Venturi retains Mortara to partner ex-F1 driver Massa

Venturi has announced it will retain Edoardo Mortara for the 2018/2019 Formula E season to partner new signing and ex-Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa.

Mortara continues with the team he made his Formula E debut with in season four, as he ended a part-time campaign 13th in the drivers’ standings. He claimed his best finish to date in the series with second place at the opening round of 2017/18 in Hong Kong.

The 2010 Formula 3 Euro Series champion missed the Berlin round due to clashing DTM commitments with Mercedes, but will not face dilemma next season following the German marque’s decision to quit the series at the end of 2018.

He will instead race in Formula E on a full-time basis alongside Massa, who will make his race debut for the Monaco squad at the opening round of the campaign in Saudi Arabia on December 15.

"I'm very happy to represent Venturi Formula E team again in the ABB FIA Formula E championship," Mortara said.

"As part of the team last season, I felt a strong will to succeed and I enjoyed the innate potential within Venturi.

"Moreover on a personal level, I received phenomenal support from the team - you can't underestimate the importance of this for a driver, alongside huge support and goodwill from our fans which I'm very grateful for.

"I'm also very proud to compete alongside Felipe Massa, one of the most experienced and fastest drivers in the world."

New Venturi team principal Susie Wolff added: “The decision to extend our journey with Edoardo came after careful consideration. We are convinced that he and Felipe Massa will form a solid pairing at the wheel of these new Gen2 cars.

“We know Edoardo had other options so we are pleased that he has committed to Venturi and to focussing on Formula E. His experience will be a valuable asset to our team as we move forward.”