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Senna's Formula E future in doubt as Mahindra deal ends
Bruno Senna’s Formula E career could be coming to a close, as the Brazilian has admitted he may opt to concentrate on his FIA World Endurance Championship and McLaren GT3 commitments in 2017.
Sam Smith Jamie Klein
Edited: Aug 11, 2016, 4:31 PM
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The former Williams, Lotus and HRT F1 driver, has been a part of the Mahindra team since Formula E's inception, could bring to a close a single-seater career that stretches back to 2004.
Motorsport.com has learned that Mahindra will announce a new teammate for Nick Heidfeld, who will remain with the Indian squad for a second season, later this month.
Senna, who is also driving for the RGR Sport LMP2 squad in WEC this season, therefore has just one option to continue his Formula E career – with Jaguar.
“We don’t know yet. I’ve been chatting around, things look like they are going one way and then they change around," Senna told Motorsport.com.
"I’ll be honest, I’m focussed on doing WEC, and McLaren has also grown a lot on my schedule. They’ve expressed that they want to continue next year with an expansion of plans.
“So if Formula E isn’t confirmed, the other things I have are going to take priority.
"I should know in the next couple of weeks if I’m doing Formula E or not, and with whom if I am doing it, but I’m pretty relaxed about it."
Jaguar an ‘attractive proposition’
Senna is believed to have been approached by Jaguar, whose technical alliance with Williams Advanced Engineering has brought Senna, a Williams F1 driver in 2012, into the frame for at least a test with the British marque.
However, Senna’s employment by McLaren and its anticipated expansion with its GT3 programme in 2017 is likely to thwart any multiple programme.
"I’m with McLaren – so unless my deal with them doesn’t continue, then it’s difficult to be with two competing British brands at the same time,” he said.
“[Jaguar] is of course a very attractive proposition, they are a strong team, and they’ve been developing the car for a while now, probably longer than any other team.
"We’ll see, but I couldn’t be with them and McLaren at the same time."
Jaguar is expected to test several drivers in public testing at Donington Park later this month.
Motorsport.com understands that, in addition to Adam Carroll, who has conducted most of the testing so far, several other drivers will get seat time in the new Jaguar I-Type 1 before the team confirms its season three line-up.
Formula E season three grid so far:
Team****Drivers Renault e.dams
Sebastien Buemi
Nicolas Prost
ABT Audi Sport
Lucas di Grassi
Daniel Abt
Dragon Racing
Loic Duval
Jerome d'Ambrosio
DS Virgin Racing
Sam Bird
Jose Maria Lopez
Amlin Andretti
Robin Frijns
Antonio Felix da Costa
Techeetah
Jean-Eric Vergne
Ma Qing Hua
Mahindra
Nick Heidfeld
TBA
Venturi
Stephane Sarrazin
TBA
NEXTEV TCR
Nelson Piquet Jr
Oliver Turvey
Jaguar TBA
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