Hankook Ready for the High-Speed Season Opener in São Paulo

- Season 12 begins at São Paulo’s Anhembi Sambadrome circuit, one of Formula E’s fastest venues
- Demanding layout expected to highlight the iON Race tire’s grip consistency and thermal stability
- Hankook continues its EV tire technology innovation through insights gained from Formula E

Seoul, Korea, December 4, 2025 — The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (hereafter Formula E) kicks off its 12th season in São Paulo, returning to the renowned Anhembi Sambadrome — a cultural landmark transformed into a high-speed street circuit. As the exclusive tire partner and technical collaborator of the championship, Hankook Tire & Technology (hereafter Hankook) begins the new season poised to demonstrate its advanced EV tire engineering through the proven iON Race.

Hankook’s iON Race provides teams with a stable and reliable platform as they finalize their setups for the season opener. The tire’s predictable warm-up behavior and balanced grip profile remain essential on a circuit where surface changes, and São Paulo’s familiar humidity swings can influence performance throughout the day.

The circuit itself offers a distinctive blend of speed and precision, with long straights flowing into a sequence of chicanes, sweeping corners, and tighter sections that define the rhythm of the lap. A mid-lap hairpin redirects the field back onto the main straight, placing natural emphasis on traction and temperature control. These transitions between high-speed zones and technical corners call for consistent grip and steady thermal behavior — areas where the iON Race continues to deliver predictable performance.

“Over the past few years, the tire has increasingly become the defining factor for performance and success,” said Maximilian Günther of DS PENSKE. “In qualifying, you can really feel the peak performance, while in the race there’s more to manage — and that’s where drivers can make a real difference. Tire management has always been a decisive element in motorsport, and its influence has grown even stronger recently.”

“There’s always a special energy when a new season begins, and São Paulo captures that atmosphere perfectly,” said Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director of Hankook Motorsport. “We are pleased to support the championship once again and to build on the momentum we have established with our partners. This season opener marks an important new chapter in our motorsport journey, and we look forward to the competition ahead.”

Insights from Hankook’s Formula E program continue to feed directly into its global EV tire development, with learnings in temperature control, rolling resistance, and footprint stability contributing to the broader iON consumer portfolio.

As the curtain rises on Season 12, all eyes turn to São Paulo for a race that will set the tone for the year and put the iON Race through its first high-speed examination of the new season.