Nissan Formula E Team has officially confirmed that highly experienced Formula E race-winner Sam Bird will take on the role of reserve and development driver for the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The announcement, marks a significant addition to the team’s structure as it prepares for the final season of the GEN3 Evo era and accelerates development of the future GEN4 package.
Bird’s experience brings major strength to Nissan
With more than a decade of Formula E competition behind him, Sam Bird arrives with a depth of knowledge possessed by very few drivers in the championship. He has raced in 144 E-Prix, secured 27 podiums, and claimed 12 victories, making him the fourth most successful driver in Formula E history. Furthermore, he has won races across all three generations of Formula E cars, demonstrating exceptional adaptability as the technology has evolved.
His most recent victory came in São Paulo in Season 10, where he won in the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 as part of the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, then a Nissan customer squad. Consequently, he already understands the characteristics, strengths, and nuances of Nissan’s powertrain, allowing him to contribute immediately and effectively.
A key addition to Nissan’s Season 12 programme
Nissan has assembled a strong and diverse driver group for Season 12, including reigning Drivers’ World Champion Oliver Rowland, proven race-winner Norman Nato, and rising talent Abbi Pulling. Bird’s arrival completes the structure and adds a layer of experienced technical input that can strengthen both trackside performance and simulator preparation.
Before confirming Bird’s new role, Nissan evaluated how best to enhance its competitive and developmental capabilities. Bird’s blend of race-winning experience, deep technical understanding, and familiarity with Nissan hardware made him an obvious choice. As a result, the team expects him to play a pivotal role in sustaining the performance momentum gained during Season 11.
Therefore, when speaking about Bird’s appointment, Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal of Nissan Formula E Team, offered the following full statement:
“We’re very happy to welcome Sam as our reserve and development driver for Season 12. He is one of the most experienced and successful drivers in the championship and has competed with our powertrain for the past two seasons, so there was really no question that he would be a great fit for the team. He will play an important role as we look to keep consistently fighting at the top in the upcoming campaign while we get ready for GEN4.”
Bird enthusiastic about the challenge ahead
As Nissan strengthens its operational and developmental capabilities, Bird steps into a role that blends his competitive instincts with his ability to shape the technical direction of the team. He will support Rowland and Nato at race events, contribute to simulator work, and offer detailed feedback on both the GEN3 Evo car and the early GEN4 programme. Because he has raced with Nissan’s powertrain for the last two seasons, he can integrate rapidly and provide meaningful insight from day one.
Before offering his official remarks, Bird reflected on his long-standing cooperation with Nissan and his positive working relationship with the team’s drivers and engineers. Consequently, he expressed genuine enthusiasm as he delivered his full statement:
“I’m extremely happy to be joining Nissan Formula E Team as the reserve and development driver for the 2025/26 campaign. I’ve worked closely with Nissan over the past two seasons, so I feel prepared as I know the Nissan Formula E powertrain well. I’ve got a great relationship with both Oli and Norman and they are two drivers I respect very highly. I’ll help them in any way possible trackside and by aiding to further develop the current GEN3 Evo and future GEN4 car. The knowledge I have built up over the last two years will mean I can jump straight into the simulator and give feedback instantly, supporting the squad to build on its recent success in Season 11.”
Nissan continues its long-term commitment to Formula E
Bird joins the team at a time of strong performance and far-reaching ambition. Nissan has grown its Formula E presence significantly since entering the championship in Season 5. After acquiring the e.dams operation in 2022, the manufacturer strengthened its involvement further by becoming the first to commit to the GEN4 era ahead of the Tokyo E-Prix in 2024.
Season 11 brought major success, with Oliver Rowland securing the Drivers’ World Championship thanks to four wins, seven podiums, and three pole positions—clinching the title with two races remaining. Bird’s experience and technical input now aim to help sustain this level of performance while contributing to Nissan’s broader goal of transferring motorsport technology to its future electric vehicles.
