After participating at the initial years of Formula E, ABT did not want to miss the evolution of the category, which already has the endorsement of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) as a World Championship. In addition, the Gen3 era of the circuit represents another important incentive to participate in the tournament.
After arduous negotiations and details about their return, the Germans are back as Mahindra’s customer team and announced their official driver duo for season 9.
Robin Frinjs, who had already sounded as one of the fixed drivers for some months, and Nico Mueller will be in charge of the team’s steering wheel.
Old Familiars
After this announcement for Formula E, both drivers meet again, since both have already shared the colors of the same team, but in other competitions. The racers have already been part of the organization in DTM and have teamed up in endurance races with Audi. Between them, they have experience in 91 of the 100 races in the history of the series.
Mueller raced for ABT in DTM from 2016 to 2020, scoring 31 podiums, 10 wins and two runner-up finishes in this period. In the sixth and seventh Formula E seasons, the Swiss completed 17 races for Dragon while supporting Audi Sport, then ABT Schaeffler partner, with testing and simulator work.
“After our great years together in DTM, I am looking forward to this new chapter with ABT and my return to Formula E,” Mueller stated. He emphasized that the team comes with expectations to place itself in a good position on its return.
“Personally, I still have a score to settle with Formula E after my difficult year and a half, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to settle it together with this team,” he added.
Frijns, meanwhile, was a member of ABT in DTM for three years from 2018 to 2020, scoring 18 podiums and three wins. His stint in Formula E was with Andretti and Envision Racing for six campaigns, scoring two wins and 13 podiums, with best overall result of fifth in 2020-21.
“It’s a big step for all of us and we will have to learn a lot and also quickly. But I have full confidence in the ABT team, which has caused a stir in every racing series in its history. It’s great to be part of this again,” he said.
Team Satisfaction
For ABT Managing Partner Hans-Jürgen Abt, the arrivals of Frinjs and Mueller generate a lot of motivation within the team because they have everything they need for a triumphant return to Formula E: speed, experience and the right spirit.
“If we want to fend off the big factory teams in the new season, we need a small and powerful team. And that’s where Robin and Nico fit in perfectly,” he said.
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