Staple of Formula E's Gen3 grids set to lose his seat

Norman Nato’s racing future in Formula E looks uncertain, as he is set to be replaced by Victor Martins for the Gen4 era of Formula E at Nissan next season.

The Race understands that Nato was recently informed there would be no race seat available to him for the 2026-27 season, having spent three seasons with the team in the Gen3 era.

Nato, who drove one of his best races of the season to sixth on Sunday in Tokyo, told The Race last Thursday that he was likely to concentrate on his WEC programme with the Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA squad in 2027, although a reserve and development role, possibly with Jaguar, could also be on the cards.

“I'm not closing the door to anything; first was to see if I could be on the grid next year, with Nissan, which is unlikely to happen, but the calendar doesn't help,” Nato told The Race in Tokyo last weekend.

“Two clashes already [with the World Endurance Championship], it's quite a lot. If it's four [races], it's too much and you have a look at both calendars, so it's going to be a lot of back-to-backs [if] you're going to have to do two programmes,” he added.

Nato has endured a difficult season results-wise at Nissan. A fifth place in Berlin is his only real result of note, although he has been quick and in occasional strong positions, only for either strategic difficulties or being taken out of contention by competitors to spoil his races.

“I would say that I would love to continue in Formula E, but step by step, there's more races, and on my side, it's been clear that for the last two years, I've been having priority in WEC, and I don't regret it, because I'm doing great there,” he added.

“I'm not going to take any decision anytime soon, because in this position, you have a bit more time to decide what you want to do.”

Nato is known to be interested in IMSA for next season in addition to his WEC role, which he is set to continue with his present team, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA.

When asked by The Race about Nato’s future, his team boss at Nissan, Tommaso Volpe, said that “we haven't decided yet, and now we want to enjoy this result, and hopefully we will decide very soon".

Could Nato rejoin Jaguar?

Nato could return to the team he briefly raced for in 2022 when he deputised for an injured Sam Bird at the season-closing Seoul E-Prix.

He worked that season, the last of the Gen2 era of Formula E, as a test and reserve driver prior to him getting his initial one-season deal with Nissan for the start of Gen3, before another single season only at Andretti in 2024.

Nato is known to have impressed Jaguar, which initially sim tested him back in 2017 when he was recommended to then sporting manager Gary Ekerold by current Ferrari F1 team principal Fred Vasseur. 

Jaguar may need a new development and reserve driver for 2027 should it elect to replace the departing Evans with its current development driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, who is considered the favourite to race alongside Antonio Felix da Costa next season.

Speaking to The Race in Tokyo, Jaguar team principal Ian James said that he thought Nato “would be a boon for any team up and down the paddock.

“I think the experience that he's got, his racecraft, but also his ability to work with the team is incredibly strong,” added James.

“I've said it since my first days here in Formula E that role is so crucial to the overall performance of the team. I've been fortunate enough to work with some great drivers in the past as development and reserve drivers as well.

“I suppose that camaraderie, that collaboration, but also the technical know-how to be able to communicate in a succinct and informative manner with the engineers is super important. Norman has that in spades.”

Martins primed for Nissan seat 

The Race understands that Nissan is close to an agreement with current Williams F1 development and Alpine WEC driver Victor Martins to race alongside the already contracted Oliver Rowland.

The F2 race winner recently took part in a Gen4 test at the Navarra circuit in Spain and has also spent time in the Nissan simulator recently. He is considered the clear favourite to replace the outgoing Nato.

Martins has tested several times for Nissan in the past with the Gen3 car and is known to have impressed the team and developed key relationships at the Paris-based squad. 

He is set to get more Gen4 seat time next month and could be announced as a race driver shortly after the finish of the present season. 

Nissan would not be drawn on its future driver selection for Gen4 when approached by The Race in Tokyo.