A familiar face will make his return to the Formula E paddock next season, in the form of Jake Hughes. The 32-year-old who hails from Birmingham, previously competed in the championship from 2023 to 2025 - firstly with NEOM McLaren and later Maserati.
The highlight of his first Formula E stint came with NEOM McLaren at the 2024 Shanghai E-Prix, where he achieved his first podium in the all-electric championship, after finishing the race in second. Another podium (a third place finish) followed at the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix, this time sporting Maserati's iconic blue.
After departing the Maserati outfit at the end of the 2024/25 season, Hughes remained in the paddock as a Reserve Driver for Mahindra Racing. He also continued his work with McLaren in Formula 1, holding Test and Simulator Driver roles, as well as competing (and claiming a race win) in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) with Algarve Pro Racing.
Hughes' full time return to the paddock sees him partner with Pepe Martí at CUPRA KIRO for the 2026/27 season - the start of the GEN4 era.
Capable of reaching speeds in excess of 335kph, 0-100kph in approximately 1.8 seconds, and 0-200kph in just 4.4 seconds - 1.5 seconds faster than its predecessor - GEN4 will deliver 50% more power in race mode than the current GEN3 Evo race car. The GEN4 car will be an average of 10 seconds faster per lap than the GEN3 car in qualifying mode. In ATTACK MODE, GEN4 produces up to 600kW of power, a 71% increase in base output over GEN3 Evo, delivering performance that pushes the limits of electric racing. GEN4 is the only single-seater race car with permanent all-wheel drive.
READ MORE: GEN4 Unleashed - Everything you need to know about Formula E's new era
Jake Hughes, CUPRA KIRO Driver, said: “I’m over the moon to be joining CUPRA KIRO. It feels like it’s been a long time coming. The team has built the foundations of something very special and hopefully, we can kick on and bring even more success. It’s very exciting to be heading into a new era with the arrival of GEN4 – we’ll have fast cars and a lot of technology which I think will suit my driving style really well. I’m looking forward to Pre-Season Testing, getting in the car, and getting to work. Hopefully we can win some races!”
Russell O’Hagan, CUPRA KIRO Team Principal, said: “We’re very excited to welcome Jake to CUPRA KIRO for the coming season. He brings a wealth of Formula E experience, but also a very valuable background in car development having worked closely with some of the leading teams in both Formula E and Formula 1.
"Jake’s one-lap pace has always been a real strength of his, and he has an instinctive feel for extracting performance from a car. With the arrival of GEN4, having a driver who can contribute both on track and through the development process will be invaluable, and from what we’ve seen so far, the characteristics of the GEN4 should suit Jake’s intuitive driving style very well."
Find out more
GEN4: A new era of Formula E is about to begin
WATCH: How to watch every Formula E race in your country
CALENDAR: Here's every race set for the 2026/27 Formula E season
TICKETS: Secure your grandstand seats and buy Formula E race tickets
