Envision's Filippi says Buemi's exit was expected as Formula E team enters Gen4 era

Envision team principal Sylvain Filippi has said the squad had long anticipated Sebastien Buemi's departure from its full-time Formula E line-up. Buemi stepped down from his race seat at the end of the 2025/26 season to focus on his Toyota Gazoo Racing programme in the World Endurance Championship, and has been retained by Envision in an advisory and development role.

Filippi said the growing calendars of both championships made the change unavoidable. "We knew with Seb the clock was ticking," he said, adding that the team had wanted a well-prepared replacement rather than a driver new to everything at once. That preparation came through Zak O'Sullivan, who has completed rookie and test outings for the team since joining as a simulator and development driver in January 2025.

O'Sullivan has now signed a multi-year deal alongside Maximilian Günther, who joins from DS Penske. Envision has also said goodbye to Joel Eriksson after one season. Filippi said the team's wider structure remains stable and that the new drivers are the main change, and the squad recently completed a shakedown at Silverstone.