Citroen could be in line to replace Maserati in Formula E as early as next season via major changes to the Stellantis suite of brands and the firm's approach to FE.
The Race has learned that Citroen is primed to be involved in Formula E, although precisely when is still not 100% agreed within Stellantis Motorsport as it formulates its plans.
Citroen ended a long and successful run in the World Rally Championship in 2019 that included taking nine drivers' title triumphs with Sebastien Loeb. Since then, the brand has been mainly supporting young talent in WRC2 and WRC3 competition.
Some longer-term plans are believed to have already been formed internally at Stellantis Motorsport for Citroen to be part of the Gen4 era of Formula E alongside the Opel brand, although the exact make-up of these operations in terms of their working structures is not known at present.
The Race has also discovered that DS Automobiles still has the possibility of staying in Formula E for the Gen4 rules set, potentially meaning a trio of Stellantis brands competing in the series from the end of 2026 onwards.
The relatively late calls for Stellantis to nominate its brands via its motorsport arm are believed to in some way have been a knock-on effect after the resignation of CEO Carlos Tavares last year.
But a replacement was finally announced two weeks ago when Stellantis North America chief Antonio Filosa was appointed as CEO of the world’s fourth-biggest automaker. Filosa, previously headed the Jeep brand, and starts his role on June 23.
Stellantis had committed to the Gen4 rules set last autumn when Maserati was notionally named as the registered manufacturer, although this is in fact known to be a generic Stellantis registration.
The Maserati name is now unlikely to feature in Gen4, with a replacement to be confirmed later this year. Maserati is contracted to represent Stellantis next season but consideration is being given to it being replaced by one of Citroen or Opel a year before the Gen4 era kicks in.
That could mean four Stellantis cars running from the same base, and potentially six being represented in Formula E for Gen4, a vastly different model than is currently used for the Maserati programme.
That is handled by the Monaco Sports Group organisation, formerly known as Venturi. But doubts remain over the future of this operation, as it is still attempting to find a buyer after former owners Scott Swid and Jose Aznar relinquished control in March for a proposed new owner.
The Race revealed earlier this year that an initial plan for American businessman Brooklyn Earick to acquire the team was agreed, and prematurely made public via Formula E’s TV coverage at Jeddah in February. But these plans were not completed after some conditions for the transaction to be actioned were believed not to have transpired, leaving the team in a precarious financial situation.
The collapse of that prospective deal has triggered a major search for a new investor to ensure the team's long-term future, although as of earlier this month, The Race understands that despite some interested parties, no concrete deal appears near.
How Stellantis might structure brands
One of the Stellantis brands could take up the so-called 12th licence in Formula E, but the recent availability of the team presently known as NEOM McLaren is understood to have narrowed the chances of an imminent solution.
The multi-branded automotive Stellantis behemoth does not presently own a grid licence, as it has favoured set-ups of partnering with existing squads such as Virgin, Techeetah, Penske and MSG, rather than outright owning a franchise within Formula E.
As reported by The Race earlier this year Opel is currently the most likely to be introduced for an entry in 2026, in addition to a Citroen entry too.
The strategy of introducing Opel and Citroen could mean DS Automobiles being either phased out of Formula E after a decade of competition with the Virgin, Techeetah and Penske operations, or somehow being kept within Formula E via another customer team.
One possible solution for such a unity might come via the current NEOM McLaren Formula E team, although this operation could also capture a hook-up via the Citroen or Opel brand too.
Official notification was made public in April that McLaren would be exiting the series after principal backer of the project NEOM gave notice of its intention not to carry on. The Race understands that McLaren FE team principal and director Ian James is talking closely to Stellantis about buy-in options.
The Penske entry, which owns the licence currently raced under by the DS Penske moniker, is known to be exploring opportunities with Porsche as a customer for the Gen4 period, as well as the future possibility of potentially building its own powertrain. Penske is not currently believed to be registered as a manufacturer for the Gen4 rules set though.
Is a 24-car grid really possible for Gen4?
Formula E’s constitution allows for a maximum of 12 teams and 24 cars on its grid. This is largely for logistical and sustainability reasons and was mandated as such at the outset of its existence in 2014.
It has only had a full grid of 24 cars in two seasons, in the so-called Season 5 and Season 6 which spanned 2018-2021.
When Audi withdrew in the summer of 2021 the 12th licence slot eventually reverted to Formula E ownership and has stayed there ever since. The closest it came to being acquired was when Lola entered into negotiations with Formula E executives at the end of 2023. However, a deal could not be done on that occasion and Lola elected to buy the licence initially owned by the Abt organisation with which it combined in 2024.
While Stellantis purchasing the last available licence would be a great result for Formula E, it would by no means ensure a full house of 24 cars. That’s because the future of the aforementioned McLaren and MSG entities hangs in the balance at present, with each needing significant new investment to continue.
Speaking to The Race last month about the possibility of the 12th licence being filled for the 2026-27 season onwards, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds wouldn’t comment specifically on Stellantis acquiring the slot but did tell The Race that “the key phrase is [to have] healthy teams on the grid.”
“The automotive sector is going through a very challenging time at the moment, made more challenging by tariffs and we know the economic environment is still beginning to recover, but it's taking time to recover,” said Dodds.
“I'd love to have 12 teams on the grid, but 12 healthy teams. We want teams in the championship and we want those teams to be self-sufficient and healthy and be able to invest their growth in the championship, as we certainly have towards Gen4.”
Formula E is currently assisting both the current McLaren team as it aims to transition into a newly named entity for next season, and the beleaguered Maserati MSG team. But doubts are being cast already over whether the McLaren entry can be salvaged via a new investment team or brand such as one of the Stellantis manufacturer names.
But should investment in those squads be forthcoming, then 24 cars might be a realistic proposition for the 2026-27 season.
Dodds added that “we know we're going through flux and change with McLaren but Ian has announced that he's actively looking to retain the team on the grid and he's talking to various parties to do that, so there's going to be some change anyway.”
