Sims replaces d'Ambrosio at Mahindra for 2020-21 FE season

Alexander Sims has left the BMW Andretti Formula E team to sign for Mahindra Racing for the 2020-21 season to replace Jerome d’Ambrosio.

Sims made his series debut with the German squad and scored three consecutive poles and a maiden victory in the 2019-20 season-opener in Saudi Arabia.

That propelled him to third in the standings before the coronavirus outbreak, but a slump in team form meant he fell to 13th with only two-points finishes in the six-race Berlin finale.

But the Briton has now moved to Indian squad Mahindra to replace FE ever-present d’Ambrosio, who scored his third championship victory in Marrakech last season.

Sims said: “I’m delighted to be joining Mahindra Racing and continuing my Formula E campaign.

“It is an exciting opportunity to bring on the team’s package and challenge for strong results.

“Promoting sustainability and electric mobility is important to me personally and competing in Formula E provides a strong, innovative and forward-looking platform to raise awareness.

“I want to thank BMW i Andretti Motorsport for all its support during the past two seasons and wish the team well for the future.

“It’s been a huge learning curve coming into Formula E – it’s such a different discipline in motorsport and brings with it great new challenges.

“I’m excited to continue learning and to use my knowledge to support Mahindra Racing in the upcoming season.”

Mahindra struggled in the early part of the campaign after myriad reliability issues following a change in gearbox supplier.

The team performed well in the German capital – particularly in qualifying – but would end up only ninth of the 12 teams in the standings.

Team principal Dilbagh Gill, who missed all six races at Tempelhof Airport after testing positive for COVID-19, added: “I’m thrilled on behalf of the whole team to welcome Alexander.

“I’m extremely excited about working with him and the prospect of what we can achieve together is motivating.

“In Alexander we have a proven racing talent plus someone that embodies what Mahindra Racing stands for with his personal principles in the areas of electrification and sustainability.

“He is an intellectual driver, a very nice guy and a team player; I’m enthused about what season seven will bring and look forward to announcing Alexander’s team-mate in due course.

“At the same time, I would like to pay tribute to Jerome, who leaves us after two years with the team.

“We have had some great moments together and I wish him all the very best as he moves on to new endeavours.

“He is a class act and I look forward to seeing what he does next.”

Mahindra is expected to retain Alex Lynn for next season after the Aston Martin World Endurance Championship GTE driver was called to replace Pascal Wehrlein for the German races.

The team decided to part ways with Wehrlein after he agreed terms with Porsche to replace Neel Jani in the team for 2021.

Meanwhile, Maximilian Guenther has confirmed he will remain at BMW Andretti next season following a breakout campaign in which he scored two victories after coming in to replace newly crowned champion Antonio Felix da Costa.