Lucas di Grassi has confirmed he wants to go into a management role for a team or championship after he retires from Formula E as a driver.
Di Grassi will not race in another series after Formula E, but hopes to continue racing in the series for a “few more years” and will drive for Abt Cupra in 2024.
The 39-year-old has had a prolific motorsport career, having competed in Formula 1 in 2010 for Virgin, Audi in the World Endurance Championship during the peak LPM1 era between 2011 and 2016 and Brazilian Stock Cars.
“I think my dream job in life, not just after I stop, but in the future, will be, if not the CEO, making some decisions to make Formula E even better in the areas that I have knowhow,” Di Grassi exclusively told Total-Motorsport.com.
“So probably involvement with the series will be my top job in the future that I would like to do. But I don’t discard running a team for a while, I don’t discard doing other series for a while, not as a driver.
“But, in the second half of my career I definitely need to learn more management skills to learn a little bit of other qualities that you don’t necessarily need now.”
Hamilton might not be a good manager
Di Grassi is the only Formula E driver to enter every E-Prix since the series began in 2014 and is the Season 3 champion.
He pointed out being an amazing driver doesn’t necessarily equate to being a good manager in motorsport, so is aware of the skills he needs to learn.
“When you’re a driver, you have to actually to build a team, not only driving, but these different. requirements that go to a different position,” Di Grassi continued.
“People tend to confuse that, ‘Ah that guy is an excellent driver’. Maybe Lewis Hamilton is a horrible manager or a horrible CEO. So maybe he’s the best driver ever but not the best manager.
“Maybe drivers who are not so great, or they achieved something but…. for example Jerome d’Ambrosio, who was a good driver but not the best driver, he’s a great manager and team principal. We got along very well. You need to learn a lot of different qualities to move ahead in your career in this direction.”
When is the 2024 Formula E season?
The new Formula E season begins with pre-season testing from Valencia at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo from October 23-27, with Mexico City hosting the 2024 opener on January 13.
