News Summary
- Fusion Formula E has emerged as the 12th team for the 2026/27 season, with plans to operate two Porsche-powered Gen4 cars.
- Majority owner Dan Richards is also an investor in Lando Norris’ LN4 Fusion project, although Norris has not been confirmed as an owner of the Formula E operation.
- Former Jaguar and DS Penske engineer Phil Charles is set to lead the team, with Ayhancan Güven among the candidates for a race seat.
A new Porsche-powered Formula E team with financial links to Lando Norris’ junior racing project is preparing to join the 2026/27 championship, potentially restoring the all-electric series to a full 24-car grid for the first time since 2021.
The operation, provisionally known as Fusion Formula E Team, has emerged after a late agreement to secure the final available entry for the Gen4 era. According to an exclusive investigation by Sam Smith for Formula E Notebook, the British-based project is backed by Dan Richards, one of the principal investors in LN4 Fusion, the junior single-seater organisation established with Norris earlier this year.
The connection does not mean that Norris owns or will manage the new Formula E team. His potential involvement was reportedly discussed during the project’s development, but those discussions are understood to have ended in September.
Fusion has submitted its entry and is preparing to field two Porsche Gen4 cars, with former Jaguar and DS Penske technical specialist Phil Charles expected to become team principal.
Norris-linked investor emerges behind new Formula E operation
Fusion Formula E Team was registered in the United Kingdom last week, with a corporate structure involving Jersey-based entities and holding company SAJ Finance Limited.
Richards is identified as the founder, director and majority shareholder of the new operation, which is understood to include several minority investors.
His involvement is particularly significant because he is also part of the investment group behind Lando Norris’ LN4 Fusion junior racing programme, announced in September.
That project is preparing to compete in Formula 3, Italian Formula 4 and Formula Regional Europe in 2027, with longer-term ambitions to expand into Formula 2.
Norris has positioned LN4 Fusion as an initiative to develop young drivers and provide financial support to talented competitors who might otherwise struggle to progress through the junior categories.
The Formula E project would represent a separate expansion of Richards’ motorsport investments rather than a confirmed extension of Norris’ own racing team.
According to Formula E Notebook, Norris’ name was discussed during the early planning stages, but direct involvement is no longer believed to be part of the arrangement.
No official announcement has established Norris as a shareholder, director or operational participant in Fusion Formula E.
Porsche gains sixth Gen4 car as Formula E grid expands
The new entry is expected to operate two Porsche-powered Gen4 cars, increasing the German manufacturer’s presence to six vehicles.
Porsche will continue supplying its established factory operation, which has retained Pascal Wehrlein and Nico Müller for the new season.
The manufacturer will also provide powertrains to CUPRA Kiro, whose driver pairing is expected to include Pepe Martí and Jake Hughes.
Fusion’s arrival would create a third Porsche-powered team, strengthening the manufacturer’s position as Formula E introduces its most powerful generation of cars.
The development is particularly notable because Porsche had previously explored operating a second factory team before changing its plans.
Nyck de Vries revealed that Porsche had abandoned its second factory Formula E operation, creating uncertainty over the additional cars originally planned for the Gen4 era.
Fusion’s emergence offers a different solution: an independent team operating Porsche machinery rather than a second factory-controlled entry.
The additional cars would also bring the championship back to 12 teams and 24 drivers.
Phil Charles set to lead ambitious British team
The new organisation is expected to be led by Phil Charles, who has held senior technical positions at Jaguar and DS Penske.
Charles left DS Penske in August and has subsequently worked on establishing the new operation, including negotiations with Porsche and recruitment of engineering personnel.
The team is being assembled at new premises in Oxfordshire, with preparations progressing rapidly ahead of the 2026/27 season.
According to Formula E Notebook, Charles has been recruiting race engineers, systems specialists and strategy personnel, with several positions advertised during the past week.
The project faces a demanding timetable.
Fusion is targeting participation in the official pre-season test at Jarama in November, leaving only a few weeks to prepare its cars, technical systems and operational structure.
Porsche is understood to be providing assistance as the new team attempts to complete preparations for the test.
The operation is therefore entering the championship under unusual circumstances, with considerably less preparation time than most established competitors.
Porsche driver Güven emerges as leading candidate
Fusion has not announced its driver line-up, but several candidates have been linked with the two available seats.
Ayhancan Güven is considered one of the leading possibilities, reflecting his existing relationship with Porsche and his interest in moving into Formula E.
The Turkish driver recently discussed his ambitions during the WEC weekend in Barcelona.
“That’s the plan,” Güven told Formula E Notebook when asked about competing in the electric championship.
He explained that he was continuing to work towards that objective, although no contract had been confirmed.
His participation would also depend on satisfying the championship’s e-Licence requirements.
Other possible candidates include David Beckmann, Joel Eriksson and former Formula 2 drivers with relevant testing experience.
Beckmann previously competed for CUPRA Kiro, while Eriksson has Formula E experience with Envision and other operations.
The team is not expected to finalise its driver pairing until after the November pre-season test.
Gen4 era attracts new manufacturers and teams
Fusion’s planned entry comes during a period of substantial change in Formula E.
The championship will introduce Gen4 cars capable of producing 600kW in Attack Mode, with permanent all-wheel drive and significantly greater aerodynamic performance.
The new machinery represents a major increase in performance compared with the previous generation, requiring teams to adapt their engineering procedures, energy-management strategies and race operations.
Porsche has emerged as one of the early reference points during private testing, although comparisons remain preliminary because manufacturers have been following different development programmes.
Other organisations have also restructured their operations ahead of the new season.
Lola has taken direct control of its Formula E team and removed ABT and Yamaha from its entrant name, although Yamaha remains involved in powertrain development.
Fusion’s arrival would complete another part of the championship’s transition, bringing an additional British-based operation into a grid that already includes major manufacturers and established customer teams.
Fusion faces race against time before Formula E debut
The new team’s immediate priority is preparing its two Porsche cars for the November test at Jarama.
According to Formula E Notebook, the entry documentation was submitted before the October deadline and the necessary arrangements have progressed sufficiently for the operation to begin its final preparations.
However, the team has not yet announced its complete sporting structure, commercial partners or drivers.
Its formal identity may also change before the championship begins, with Fusion Formula E Team currently understood to be the provisional name.
The 2026/27 Formula E season is scheduled to begin in December, giving the new operation a limited period to complete its preparations.
