Lucas di Grassi (Image credit: Instagram)

Formula E driver Lucas di Grassi has made it clear that he is not actually retiring from Formula E, but rather starting another chapter in his motorsport career by contributing more outside of the electric racing car. The Lola Yamaha ABT driver will step down as a Formula E racer at the end of this season. He played a key role in the introduction of Formula E in 2014 and is now competing in his final, 12th season.

Lucas di Grassi wants to add value to Formula E from outside the car

Lucas di Grassi played a key role in testing Formula E cars and helping to establish the championship. The Lola Yamaha ABT driver has watched the growth of the electric racing series over four generations and feels proud of how far it has come.Sharing his thoughts after announcing his retirement, Lucas di Grassi told Formula.com in an interview, “I’m very proud because I helped build the business. So to be with Alejandro from day one and put this business together, to now employing hundreds of people directly and indirectly, 20 drivers or more including reserve drivers, and creating such a big spectacle around the world while pushing the technology forward, I’m very proud of what Formula E is doing.” Have grown as a business and bet it was good;Giving a major indication that he will continue to be involved in Formula E beyond this season, he said, “I think there are a lot of opportunities there, and now I feel I can add more value outside the car than inside the car. This is by no means a retirement announcement, it’s just the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, which I’m already actively working on to make this transition as seamless as possible.“

Lucas di Grassi looks back at his Formula E journey

Lucas di Grassi won the first Formula E race in Beijing in 2014 and achieved his most recent podium finish last year. He currently sits at the bottom of the drivers’ standings, as the Lola Yamaha ABT has yet to compete.Di Grassi, who won the Formula E World Championship in the 2016-17 season, is proud of what he has achieved so far. “I have two different views about Formula E – as a competitor, where I had a lot of success, a lot of ups and downs and a lot of emotions. I competed against the best drivers in the world for more than a decade, I have been in every single Formula E race so far, and so I am very proud of this side of it,” he said.Di Grassi will contest nine more Formula E races this season before the calendar ends in August.Also read: Formula E veteran Lucas di Grassi to retire as he emotionally thanks family and colleagues