DS Penske confirmed today that seasoned racer Daniil Kvyat will partner rising talent Nikita Bedrin during Formula E’s official rookie test in Berlin next Monday. The announcement, released on July 1 via Formula E’s news desk, finalises the team’s two-driver roster for the one-day session that follows the Berlin E-Prix.
Kvyat, a former Formula 1 race winner with stints at Red Bull and Toro Rosso, brings a wealth of top-tier experience to the all-electric series. After recent outings in NASCAR and endurance racing, his return to single-seaters offers DS Penske a valuable benchmark as the team refines its Gen3 package. For Kvyat himself, the test represents another opportunity to sample Formula E machinery after appearances with other squads in 2023 and 2024.
Alongside him, 19-year-old Bedrin continues his rapid rise through the junior ranks. The multiple karting champion and 2024 FIA F3 sprint-race victor recently became the first signing to DS Penske’s new Driver Development Programme. Berlin’s rookie day will give Bedrin precious laps in a top-level electric race car and let the team evaluate his feedback in a real-world environment.
The Berlin Rookie Test—scheduled for the day after the E-Prix—allows each Formula E outfit to field two drivers who have never started an E-Prix. It is widely viewed as a vital stepping-stone for emerging talent and a low-risk proving ground for experienced racers exploring a switch to electric racing. Teams also use the day to trial experimental set-ups and gather data that cannot be collected during a regular race weekend.
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