BERLIN, Germany - Lucas di Grassi will remain with ABT Schaeffler Audi in Formula E next season after agreeing a new deal with the German team.
The current championship leader had been linked with a move to the incoming Jaguar operation for season three, but will extend his stint with ABT into a third campaign.
“I will stay with ABT,” di Grassi confirmed to NBC Sports in Berlin ahead of this weekend’s ePrix.
“There were some discussions before on how we continue together and how we could improve our development, improve the team, this and that.
“We reached an agreement, a very good agreement that I’m very happy with. I think we will improve as a team, I will improve as a driver, we have a very good package together.
“We are working very well now. There is no reason in season three to move teams.”
Di Grassi said that the deal was “100% done” before the team duly announced that he would be staying at ABT on Twitter.
BREAKING @LucasdiGrassi ends some rumors and confirms he stays with our team next season! Deal is done. Now let's go racing in Berlin
— ABT Motorsport (@abtmotorsport) May 20, 2016
Di Grassi confirmed that he has signed a one-year deal with the option of extending it depending on how season three goes.
“Let’s say we start with season three and depending on how season three goes, the involvement with manufacturers, how the championship shapes up, we have an option for a longer term partnership,” di Grassi said.
“But first we need to see how Formula E evolves as a championship, how ABT evolves as a team and how good our results are in season three.”
ABT also confirmed that Daniel Abt will be sticking with the team for next season also, confirming an unchanged line-up.