Norman Nato will return to Nissan for the 2024/25 Formula E season after his departure from Andretti.
The Frenchman raced with the Japanese manufacturer back in Season Nine, where he enjoyed his best season to date, finishing 10th in the standings with 63 points, registering points on eight occasions and grabbing one podium.
Nato had an identical record last season with Andretti, but finished worse off in 15th with 47 points. After Andretti signed Nico Muller for Season 11 and Nissan opted to release Sacha Fenestraz after being considerably outperformed by teammate Oliver Rowland, the 32-year-old has re-joined the team for next season.
However, it is believed that Nato has only signed a temporary deal as Nissan target Antonio Felix Da Costa or Mitch Evans for the 2025/26 season.
And with this short-term contract, Nato is already expected to miss Formula E races this season.
Norman Nato to miss Berlin ePrix due to World Endurance Championship commitments
The Frenchman has competed in the World Endurance Championship alongside FE since 2021, when he raced in the LMP2 class with Realteam Racing.
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Nato previously raced in LMP1 in 2019/20, where he won two races, finished on the podium at all but one event and came third overall in the standings with Rebellion Racing. The 32-year-old is currently racing in the Hypercar class in the Porsche 963 with Hertz Team Jota.
According to a report by The Race, Nato is again expected to complete a dual programme with WEC and FE, but unlike previous seasons where the all-electric series took precedence – Nato missed the Six Hours of Spa this year, which his fellow No. 12 drivers Callum Illot and Will Stevens went on to win – the Frenchman is expected to commit to sports car racing.
The Race has reported that speculation in the paddock believes Nato is set to join Jota as one of the six drivers for the factory team for Cadillac next year.
As a result, the 32-year-old will be set to miss the Berlin double header in FE as it clashes with the Six Hours of Sao Paulo in the WEC.
The Race have said that the two races at Tempelhof will go ahead as scheduled on the calendar, as speculation that FE may move the Berlin races to avoid such clash with the WEC are ‘wide of the mark.’
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Who will replace Norman Nato at Nissan in Berlin?
With Nato’s deal at Nissan set to be just a one-year deal, it is not surprising to see the Frenchman commit to sports car racing, given that Jota’s project with Cadillac is an exciting one.
This though creates a headache for Nissan, as they will now already have to search for a third driver not long after signing their second alongside Oliver Rowland.
One potential option is Caio Collet, who was the team’s reserve driver last season. The Indy NXT competitor stood in for the ill Oliver Rowland at Portland, where he outqualified Fenestraz.
Fenestraz himself could also be an option having been familiar with the team over the past two years. But after his recent release, it is perhaps unlikely Nissan will turn to him.