Daniel Abt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daniel Abt
Abt at the 2018 Berlin ePrix
Nationality	German
Born	(1992-12-03) 3 December 1992 (age 32) Kempten, Germany
Formula E career
Debut season	2014–15
Racing licence	FIA Gold
Car no.	33
Former teams	Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, Nio 333 FE Team
Starts	69
Championships	0
Wins	2
Podiums	10
Poles	2
Fastest laps	8
Best finish	5th in 2017–18
Finished last season	21st
Previous series
2013–14 2012 2011 2010 2008–09	GP2 Series GP3 Series Formula 3 Euro Series German Formula Three ADAC Formel Masters
Championship titles
2009	ADAC Formel Masters

Daniel Johannes Abt (born December 3, 1992) is a German former racing driver. He is most famous for racing and winning in Formula E, an exciting series for electric cars, with the Audi Sport ABT team. Before that, Daniel raced in other series like German Formula Three, GP3, and GP2. He even won the 2009 ADAC Formel Masters championship. Currently, Daniel is taking a break from competitive racing. He now works as a TV expert for Formula E coverage.

Daniel Abt's Racing Journey

Early Days: ADAC Formel Masters

Daniel Abt was born in Kempten, a town in Bavaria, Germany. In 2008, he started his journey in formula racing, which uses open-wheel cars. He joined the ADAC Formel Masters series, racing for his father's team, Abt Sportsline. In his first year, he started from the front of the grid (pole position) four times. He also finished in the top three several times, with one third place and two second places.

The next year, 2009, was a big one for Daniel. He continued with Abt Sportsline in the ADAC Formel Masters. He won an amazing eight races and took seven pole positions. This strong performance helped him win the championship title easily. He scored 224 points, much more than his teammate.

Moving Up: Formula Three

After his success, Daniel moved to the German Formula Three Championship in 2010. He joined the Van Amersfoort Racing team, which was known for winning championships. Daniel showed great skill, winning two races and finishing on the podium (top three) ten times. He was a strong contender for the championship title, ending up as the runner-up with 112 points.

Later that year, he competed in the famous Macau Grand Prix. This is a very challenging race. Daniel was leading but unfortunately had an accident and had to stop racing.

In 2011, Daniel joined the Formula 3 Euro Series with the Signature team. He finished seventh overall, with four third-place finishes. He also competed in the 2011 FIA Formula 3 International Trophy, where he finished fourth. At the end of the year, he got a chance to test a DTM car for Audi, which is a big step for a young driver.

GP3 and GP2 Series

In 2012, Daniel joined Lotus GP for the 2012 GP3 Series season. This team had a great record. Daniel had a very successful year, winning two races and getting on the podium seven times. He finished as the runner-up in the championship, showing his talent.

In 2013, Daniel moved up to the GP2 Series, which is another important step towards Formula 1. He raced for ART Grand Prix. It was a tough first year, and he finished 22nd. He stayed in GP2 for 2014, joining the Hilmer Motorsport team.

Electric Racing: Formula E (2014–2020)

Abt driving in the 2014 Punta del Este ePrix

In 2014, Daniel was confirmed to race in the very first Formula E championship. This was exciting because Formula E uses only electric cars. He joined his family's team, Audi Sport ABT, alongside experienced driver Lucas di Grassi.

First Season: 2014–15

In the very first Formula E race, Daniel initially finished third. However, his car had some illegal changes, so he was moved down to 10th place. During the season, he achieved one podium finish (top three), one pole position, and one fastest lap. He finished 11th in the championship.

First Win: 2017–18

After 38 races, Daniel finally achieved his first Formula E victory! This happened at the 2018 Mexico City ePrix. It was a big moment in his career.

Changes in 2019–20

In May 2020, Daniel left the Audi team after an incident during an online racing event. About a month later, he found a new team and signed with the Nio 333 FE Team. He replaced Ma Qinghua, who couldn't travel to Berlin for the races.

Taking a Break: 2021–Present

In November 2020, Daniel announced that he would be taking a break from competitive racing. He had an offer to race in the 2020-21 Formula E season but decided to step away for a while. Instead, he joined Sat.1, a TV channel, as a racing expert and co-commentator for their Formula E coverage. Daniel said it wasn't a permanent goodbye to motorsports, but he felt taking a year off was the right decision for him.

More About Daniel

From 2008 to 2010, Daniel was part of the Deutsche Post Speed Academy. This program helps young racing talents. He was named "Germany's motorsport talent of the year" in both 2009 and 2010. Since 2010, he has also been part of Volkswagen's program to support new talents.

Daniel's Family and Racing

Racing runs in Daniel's family! His father, Hans-Jürgen Abt, owns and leads the Abt Sportsline team. This team races in different series, including the DTM. His family also owns a company in Germany that customizes cars, especially Audis. Daniel's uncle, Christian Abt, is also a racing driver who competed in the DTM for many years.

Besides racing, Daniel is also a managing director for Abt Lifestyle GmbH.

Racing Summary

See also

In Spanish: Daniel Abt para niños