We are now onto the final stretch of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the 2022 SABIC London E-Prix taking place this weekend at the ExCeL in the city’s historic docklands.
Formula E made its first trip to the venue last season, and in a first for an international race series raced on an indoor/outdoor circuit layout which offered up a completely unique challenge for drivers and teams.
The top four, are only split by fewer points than are on offer in any single Formula E round, and with the two races in London followed by a double-header in Seoul still to come, the season may be heading towards its climax but there’s still time for it to change…
There will be a strong British presence both when the cars line up on the grid and in the garages supporting them. Six of the 22 drivers will be competing on home soil, with a full complement of fans in the grandstands for the first time after COVID restrictions affected the Season 7 event.
The Circuit-
We’re heading back to East London’s historic docklands and the ExCeL exhibition centre and circuit designed by British architect, Simon Gibbons in collaboration with the FIA and Motorsport UK.
The 2,141km, 22 turn track is tight and twisty with a slicker, less grippy surface indoors and asphalt outside, with plenty of elevation changes. Regen is high with the new for Season 8 chicane complex between Turns 10 and 13 replacing last year’s double hairpin, and there is plenty of opportunity for overtaking.
Red Hook had received more rain overnight after yesterday afternoon’s weather-hit Round 11. The Brooklyn Street Circuit was wet-dry for much of the session but was mainly clear of standing water, with only damp patches on the asphalt.
Temperatures were cool but the track came to the drivers as they fired in their 250kW full power runs towards the end of the running, with Sam Bird firing in the quickest time of the session by some distance on a 1m 08.745s, until round 11 winner, Cassidy went within one tenth of a second after the team’s overnight rebuild job following the heavy shunt that occurred and ended Round 11 early.
The full top 10 are: P1: Bird, P2: Cassidy, P3: Di Grassi, P4: Da Costa, P5: Dennis, P6: Evans, P7: Frijns, P8: Lotterer, P9: Rowland and P10: Wehrelin.
Qualifying-
Nick Cassidy sealed a second Julius Baer Pole Position, with the New Zealender set to start from the front row for Round 12.
The last two polesitters squared off against each other and after the first corner alone Cassidy had almost fount two tenths of a second. As the pair wound their way around Red Hook’s docklands, da Costa did reel the Envision driver in. Cassidy was able to keep it neat and tidy through the final few turns though and da Costa found himself too much to do.
A brake-by-wire issue took standings leader Edo MOrtara out of the Groups and see him marooned right at the back in 21st. Jean-Eric Vergne, couldn’t capitalise to the fullest, clipping the wall on the way to the 13th quickest time.
But it wasn’t meant to be for Nick Cassidy as he was hit with a penalty, and stripped of his pole position for Round 12. The battery pack and the RESS radiator were changed following Round 11, and as it is the fifth RESS radiator used this year on Cassidy’s car, he has received a 30-place penalty.
In addition as Cassidy can only take a 21 place drop, he has been awarded a drive through penalty for the nine untaken grid places. Antonio Felix da Costa now takes pole position.
The full top 10 are- P1: Da Costa, P2: Sims, P3: Lotterer, P4: Sette Camara, P5: Vandoorne, P6: Evans, P7: De Vries, P8: Askew, P9: Dennis and P10: Frijns.
Round 12-
Antonio Felix da Costa led lights to flag in the New York City E-Prix Round 12 to bring home his and DS Techeetah’s maiden win of Season 8, with Stoffel Vandoorne following in second – eating away at Edo Mortara’s points advantage at the top of the driver standings.
The Portuguese sprinted away from Julius Baer Pole Position and fended off the attentions of Sims early on before Vandoorne applied the pressure later on in the race. However, the Mercedes-EQ driver could not find any way through, with da Costa measuring things to the flag.
Vandoorne’s 2nd place will likely be more than enough for one of Formula E’s most consistent scorers to leave the Big Apple- with a big smile on his face, especially with Drivers’ World Championship leader Mortara only managing a point and 10th spot.
We are back in two weeks for the London E-Prix and it is another double header and on the 30th to 31st of July! Who will be victorious in London?
Stoffel Vandoorne hit the ground running in New York City with the fastest time in Free Practice 1 at the Brooklyn Street Circuit in Red Hook.
The Mercedes-EQ driver set a 1m 09.836s, some three tenths quicker than Sergio Sette Camara. Vandoorne is looking to recover following a recovery drive to eighth position last time out in Marrakesh whilst the rest of the top four in the Drivers’ running scored well. Oliver Rowland (Mahindra Racing) rounded third in the practice session.
The full top 10 are- P1: Vandoorne, P2: Sette Camara, P3: Rowland, P4: Bird, P5: Mortara, P6: Wehrlein, P7: Da Costa, P8: De Vries, P9: Gunther and P10: Dennis.
Free Practice 2-
Antonio Felix da Costa was the one to set the pace in Free Practice 2 with a 1m 08.684s lap, two tenths up the road from Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans and Jake Dennis.
The DS Techeetah driver made the most of improving track conditions after Friday’s dusty start to fire his car to the top. Evans was best of the Drivers’ World Championship top four with standings leader Edo Mortara down in ninth spot and fellow challenger Stoffel Vandoorne, one spot ahead in eighth.
The full top 10 are- P1: Costa, P2: Evans, P3: Dennis, P4: Wehrlein, P5: Frijns, P6: Vergne, P7: Lotterer, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Mortara and P10: Giovinazzi.
Qualifying-
Nick Cassidy, Envision Racing, sneaked Julius Baer Pole Position for the NYC E-Prix Round 11 by just 0.008s from Stoffel Vandoorne, with the race teed up to cause a stir in the title battle.
Cassidy danced the car around a drying track following the earlier rain during the Group B running. The New Zealender and Vandoorne couldn’t be spilt around the whole lap, with the advantage heading one way then the next over the final duel. But the Envision Racing driver did enough to seal his third pole position in Formula E.
Current standings leader, Edo Mortara had failed to make it through the Groups but his 11 point lead in the championship remains intact after Vandoorne failed to bag those three bonus points for pole. But it could have been worse for Mortara, were it not for the weather that arrived midway through Group B.
Fellow title challengers Jean-Eric Vergne and Mitch Evans were caught out by the conditions, having failed to set a banker lap of note before the drizzle became rain and a faster lap than those that had come before went out of the window.
The full top 10 are- P1: Cassidy, P2: Vandoorne, P3: Di Grassi, P4: Wehrelin, P5: Buemi, P6: Sims, P7: Frijns, P8: Bird, P9: Mortara and P10: Da Costa.
Round 11-
Nick Cassidy took a maiden Formula E race win in a rain-hit New York City fro Round 11, heading home Lucas di Grassi and teammate Robin Frijns.
Julius Baer Polesitter, Cassidy had produced the goods throughout to lead from the front through both Attack Mode activations, with di Grassi and Frijns applying the pressure behind as the race headed towards its conclusion – the pair having deposed Vandoorne from second on Lap 27 as the points race twisted and turned.
Standings leader Edo Mortara had also worked his way up to fifth with a late second Attack Mode – the ROKiT Venturi Racing driver having missed out on the Duels in qualifying, starting ninth.
Into the final 10 minutes plus one lap of the race and the heavens opened, with heavy rain buffeting the Brooklyn Street Circuit out of nowhere, leaving pools of standing water in the braking zone to Turn 6.
A full course yellow was called by Cassidy, di Grassi and Vandoorne – as well as Mortara couldn’t help but aquaplane straight on and into the wall. A number of other drivers fell foul in impossible conditions as the race was brought to an early conclusion with a red flag.
On count back, the results were taken as of the lap prior to the one in which the stoppage was called, as per article 41.9 of the regulations.
The full top 10 are- P1: Cassidy, P2: Di Grassi, P3: Frijns, P4: Vandoorne, P5: Buemi, P6: Wehrelin, P7: Bird, P8: De Vries, P9: Mortara and P10: Dennis.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship makes a return to the Big Apple for the New York City E-Prix for Round 11 & 12 of Season 8.
The Championship is gearing up for its fifth visit to Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighbourhood and the Brooklyn street circuit for a fifth double-header in the city.
With only 3 race weekends left and six races, the championship is heating up. Mortara leads the Championship on 139 points, Vergne is sat in second 11 points behind. Vandoorne is in third, on 125 points, and going to be on the charge for the points he lost out on in Marrakesh.
Looking at the teams championship ROKIT Venturi Racing lead both championships on 205 points, DS Techeetah are in 2nd on 203 point and then Mercedes in 3rd on 198.
The Circuit-
This weekend’s track is a favourite of the drivers, teams and fans alike, and the 2.320km, 14 turn Red Hook racetrack remains unchanged from its familiar layout.
The circuit winds its way around the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal site in the heart of the Red Hook neighbourhood of Brooklyn. It’s a test; lined with miles of unforgiving concrete, with views across the Buttermilk Channel and over towards Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
Britain’s Sam Bird, is the most successful racer around the Brooklyn Street Circuit, with three wins to his name – including a spectacular double win on Formula E’s first visit to the city.
We are back racing once again, with Formula E and we are in Marrakesh, Morocco for Round 10 of Season 8, where the championship is heating up as its a four way battle for the Drivers’ title.
Mercedes-EQ Stoffel Vandoorne, still leads the way in the drivers championship with a five point lead over nearest challenger and double champion, Jean-Eric Vergne. Edoardo Mortara sits in third and the winner last time out at the inaugural Jakarta E-Prix, Mitch Evans rounds out the top four, with him being 12 points away from the lead of the championship.
The Circuit-
The Atlas mountains provide a stunning back drop, with it being Formula E’s fifth trip to the city’s centuries-old Agdal district with Marrakesh first being featured in 2016.
The track follows the form the circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan – named after the Crown Price of Morocco – before spilling out onto the streets of Marrakesh’s hotel district.
Renowned for being an energy zapping circuit, the fast and highly technical track features 12 turns, three straights and a series of bends completing a track length of 2.971km.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will expand in Season 9 and the debut of the Gen3 race car to include more E-Prix races in more world cities with more race teams on the Formula E grid than ever before.
The season 9 provisional calendar was published yesterday by Formula E and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) following ratification by the FIA World Motorsport Council and with the support of local ASNs (National Automobile Clubs) for each city.
The planned schedule for next season which currently features 18 races between January and July 2023 on street circuits in 13 world cities, beating the previous record of 16 races in 10 different cities.
Round
Country
Date
Pre Season Test
Valencia, Spain
Dec 11th – 14th
Round 1
Mexico City, Mexico
Jan 14th
Round 2
Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Jan 27th
Round 3
Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Jan 28th
Round 4
Hyderabad, India*
Feb 11th
Round 5
TBD
Feb 25th
Round 6
TBD
March 11th
Round 7
Sao Paulo, Brazil*
March 25th
Round 8
Berlin, Germany
April 22nd
Round 9
Monaco
May 6th
Round 10
Seoul, South Korea*
May 20th
Round 11
Seoul, South Korea*
May 21st
Round 12
Jakarta, Indonesia
June 3rd
Round 13
Jakarta, Indonesia
June 4th
Round 14
TBD
June 24th
Round 15
Rome, Italy
July 15th
Round 16
Rome, Italy
July 16th
Round 17
London, UK
July 29th
Round 18
London, UK
July 30th
* Subject to circuit homologation.
From Round 1 in Mexico City to the climax of Season 9 in London, the stage is set for the most successful Formula E season yet. Engineers and sustainability experts at the FIA and Formula E have worked together to build the Gen3, a race car that proves how high performance and sustainability can powerfully co-exist without compromise. We welcome Maserati back to motorsport for the first time in decades alongside McLaren Racing and the incredible roster of teams and manufacturers that makes Formula E unique. We expect Season 9 to continue our momentum of growing the global fanbase for the sport.
Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer Formula E.
The Season 9 calendar of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is our most expansive and dynamic racing schedule yet and I cannot wait to get started. We will continue to push the international boundaries of all-electric street racing with E-Prix in Hyderabad and São Paulo, while maintaining the hugely popular races in Diriyah, Mexico City, Berlin, Monaco, Rome and London with Jakarta and Seoul now established on the calendar. We are also working hard to include Cape Town and a race in the USA when the provisional calendar is updated later this year.
Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer.
Nissan and McLaren Racing has announced today a multi-year technical collaboration, which will commence at the beginning of the 2022/23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season.
With McLaren Racing confirming its participation in the championship from Season 9, the partnership will see the Japanese automaker supply its Nissan EV powertrain to the British team for the entirety of the Gen3 era.
