temps, cooler air temperatures also help with the battery and make it more efficient.

Last year’s Jeddah E-Prix also utilised 100% renewable energy generated by B100 biofuel. Biofuel is recognised by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as a renewable alternative for fossil fuels, and B100 can reduce carbon emissions by up to 60% compared to fossil diesel.

Previously in Saudi Arabia

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is the second venue Formula E has hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the Riyadh Street Circuit, Diryah, the championship’s previous home since Season 5.

During that time, we have witnessed some unmissable racing action that has gone on to define seasons or even generations of our Formula E machines. From unbelievable overtakes, to maiden victories, we’ve seen it all.

Edoardo Mortara completed one of the most iconic racing moves here in Season 7, when he managed to pass both Mitch Evans (Jaguar) and Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) in one single swoop that was simply millimetre perfect. That same season, Nyck de Vries strode to victory in Formula E's first ever night race, and the series' opening race as an FIA World Championship. The then-Mercedes-EQ driver completed a clean sweep; topping every session in Round 1 on his way to a maiden Formula E win.

Taylor Barnard also achieved his maiden Julius Baer Pole Position at just 20-years-old here in Jeddah last year, becoming the youngest-ever polesitter in Formula E history. Over that same weekend, his now teammate at DS PENSKE, Maximilian Guenther, secured victory in the final corner of the last lap to win the inaugural Jeddah E-Prix.

Pascal Wehrlein also won both races in the Diriyan double-header in Season 9, but can another driver do the same in Jeddah with two back-to-back victories? Time will tell.

SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2026 Jeddah E-Prix, Rounds 4 and 5

Saudi Arabia has been a staple of the Formula E calendar since Season 5, and found a new home at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit last season. The double-header weekend promises plenty of action and the return of PIT BOOST, all whilst racing under the lights at night over February 13 and 14.

Free Practice 1: Thursday 12 February, 20:00 local/17:00 UTC
Free Practice 2: Friday 13 February, 13:30 local/10:30 UTC
Qualifying: Friday 13 February, 15:40 local/12:40 UTC
Race: Friday 13 February, 20:05 local/17:05 UTC

Free Practice 3: Saturday 14 February, 13:30 local/10:30 UTC
Qualifying: Saturday 14 February, 15:40 local/12:40 UTC
Race: Saturday 15 February, 20:05 local/17:05 UTC

View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.

Formula E’s Evo Sessions return in Jeddah

The world’s biggest creators. The world’s fastest electric race car. EVO Sessions is back. After a legendary Season 11, we're taking the spectacle to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Don’t miss the next generation of drivers as they take on the GEN3 Evo — streaming live on YouTube, February 15.

Follow the race LIVE on web and in the Formula E app!

Follow all the action on-track as it happens in the Race Centre.

Keep across Live Timing – which includes a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow your favourite driver during every session of every E-Prix – plus highlights, detailed session reports, exclusive interviews, all the standings and results as well as data, insight and reaction from trackside.

LIVE: Follow every lap live, with reaction and coverage at fiaformulae.com/live

Additionally, Formula E’s social media channels, website, and app will provide session reports, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights from trackside during the five-day event.