Breaking news
Formula E
Formula E "needs" a Japanese driver - Agag
Formula E boss Alejandro Agag says the electric series "needs" to have a Japanese driver on the grid to help boost its profile in the country.
Alex Kalinauckas Bethonie Waring
Published: Oct 14, 2018, 11:48 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Japan, a major market for electric vehicles, has so far not had a full-time FE entrant, with Takuma Sato and Sakon Yamamoto entering one and two races respectively in the inaugural 14/15 season and Kamui Kobayashi racing in Hong Kong in season four, albeit under a Monegasque license.
Although FE has managed to attract a Japanese manufacturer – with Nissan taking over the e.dams entry from alliance partner Renault ahead of season five – it will not be running a driver from its home country, with Alexander Albon racing alongside Sebastien Buemi.
When asked if he was disappointed not to have a Japanese driver permanently racing in FE, Agag said he was "very pleased to see young talent [Albon] coming to Formula E" but added that he "would love to see a Japanese driver in Formula E".
"I want a Japanese driver,” he told Motorsport.com. “I think we need a Japanese driver.
"I don’t put the responsibility on Nissan not to have a Japanese driver – anybody should get a Japanese driver.
"[But] you need drivers in the different markets. And Japan is a great market for electric cars and I think we can become bigger in Japan.
"But if we don’t have a Japanese star it makes it more difficult."
As well as attracting a Japanese FE racer, Agag is keen for the country to host its own race.
Tokyo and Yokohama have both been suggested as potential host cities, but Agag said it is currently not a simple task to bring FE to the streets of Japan.
"It’s very complicated," he said. "For the police are very restrictive in Japan and it makes it very difficult to make a race."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Bern Formula E move rubber-stamped by FIA
Next article Vandoorne switches to Formula E with HWA
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Kalinauckas
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Latest news
Lamborghini World Finals | AM-LC Qualifying: Lewandowski dominates, taking pole for both races
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
43 min
Lamborghini World Finals | AM-LC Qualifying: Lewandowski dominates, taking pole for both races
Marc Marquez: “In the first half of 2026, all I wanted to do on Sundays was lie on the sofa”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
50 min
Marc Marquez: “In the first half of 2026, all I wanted to do on Sundays was lie on the sofa”
"Just undriveable" – Isack Hadjar looking for answers after "massive" struggles in Austin practice
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
"Just undriveable" – Isack Hadjar looking for answers after "massive" struggles in Austin practice
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe