F1 champion Rosberg to give FE Gen2 car public debut 

2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg will drive Formula E's new season five car during its first public demonstration at the Berlin round in May. 

The former Mercedes driver, who pipped Lewis Hamilton to claim his maiden F1 title in 2016 before retiring from the sport, will get behind the wheel of the Gen2 car for a 10-minute demonstration slot on May 19 ahead of the Berlin race at the Tempelhof Airport. 

Rosberg also revealed he became an investor in the all-electric series “some time ago”, having been a guest at the 2017/2018 season-opener in Hong Kong last December, where he expressed his initial interest in joining Formula E in a non-driving role.

"I'm really excited to get behind the wheel of the Gen2 car," Rosberg said. "It will be great to experience this high-performance e-mobility car and let's see if I still have it in me!

"It makes it even more special that I'm able to do this at the Berlin E-Prix, as I've always loved racing in my home country - Germany.

"Since my retirement, I've become very interested in the e-mobility movement and its potential to positively impact our society and our planet.

"I've therefore also long believed in the potential of Formula E and came on board as an investor some time ago.”

The Gen2 car has increased battery storage compared to its predecessor and will be able to complete a full race distance on a single charge, removing the need for car swaps that have featured in Formula E races since the series’ inception in 2014. 

Seven of the nine manufacturers that will contest the 2018/2019 campaign ran their new cars at the first official on-track test at Monteblanco last month, with a second test scheduled to take place in Calafet. 

Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag is excited by the planned public demonstration of the new car and said he is thrilled to see Rosberg become an investor in the championship. 

"It's a very special moment to see a new car running for the first time in public and it requires an equally special name to have that honour,” Agag said.

"To see a name like Rosberg taking the wheel of the Gen2 car in front of the German fans in Berlin is a great moment for the series.

"He's such an incredible ambassador for world motorsport and a champion - so it's also another fantastic endorsement for the ABB FIA Formula E championship to have Nico as an investor and shareholder of Formula E."