"First time I'm comfortable saying something's faster than me" - Usain Bolt test drives Formula E car ahead of season-opener in Mexico City

Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt expressed his awe of the Formula E GEN3 car after test-driving it heading into the season-opening race in Mexico City.

Ahead of the 2024 Mexico City E-Prix, Bolt drove the GENBETA car for a full lap on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, where the E-Prix will be held on Saturday, January 13.

Speaking after the drive, Bolt expressed his awe at the car's pace and joked that it was the first time he was comfortable to admit that something was faster than him.

"This is the first time in my life I am comfortable saying something's faster than me," he remarked (via Formula E Instagram).

Under the watchful eyes of current Formula E champion Jake Dennis and former F1 star David Coulthard, Bolt went from 0 to 60mph in just 2.89 seconds and crossed the 100m mark in 4.36 seconds — 5.22 seconds faster than Bolt's record sprint time of 9.58 seconds in the 100m time.

Thirteen-time Formula 1 race winner Coulthard stated that Bolt unsurprisingly pushed the card to its limits.

“I was very impressed with Usain’s focus and desire to put in a strong performance. Put the world’s fastest man in this incredible race car and he was always going to push it to the limit. Once a champion, always a champion,” he expressed. (via Formula E).

That said, Bolt remains eager to better his time and has asked to have a go in the car once more, according to Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds.

“He came to our race event today with that same determination and confidence to step out of his comfort zone, get in our incredible race car, and see what he could do. He’s also asking me if he can come back tomorrow and see if he can go even quicker,” Dodds said.

---

Usain Bolt on driving the Formula E car: "It was a mind-blowing experience"

Usain Bolt is an eight-time Olympic gold medallist.

Usain Bolt is not new to testing out the capabilities of a race car in proper race conditions. Ahead of the Las Vegas Formula 1 race last year, he was allowed to race around the street circuit between the third Free Practice session and Qualifying.

After test-driving the Gen3 Formula E car, Bolt expressed his awe at the car's pace and called it a 'mind-blowing' experience.

“The car is like a rocket ship on wheels. Getting the chance to drive it was a mind-blowing experience. The power from the start was such a surprise and the adrenaline you got is on a different level, easily,” he told Formula E.

“Driving it was like nothing I've experienced before. I was told that as soon as you drive, you don’t want to stop or get out and they were right. I would do it every day if I could,” he added.