Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag has revealed efforts to attract Fernando Alonso to the grid for Season 6, which begins in 2019.

The Spaniard will call time on his F1 career at the end of the season and is widely expected to move to IndyCar, as he tries to add the Indianapolis 500 to complete motorsport's 'Triple Crown'.

At the same time, however, several other categories are trying to appeal themselves to the 36-year-old with NASCAR and now the all-electric Formula E making their approaches public.

"I've been speaking with Fernando," Agag told the South China Morning Post. "Actually, I was with him in Monza, I think he's going to America this season, but definitely for the season after we are going after him."

After so many years in F1, some would wonder if the series would hold much interest for Alonso, but Agag doesn't have that concern.

"I speak with Fernando a lot, he likes Formula E a lot," he claimed. "He's very car-focused, Fernando. He's very curious about the new car that we are starting in Season 5.

"He wants to know more about that car and he thinks it looks very cool. Fernando is all about the car."

Season 6 in 2019 is likely to be even bigger for Formula E as Mercedes and Porsche join the likes of Audi, BMW and Nissan on the grid and next season, starting later this year, will mark the first in which one car will complete a full race distance.

"The championship is great, the technology is making huge steps, we've done all the things in the right order," added Agag. "I think as Formula E grows, everyone is paying more attention.

"Everyone thought this was going to be a short-term venture, now it's really consolidated as a worldwide championship with all these big brands and car manufacturers."

Some strong drivers are also involved including current champion Jean-Eric Vergne, Sebastien Buemi and Felipe Massa to join with Venturi.

"For him to drive in Formula E, it's great for the championship. We have a great line-up of drivers, second only to F1. Apart from that, we are probably the best in the world.

"More drivers are doing fully Formula E, because of the growth - there are bigger budgets to pay the salaries so the drivers are exclusive. Formula E is becoming the priority."

The FIA Formula E Championship is making its third visit to the Atlantic seafront in Uruguay this weekend, as the Punta del Este E-Prix returns after a year’s absence as round six of the 2017/18 season.

Fresh from a thrilling race in Mexico City just two weeks ago, which saw a breakthrough win for Daniel Abt and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, the 20 all-electric racers are preparing for the challenges of the street circuit by the sea, as the roads lining the idyllic coastline are converted to a challenging racetrack.

The 2.785km course features 20 corners, and is an exciting mixture of high speed sweeping curves and tight chicanes. The city hosted events in the first two seasons of Formula E, and notably was the place where season two champion Sebastien Buemi scored his first win, and where current standings leader Jean-Eric Vergne put his car on pole position for the first time.

Returning to the venue for the third time is also an opportunity to show how far the development of the Formula E car has come since the series’ inception. In 2014, the lap count for the Punta del Este E-Prix was 31, rising to 33 in 2015, and now in 2018 there is a marked increase to 37 laps.

The result of the fifth round of the championship in Mexico City surprisingly did not affect the top five positions on the points table, with Vergne leading for TECHEETAH, followed by Mahindra Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist and DS Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird. Buemi’s brace of third places for Renault e.dams at the last two rounds cements his position in fourth, while Nelson Piquet Jr will be looking to break onto the podium this weekend for Panasonic Jaguar Racing having finished in fourth place three times this season.

NIO Formula E Team's Oliver Turvey scored a breakthrough podium for the manufacturer in Mexico City and will be hoping to build on that success, while Audi is confident it has resolved the reliability issues that have troubled reigning champion Lucas di Grassi so far this season which will likely see both he and recent winner Abt towards the front once again. 

Event timetable:

Saturday, 17 March

Championship standings:

The FIA Formula E Championship is set to make its debut in the Middle East next season in Riyadh, with the Saudi Arabian capital scheduled to host the opening round of season five in December.

In a double-first for the electric street racing series, Formula E will bring international motorsport to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the very first time as part of a 10-year agreement with the General Sports Authority and Saudi Arabian Motor Federation. Alongside hosting the first fully-electric race in the region, the exciting news signals the start of a new era of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship with the eagerly-anticipated competitive debut of the next generation cars in Riyadh.

The announcement was made by His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdullah AlFaisal, President of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, and His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki AlFaisal Al Saud, Vice-Chair of the Saudi Arabia General Sports Authority, together with Founder & CEO of Formula E Alejandro Agag.

Pending confirmation of the calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the E-Prix will see the Formula E cars navigate the streets of the picturesque Ad Diriyah district - with experienced motorsport promoter Carlo Boutagy tasked to deliver and promote the race through his company CBX. Further details on the location and circuit layout will be revealed in due course.

Alejandro Agag, Founder & CEO of Formula E, said: “Bringing racing to Riyadh for the first round of the new season is the perfect setting for the next phase of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. An exciting and vibrant country that is focussing on its future, Saudi Arabia will be the ideal venue to mark the competitive debut of the next generation Formula E cars. We think Saudi Arabia - with the new vision of Prince Abdulaziz, Prince Khalid and the country - is a fitting location to launch the latest chapter of the electric street racing series. Many other sports are already increasing their presence in Saudi Arabia and we’re proud that they’ve chosen Formula E over other categories in racing. Most countries are now looking to Formula E, especially Saudi Arabia which is concentrating on the development of new technologies, renewable energies and electric vehicles.”

His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz, said: “Saudi Arabia is looking to the future and Formula E is the motorsport of the future, that’s why this is such an exciting opportunity. It aligns perfectly with the country’s 2030 vision and offers the prospect of world-class racing on the streets of the capital for the first time in our history. For all fans, men, women, young and old, the dream of a hosting a ‘home race’ will now come true. As a driver myself, who cares about growing the sport, nothing could make me happier. The length of the partnership will give Saudi Arabia and Formula E the platform to create a lasting legacy for both the sport globally and the Kingdom over the course of a decade. This is the latest in a series of game-changing sports events that the people of Saudi Arabia will now be able to enjoy as families, with benefits that go far beyond the sport to deliver a positive impact across our society. Also for the next generation of Formula E, perhaps with a future champion, technician, engineer or team manager watching from the crowd in Riyadh and being inspired by the sport.”

His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdullah AlFaisal, President of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, commented: “The interest and passion for motorsport amongst the people in the Kingdom is already vast, with a rich heritage in rallying, drag racing and other forms of motorsport - but the sport in Saudi Arabia is about to be supercharged by this development. This event and all that surrounds it, from welcoming world-class teams to the global TV coverage, represents a watershed moment. By hosting Formula E in Riyadh, the enthusiasm for motorsport and sustainable technologies will be heightened further to leave behind a valuable footprint in the Kingdom’s landscape and showcase its growing credentials as a sporting destination.”