Lucas di Grassi Hit with Grid Penalty for Jeddah E-Prix

Penalty stems from incident at previous Miami E-Prix race

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Lucas di Grassi will start the 2026 Jeddah E-Prix from three positions lower on the grid than he qualified, after being penalized by the FIA for failing to follow instructions during a previous race in Miami. The penalty comes as Formula E continues to see increased scrutiny from race stewards on driver infractions.

Why it matters

Di Grassi's grid penalty adds an extra challenge as he looks to contend for championship points at the high-speed Jeddah circuit. The growing number of penalties across the Formula E grid highlights the series' commitment to enforcing regulations and ensuring fair competition as the championship continues to expand its global reach.

The details

The incident occurred at Turn 7 during the Miami E-Prix, where di Grassi left the track and did not adhere to the prescribed procedure of coming to a complete stop to the right of the bollard in the run-off zone. While the initial offense warranted a five-second time penalty, the FIA converted it to a three-place grid drop for the Jeddah race, as the penalty was assessed after the Miami E-Prix concluded. Di Grassi also received a penalty point, bringing his total to eight over the last 12 months.

  • The Jeddah E-Prix represents Round 4 of the 2025/26 World Championship, and is a double-header event taking place on February 13th and 14th.
  • Today's schedule, Friday, February 13th, includes Free Practice 2 at 13:30 local time (10:30 UTC), Qualifying at 15:40 local time (12:40 UTC), and the Race at 20:05 local time (17:05 UTC).
  • Saturday, February 14th will see Free Practice 3 at 13:30 local time (10:30 UTC), Qualifying at 15:40 local time (12:40 UTC), and a second Race at 20:05 local time (17:05 UTC).

The players

Lucas di Grassi

A Brazilian racing driver who competes in Formula E for the Lola Yamaha ABT team.

FIA

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the governing body of Formula E and other motorsport series.

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What they’re saying

“We must ensure all drivers adhere to the rules and procedures to maintain the integrity of our sport.”

— FIA Race Director

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Di Grassi's penalty highlights the FIA's increased scrutiny of driver infractions in Formula E, as the series looks to enforce regulations and ensure fair competition across the grid. The Jeddah circuit's high-speed layout will test the limits of both drivers and machines as they navigate the field.