This agreement with McLaren is in addition to Nissan’s direct involvement in the highly anticipated Gen3 homologation of the sport. As a world leading expert in the design and manufacture of exciting all-electric vehicles, and following the recent acquisition of e.dams, Nissan will also continue to compete in Formula E with its own factory team.
Through this relationship, Nissan and McLaren will be working closely together as they compete with other successful brands in one of the most challenging and technically advanced racing series in the world.
Our new partnership with McLaren Racing will be a powerful one, as the association will inspire collaboration and knowledge sharing. The pioneering spirit and drive to innovate are characteristics Nissan and McLaren Racing share, making them an ideal partner for us in Formula E and as we continue to electrify our vehicles.
Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer.
As we are shaping the team for its first season as McLaren in Formula E, we are naturally seeking the best partnerships and opportunities on every front – with the technical aspect being one of the key areas. Nissan have proven their knowledge, craft and commitment over the last four seasons in Formula E, and heading into the Gen3 era, we have full confidence that the collaboration will bring both parties much success. This will be a true partnership that will drive both the team’s performance and the development of the Nissan Formula E powertrain technology.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing.
We are proud to announce this multi-year deal with a great motorsports brand such as McLaren Racing. Our partnership begins next season with Formula E’s exciting new Gen3 regulations, which will see the performance of the all-electric race cars reach incredible new heights. At Nissan, we are in Formula E not only to race, but also to showcase to a diverse range of viewers just how impressive, powerful, and efficient our electric vehicles are. And our collaboration with McLaren will provide us with even more opportunities to accelerate the development of our technology and showcase it to fans all over the world.
Tommaso Volpe, General Manager, Nissan Formula E and Managing Director, Nissan e.dams Formula E team.
Mahindra’s Oliver Rowland fired to the top of the timesheets in the first Free Practice ahead of the inaugural Jakarta E-Prix, with a 1m 08.433s. But it wasn’t all glorious, as the drivers had to battle tricky, dusty conditions.
The circuit has been designed with bumps, banking, camber and all the typical twists of a street circuit, with fast flowing sections where poise and balance are key.
Rowland’s benchmark came late into the session, with Buemi firing in his lap right a the last minute. Lucas di Grassi had sat atop the timing screens for the latter part of FP1 before those final runs came through but wound up third, although just a tenth of a second back.
The full top 10 were- P1: Rowland, P2: Buemi, P3: Di Grassi, P4: Dennis, P5: Vergne, P6: Evans, P7: Da Costa, P8: De Vries, P9: Wherelein and P10: Frijns.
FP2-
DS Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne left it late to top the timesheet and when he did he was a huge four tenths of a second clear of his teammate, Antonio Felix da Costa. The Frenchman’s 1m 07.549s lap was almost a second quicker than Oliver Rowland’s in FP1.
Da Costa set his lap late to pip Jake Dennis to second, with the Brit looking handy and haing been at the sharp end of the times in both practice sessions, as has Mitch Evans who made the top six again.
The top 10 were- P1: Vergne, P2: Da Costa, P3: Dennis, P4: Evans, P5: Mortara, P6: Ticktum, P7: Turvey, P8: Wehrlein, P9: Giovinazzi and P10: Vandoorne.
Qualifying-
Jean Eric Vergne beat his teammate, Antonio Felix da Costa in the Final Duel in qualifying for the first Jakarta E-Prix with a 1m 08.523s, by eight tenths of a second.
The DS Techteetah duo made it an all black an gold finale in the session – the first time two teammates had squared off against one another in the Final Duel and Vergne’s collected lap was more than enough for his 15th Julius Baer Pole Position – a new record.
Da Costa’s lap was lost after he dropped a couple of tenths through Turn 3, despite managing to drag the car to the apex of Turn 4. His DS Techteetah looked more of a handful than his teammates.
The top 10 were- P1: Vergne, P2: Da Costa, P3: Evans, P4: Mortara, P5: Dennis, P6: Wehrelin, P7: Buemi, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Lotterer and P10: De Vries.
Round 9-
Mitch Evans fended off the close attentions of Jean-Eric Vergne and Edoardo Mortara to take his third win of the season at the inaugural Jakarta E-Prix.
The Jaguar driver made a late-race lunge that caught then leader Vergne off-guard at Turn 7 on Lap 31. From there, energy management became increasingly critical for the lead duo as they fought between themselves and against searing track temperatures.
