A decade of change: Formula E drivers then and now, from karting days to podium selfies

Formula E is now in its 12th season and is gearing up for the launch of the GEN4 Evo next year. The all-electric motorsport championship has come a long way since its first race in 2014. Formula E’s official social media handle recently revisited years-old Instagram posts shared by its drivers, offering not just a nostalgic look back at their journeys but also an opportunity for fans to marvel at how much they have grown over the years, both in appearance and in their success in electric racing.

Revisiting decade-old Instagram posts of Formula E drivers

A series of old Instagram posts featuring Formula E drivers was shared on Instagram by the championship’s official handle with the caption: “Good old times, hey? So glad we didn’t peak in Season 2.”

While some of the drivers were already competing in Formula E in 2016, many had yet to join the series and were still progressing through other stages of their racing careers. Taylor Barnard was karting at the time and had no idea he would one day compete in Formula E. Maximilian Gunther and Dan Ticktum were racing in Formula 3, with one picture showing Ticktum holding two bottles of champagne and another capturing Gunther’s win at Zandvoort. Meanwhile, Pascal Wehrlein had just scored his first point in Formula 1 while driving for Manor Racing.

Fans react to Formula E drivers’ looks and decade-long journeys

Fans were amazed to see how much the Formula E drivers have grown over the years. Reacting to the post, one fan wrote, “Taylor hopping from the crib to the kart, this is extremely cute! They were all babies!!” Another commented, “Di Grassi and Buemi reached unc status.”

Reacting to Lucas Di Grassi’s podium selfie, a fan wrote, “This post made me realise that we NEED the comeback of the podium selfie!” Another described the series of posts as “the cutest throwback.” One fan expressed amazement at Mitch Evans spending ten years with Jaguar, while another was impressed by how challenging it must have been to track down Instagram posts from so many years ago. “How long did admin take to scroll down?” one fan joked.

Formula E Season 12 began in Sao Paulo in December last year, with Round 2 taking place in Mexico in January. Round 3 is now scheduled to be held in Miami on January 31, with a Rookie Free Practice session also set to take place at the venue a day before the race.

Also read: Edoardo Mortara makes Formula E history with podiums in every landmark race