Formula E: Joel Eriksson Eyes Full-Time Return After Berlin Outing
In a surprise move, Joel Eriksson made his return to the Formula E grid in Berlin, replacing Robin Frijns at Envision Racing for the double-header event. The 25-year-old Swede, who last competed in the all-electric championship in 2021, is determined to secure a full-time race seat in Formula E.
Eriksson’s junior career was marked by a fierce battle with Lando Norris for the FIA Formula 3 European title in 2017. Although he ultimately finished second, the experience has driven him to push for a return to single-seater racing. Norris’s recent victory in the Miami Grand Prix has only strengthened Eriksson’s resolve.
“I’m very happy for Lando because he is one of the fairest drivers I raced against, and I have huge respect for him,” Eriksson told Autosport. “It shows me that I can be on the same level as him, and that’s just more proof to me that I have to keep pushing, I have to keep working to get a full-time race seat.”
Eriksson’s Formula E debut in 2021 with Dragon Penske was hampered by a lack of testing and a competitive package. However, his recent outing with Envision has given him hope of making a full-time return to the grid.
“I’m still trying my very best to find a full-time race seat in Formula E, and that has been my main goal for the last six years,” he said.
The Berlin event marked Eriksson’s first Formula E race in nearly three years, and he was eliminated in the opener after contact with Kelvin van der Linde. However, he bounced back in the second race to finish ninth, despite issues with his Attack Mode activation.
“The potential was definitely there to be top five,” he reflected.
Eriksson’s input is clearly valued by the Jaguar team, and his performance in Berlin may have generated interest from other teams in the pitlane. As the 2023 Formula E calendar unfolds, Eriksson remains determined to secure a full-time race seat and prove himself as a top contender in the championship.
“I will never stop trying, I will always keep pushing and always try to improve myself as well,” he said. “My main goal will always be to find a full-time race seat.”
With the Formula E standings still tightly contested, Eriksson’s return could be a significant development in the championship’s narrative.
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