With less than three weeks to go until the start of the 2024-25 Formula E season, India’s biggest hope for the Formula E World Championship, Jehan Daruvala, has confirmed that he will not race in the 11th season of the all-electric racing series season.
The news comes as no surprise to those who have followed Jehan’s motorsport career. After all, Jehan didn’t take part in pre-season testing either. However, I tried to reveal more about Jehan’s journey in this conversation, specifically his ability to deal with the uncertainty that the world of motorsport often throws at professional racers.
For autoX, Jehan and I look back at his debut season in Formula E Season 10 and how his motorsport future will unfold given that he faces a “break” in his racing career for the first time since he started racing in 2009-10.
Debut with Maserati
Jehan had to choose between two teams for his debut in Formula E: Maserati and Mahindra. Jehan took part in Mahindra Racing’s ‘rookie test’ at last year’s Berlin ePrix, where he was test driver and reserve driver, before taking part in free practice in Rome. However, he chose to debut with Maserati, the more competitive option of the two.
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In 16 races with Maserati, Jehan scored points twice, at Misano and Berlin. In qualifying, Jehan put in a strong performance in just his third race in Formula E, heading into the duel round at Diriyah. He ended the season in 21st place (out of 28 drivers) with 8 points, compared to 73 points for his experienced teammate Maximilian Gunther (6 seasons in the Formula E Championship). points and ranked 8th in the World Championships.
Reflecting on his first season, Jehan said, “I think the season looked worse from the outside than it looked from the inside. “I sincerely believe that my qualifying pace improved by the end of the year. There were a lot of games where I could have scored some points, but I also had some surprises – some of which were out of my control. “
“The level of a Formula E driver is as high as Formula One and it’s challenging to be a newbie in Formula E, especially racing on almost the same machinery. I think I got it right in my first season. This has always been done, even though we didn’t get the points we deserved,” he continued.
Enjoy Formula E racing
The Formula E Championship is the first series in which Jehan will compete against senior drivers. Jehan competed for 7 years in feeder series (Formula 3 and Formula 2) that were part of the Formula 1 ladder, with tracks packed with novice and junior drivers learning their craft. Formula E, by contrast, counts among its competitors a mix of world champions, race winners and podium finishers from some of the toughest racing series such as the Formula E Championship and the World Endurance Championship.
“I’m really enjoying it,” Jehan said. “Obviously, it’s not an easy season. But even being in the top eight or top 10 at times, it feels good. On paper, competing against these guys is probably the best. Difficult soft line-up. Every driver performed at a very high level and that’s what makes Formula E so interesting for me as a driver – every tenth counts!”
Parting ways with Maserati
Before the final race of the season in London, Jehan already knew he and the team would part ways at the end of his debut season. He signed a one-year contract with Maserati that included the possibility of an extension – a clause that is usually contingent on performance.
Explaining his conversations with Maserati about parting ways for Season 11, Jehan said, “We didn’t get into the key reasons of how and why this season turned out the way it did. We stayed professional and that was it. Having said that, I do feel I deserved The second season, because there were a lot of games where I could have picked up some points.
“Overall, I believe it takes the right amount of time to be successful in Formula E – most drivers find it difficult when they are rookies and they have more seasons in the series. Of course, I am Trying to get another chance to prove myself – fingers crossed!” admitted Jehan.
For example, Jehan’s Maserati team-mate Maximilian Guenther scored in just two races in his first season, finishing 17th in the drivers’ championship (20 points). Likewise, Jehan’s teammate in the 2021 Formula 2 season, Dan Ticktum, finished 21st (1 point) in his debut season in Formula E. Gunther will start his seventh season in Formula E later this year, while Tickham will be competing in his fourth.
Now
Jehan moved to Europe at a young age to pursue his racing dream. It also means giving up time with family in Mumbai. The current hiatus in his career has given him time to pursue activities he would not otherwise have time for.
Jehan said: “It’s nice to be at home with friends and family, especially during the festive times of the year – Parsi New Year, Diwali and even my birthday. In the past 15-plus years, I didn’t have the opportunity Experience these celebrations at home.”
Additionally, he admitted, “Obviously, I miss driving!” When you’re not racing, downtime can feel longer. Honestly, it’s the uncertainty that comes from not knowing what to do next. ”
Apart from his skills on the track, a key characteristic that has made Jehan stand out throughout his career is his mental strength. During our conversation, Jehan’s composure was even more indicative of his mental strength when he philosophically said, “There is uncertainty, but that’s the life of a professional athlete—year in and year out.” I’m focused on doing my best. What I can do – be with the car and the team and see where it takes me. “
“That’s how motorsport is – sometimes you’re not the best team and you don’t have the best car and you have to accept it. When you go up the ladder, expectations need to be managed
He continued, “The key is not to be negative and just go with the flow – that’s who I am. I’ve been working hard for the last 15 years and I’m going to go with the flow and see what the future holds.”
future
After four seasons (2020-23) in Formula 2, Jehan is convinced that his next step in motorsport needs to be a series of races and that teams need to respect his talent, not his person Financial packages provided by supporters. This belief will continue to guide Jehan’s future decisions.
Jehan and I discussed the obvious options – INDYCAR, WEC, DTM and of course a return to Formula E (if the right opportunity comes along).
The Mumbai lad said: “I want to continue being a professional racing driver. Beyond a certain point, it doesn’t make sense to keep investing and pushing. If this is a professional racing series where I can make a living, that’s definitely on my mind. “
Elaborating on his interest in IndyCar and the WEC, Jehan said, “I believe that with a good resume in Formula 2, one can go straight into IndyCar (bypassing Indy NXT). However, some form of enterprise may be required Sponsor participation.
He lamented, “Even if you have done well in other series, even endurance teams now want you to bring sponsors. Frankly speaking, it is not easy to raise the required sponsorship from India, especially in American Games.
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By the end of our conversation, it’s clear that Jehan’s plans for 2025 are uncertain. More certainly, he is comfortable with the uncertainty and wants to wait patiently for the future to unfold. At the same time, the new sports paddle caught Jehan’s fancy, and he became more interested in his family business.
“Even if I don’t race in 2025, I still have a whole year to plan and decide for 2026. This is not the end of my racing career!” he concluded.
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