As one of the rookies on the grid for Formula E’s Season 12, Pepe Martí has made an impression in his first year in the series. With two podiums to his name, the Spaniard has shown plenty of promise as he continues to adapt to the unique challenges of Formula E.
Ahead of the 2026 London E-Prix, Formula E Zone caught up with Martí to reflect on his rookie season, the lessons he has learned, his two podium finishes, and his preparations for the upcoming GEN4 era.
Adjusting as a Rookie
After departing Formula 2 early in 2025, Martí completed CUPRA KIRO’s lineup for Season 12. Looking back on his debut year, he reflected on how well he has adapted to the challenge, despite the season passing in a “blink of an eye.”
For Martí, that adaptation was made easier by the environment at CUPRA KIRO. He believes the team provided the right setting for him to settle into a new championship and become increasingly competitive.
“I think what made my life easier was the team I was in. We are the most sociable team in the paddock and probably the most welcoming. So I have been blessed to be here and I think that has helped me be more competitive this season.”
Formula E rarely stays still, with races capable of changing dramatically from one lap to the next. Martí explained how “you can have two or three situations, you can have plans, and then you can completely scrap them mid-race.”
That unpredictability has taught him to remain open-minded throughout a race weekend, while also highlighting the importance of understanding the series and maintaining focus.
While his first season has inevitably been about adjusting and adapting, Martí has also had the opportunity to reflect on his progress. Overall, he believes he has enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, although there is one piece of advice he would give himself if he could go back to the start of the year.
“It’d be attack more at the wheel and be more patient off the wheel. I think at times I could have been more patient at the start of the year and how I approached the weekends.”
That lesson, however, works both ways. While Martí feels he could have been more patient away from the track, he believes he was sometimes too cautious once he was behind the wheel.
“But there have been weekends where I have been too patient. So when driving I was too patient in adapting from a high downforce car in Formula 2 to a lower downforce car in Formula E. In Formula E you can really attack the car a lot more. So I think I have been a bit too patient overall at times.”
Ahead of the season, the Spaniard set himself a target of scoring points in 50 percent of the races. Coming into the London E-Prix, bad luck and “weird races” meant that achieving that goal came down to the final weekend.
A points finish in the finale allowed him to reach his target, but Martí believes the season would still have been “a very positive year” even if he had fallen short.
“I’ve got two podiums, I think I’ve been a lot faster than people expected, I think I’ve managed the races as well.”
Those two podiums, in Monaco and Sanya, would ultimately become defining moments of Martí’s rookie campaign.
Podiums in Monaco and Sanya
Monaco and Sanya provided two of the highlights of Martí’s first Formula E season, with the Spaniard securing two podium finishes.
Interestingly, neither podium came from a podium position on the road. On both occasions, Martí crossed the line in fourth before penalties for drivers ahead promoted him into the top three.
In Monaco, Martí’s first podium was particularly unexpected. Starting 15th, he had little idea of where the race would take him, making the eventual result even more rewarding.
He only discovered that he had been promoted to third while still in the car, watching the timing screen at the scales.
“I was so happy with P4 that it only added to the emotion, because obviously the race, we started 15th, we didn’t really know where we were going to get out of it, and to get a podium was just so fulfilling, so happy.”
Sanya, however, provided an even more dramatic route to the podium.
A mistake in qualifying left Martí starting from the rear of the grid, although he made a strong start to the race and quickly began working his way forward.
An incident then caused a red flag and left Martí with rear-wheel damage. With the race seemingly slipping away, he felt “it was game over”, despite having an energy advantage over the rest of the field.
Rather than giving up, Martí and CUPRA KIRO remained patient and focused. As the race unfolded, they were able to recover ground and put themselves back into contention.
Martí ultimately crossed the line fourth, but António Félix da Costa’s penalty promoted him to third. A further penalty for Felipe Drugovich then moved him up to second, securing the best result of his rookie season.
For Martí, however, the result was about more than simply inheriting positions.
“I think it was a much more fulfilling race for me. The way the team came together with the strategy. Da Costa had already had his penalty, so I was able to inherit the podium on track. It was a very special feeling.
“It was a bit of a similar situation in that sense, but I was a lot happier with my race in Sanya than I was in Monaco.”
Teamwork, Ticktum, and GEN4
Martí’s transition into Formula E was not just about adapting to a new car and championship. His relationship with CUPRA KIRO and teammate Dan Ticktum has also played an important role in his first season.
The Spaniard praised the team’s performance throughout the campaign, explaining that “the team have done a fantastic job of putting me in places to succeed, and in position to score good points.”
That support has helped Martí remain competitive while learning the intricacies of Formula E.
His relationship with Ticktum has also been an important part of that learning process. A teammate is naturally the first driver to beat on track, but Martí spoke positively about working alongside the Brit, describing him as “a pleasure and a joy to work with.”
He also believes Ticktum’s experience has helped him develop as a driver.
Away from their work on track, Martí was candid when discussing the reputation Ticktum has developed among some sections of the fanbase. He believes the emotional nature of motorsport can sometimes influence how drivers are perceived and feels his teammate is “very mistreated by the overall public.”
“It’s not nice to see what people say of him, because honestly, I would say 90% of the people who comment bad things about Dan don’t know him. I think anyone who knows Dan on a personal level will say the same thing, and that he’s a fantastic guy, he’s a fun guy to be around, he’s a great bloke.”
With his rookie season now drawing to a close, Martí will remain with CUPRA KIRO as Formula E enters the GEN4 era.
The next generation of Formula E machinery will bring another challenge for the young Spaniard. Reflecting on his time in Formula 2, Martí noted that the junior series is “known to be one of the most physical series in the world”, suggesting that plenty of neck training will be required to prepare for the changes ahead.
However, after a year of adapting to Formula E, Martí feels ready for what comes next. He believes he has maintained his physical condition throughout the season, while the experience of his rookie campaign has left him mentally better prepared for the challenge.
Now, rather than arriving in Formula E as an unknown rookie, he will enter his second season with a year of experience behind him.
“I’m honestly very ready for Gen 4 to come, I think I’m in good shape, I’m mentally a lot more ready than I was last year. I’m excited to be able to compete again in the best car.”
