Sergio Agüero is no stranger to speed. Throughout his football career, the former Manchester City star and Olympic gold medallist was renowned for his blistering acceleration, quick footwork, and deadly finishing.
But now, the Argentinian is trading goals for gears as he takes on an entirely different challenge, driving a Formula E race car for Porsche.
In a one-off appearance as part of Porsche’s Formula E content series, “Evo Sessions”, Agüero will step into the cockpit of the Porsche 99X Electric, marking his debut as a racing driver at a special event in Miami on March 5 and 6. Guiding him through this high-speed adventure is reigning Formula E world champion Pascal Wehrlein.
A Footballer Behind the Wheel of a Formula E Car?
Transitioning from football to motorsport isn’t exactly a common career move, but if anyone is up for the challenge, it’s Agüero. The former striker is eager to prove that his talent extends beyond the football pitch.
“This is absolutely crazy: from footballer to racing driver in one of the fastest racing cars in the world,” said Sergio Agüero. “Every child is familiar with Porsche. The brand represents an iconic heritage, particularly in motorsport. With this in mind, I am absolutely delighted and would like to thank everyone involved for this unique opportunity. I want to learn as much as possible on my journey to Miami, and to represent the team as well as possible when we get there.”
It’s not just about strapping into a Formula E machine and hitting the accelerator. To prepare for his debut, Agüero is undergoing intensive training, first with Porsche’s road-going sports cars, then in the Porsche Motorsport simulators, before eventually stepping into the all-electric 99X Electric Formula E car.
The Porsche 99X Electric is not something you can pick up and drive off too. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under two seconds. What makes it even more impressive is its regenerative braking system, which allows it to generate nearly half the energy it needs during a race.
With its cutting-edge software, the car dynamically adjusts settings for every single corner of the track, maximising performance in real-time.
Even Porsche’s Director of Factory Motorsport Formula E, Florian Modlinger, acknowledges that this challenge is far from ordinary.
“Welcome to the team, Sergio! Training a non-motorsport athlete for such a challenge in such a short time is a huge task for us as a team, but also for him as an athlete,” said Modlinger.
“The 99X Electric is one of the best Formula racing cars in the world. To drive it demands a lot of respect and meticulous preparation. The project is a bit mad, but also exciting and definitely innovative. We are looking forward to Miami and hope that the event can win a lot of new fans for our sport.”
The Bigger Picture
While Agüero’s one-off debut is an exciting headline, it’s also part of a bigger strategy. Porsche is using Formula E as a testing ground for electric performance technology that will eventually make its way into future Porsche road cars.
Now in its sixth season in Formula E, Porsche is competing not only with its works TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team but also through customer teams like Andretti Formula E and Cupra Kiro, who use Porsche’s 99X Electric technology.
The stakes are high, and the sport is growing rapidly, which is exactly why bringing in a global superstar like Sergio Agüero makes sense. With his massive fanbase, Porsche is hoping to introduce more people to the thrill of all-electric racing.
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