Citroen name new Formula E team principal after Cyril Blais tradegy

Citroën Racing has confirmed Beth Paretta as its new team principal for the 2026/27 Formula E season, with Fred Espinos joining as deputy team principal as the squad reveals its first Gen4 livery.

Paretta steps up after serving as managing director throughout the team's debut campaign last season. 

Espinos arrives from Lola Yamaha ABT, where he was deputy team principal, having previously worked as sporting manager at ABT Sportsline.

The appointments come after the tragic death of Cyril Blais, who held the team principal role before his passing was mourned across the Formula E paddock. 

The championship paid tribute to him during the Tokyo double-header last July, where Nick Cassidy claimed back-to-back podiums for the team in his memory.

Citroen stick to iconic colours with full focus on Gen4 era

Citroën has stuck with the red, white and blue identity that proved popular with fans last season, now reworked for the more dynamic Gen4 machinery. 

The reveal follows the team's confirmation earlier this month that it is reuniting with TotalEnergies for the GEN4 era, extending a partnership between the two French companies that dates back to 1968.

Cassidy and Jean-Eric Vergne remain in place as Citroën's full-time drivers for the upcoming campaign. Between them, the pair have 23 wins in Formula E, making them one of the most experienced line-ups on the grid. 

Cassidy delivered the team's maiden win in just its second race, at the 2026 Mexico City E-Prix, with both drivers taking podiums across the calendar.

However, it is now all eyes on Gen4, with Paretta recognising it as a significant step up for the championship.

"GEN4 is much more than an evolution of the previous car: it is faster, more powerful and technologically more advanced, and it will change the way we approach race weekends," she said.

"For Citroën Racing, success will be about making the most of that opportunity from the very beginning. We feel well prepared, we have the strength and expertise of Stellantis Motorsport behind us, and we have a brand that is fully committed to the programme. Our objective is to translate all of that into being competitive out of the gate with strong performance on track."

Espinos, who represented his former team on the Shanghai podium when Lucas di Grassi won earlier this year, described the move as the right challenge at the right time.

"I'm very proud to join the team at such an important stage in its development," he said. "This is a project that brings together many of the ingredients needed to succeed: a brand with a strong motorsport heritage, an experienced team, two top-level drivers and a clear ambition as we enter the GEN4 era.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but the objective is clear: to be ready from the very start of the season."