Andretti has introduced the signing of Nico Mueller, changing Norman Nato within the workforce’s Components E lineup alongside 2022-23 champion Jake Dennis.
The long-anticipated arrival of the Swiss driver comes 4 days after Nato’s departure from the workforce was confirmed after a single season driving for the workforce.
“I’m very excited to hitch the Andretti Components E workforce,” mentioned Mueller. “It’s a workforce that has seen success from the very starting of the Championship, significantly within the GEN3 period of their partnership with Porsche Motorsport.
“To work with Jake, a former World Champion, is an honor, and I’m trying ahead to the chance. I’m going to offer it my best to contribute to the workforce’s success and hopefully purpose for some podiums and my first Components E win – that’s the goal. I can’t wait to get going.”
Mueller’s transfer to Andretti comes after nearly a season of hypothesis that he would be part of Porsche after a non-public check with the producer in March. He was initially anticipated to exchange Antonio Felix da Costa within the manufacturing unit TAG Heuer Porsche workforce, just for the Portuguese driver to take pleasure in a dramatic upturn in type which led to him ending the season with 4 wins, greater than another driver within the 2023-24 season.
He subsequently departed Abt Cupra after the conclusion of the tenth Components E season, and departed Peugeot’s World Endurance Championship squad, too. Andretti, which is a Porsche buyer workforce, mentioned that Mueller’s signing was “as a brand new a part of Porsche’s buyer racing operations”, seemingly confirming his transfer to the German marque – though Andretti does retain sole management over who drives for it in Components E.
“We’re delighted to welcome Nico to the Andretti Components E workforce for Season 11,” mentioned Andretti Components E workforce principal Roger Griffiths. “His familiarity with electrical racing is confirmed, and he has proven he can ship robust outcomes throughout all kinds of Components E tracks. Nico is a race winner in lots of disciplines of motorsport, and we stay up for him lining up alongside Jake Dennis on the opening race in Brazil.”
Mueller has one podium end in Components E, coming with Dragon/Penske Autosport within the 2020-21 season. His resume additionally boasts stints in DTM – the place he was an 11-time race winner and two-time championship runner-up – WEC, and World Rallycross.
“We’ve got excessive expectations for Season 11, and we’re assured that including a driver of Nico’s caliber will assist us get outcomes,” mentioned Andretti International chairman and CEO Michael Andretti. “His expertise and success in Components E, and quite a few different extremely revered racing sequence, will likely be key as we proceed to extend the depth of our driver roster. We’re trying ahead to seeing what Nico can do as we proceed our pursuit of wins and World Championships.”
Mueller will take to the monitor with Andretti for the primary time later this month as a part of a Porsche producer check, earlier than heading to Valencia in November for Components E pre-season testing.