That allowed Mortara to join the party and look to pick up the pieces as Evans and Vergne squabbled. Evans had five minutes plus added time to hold the pair off, with the race anybody’s heading into the final turn and his rear tyres fading fast. The Kiwi held on though, to head Vergne home with Mortara right with both of them – all three drivers within a second of one another.
The top 10 are- P1: Evans, P2: Vergne, P3: Mortara, P4: Da Costa, P5: Vandoorne, P6: Dennis, P7: Di Grassi, P8: Wehrelin, P9: Bird and P10: Buemi.
We are back in just under a month for Round 10, where we will be going to Marrakesh on the 2nd of July!
Round 9 is here and we are in Jakarta, Indonesia, home to 273 million people and its the first taste of the leading electric racing series and a return to motorsport’s world stage.
It’s uncharted territory for all the drivers and teams, just 16 points split the top three drivers as we are just over the halfway mark of the season – with only one victory up for grabs this weekend who could possibly take it?
Eight rounds, and five different winners could we possibly see that number going to 6? Or will a previous driver take that win. Nyck de Vries won Round 8, and Edoardo Mortara Round 7, that Mercedes engine looks very powerful, will we see them take to the podium?
The Circuit-
With the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit making its debut, the drivers will be facing a challenging 18 turn circuit with the back drop of Jakarta Bay.
The circuit is a purpose built track pulling together all the best elements of street racing to the Ancol Beach City resort. The 2.37km circuit kicks off with a long run into the tight opening sector into a following series of turns and banked corners which then lead up to a tight complex to round out the lap with a long run down the fast start/finish straight.
Formula E has been a regular in Asia since the championship’s first campaign, with 16 races at five locations so far in the region. The circuit’s development is aimed at leaving a lasting legacy in the city.
McLaren Racing has confirmed that they will be competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from next season, the start of the Gen3 era.
McLaren, has long committed to competing with the best teams, at the leading edge of technology on the world’s biggest stages. The latest addition to the iconic teams’ racing portfolio is also squarely aimed at accelerating McLaren Racing’s understanding of EV technology as part of their sustainability journey whilst reaching a new, more diverse audience.
The McLaren Formula E Team will be formed through the acquisition of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team, expected to be complete later this year, following an agreement between both teams, that will see the reigning Formula E Word Championship team transfer into the McLaren family.
Ian James, Team Principle of Mercedes EQ Formula E Team, will continue to lead the team, enabling a smooth transition as the team prepares to feature on the grid, under the iconic McLaren name.
The name McLaren is among the greatest names in motorsport, since the team’s foundation by Bruce McLaren in 1963, and its Formula 1 debut in 1966, it has amassed 20 Formula 1 World Championship titles, more than 180 Grand Prix wins, three Indianapolis 500 victories and won the Le Mans 24 Hours at their first attempt.
McLaren Racing always seeks to compete against the best and on the leading edge of technology, providing our fans, partners and people with new ways to be excited, entertained and inspired. As with all forms of the sport we participate in, Formula E has racing at the centre but will be strategically, commercially and technically additive to McLaren Racing overall. I firmly believe that Formula E will give McLaren Racing a competitive advantage through greater understanding of EV racing, while providing a point of difference to our fans, partners and people, and continuing to drive us along our sustainability pathway.
Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO.
My Opinion-
Ahhhh finally!! After it being spoke about and rumours flying around, its finally confirmed. Good news for McLaren, now in another championship and they are overtaking the current World Champions.
It will be interesting to see how the transition goes and who they decide on their driver line-up, could Stoffel Vandoorne be making a return to McLaren?…
Round 7 winner, Edoardo Mortara set the benchmark once again in FP1 as he set a 1m 06.373s at the reverse, clockwise layout of the Tempelhof Airport Circuit. Overnight work was carried out to switch from the traditional track to the anti-clockwise version, giving drivers a whole new circuit to get used to.
Mortara adapted the quickest, with Porsche’s Andre Lotterer was up there once again on home soil. Avalanche Andretti’s Jake Dennis came home third. Pascal Wehrlein and front row qualifier, Alexander Sims rounded out the top five.
The full top 10 are: P1: Mortara, P2: Lotterer, P3: Dennis, P4: Wehrlein, P5: Sims, P6: Vergne, P7: De Vries, P8: Di Grassi, P9: Da Costa and P10: Bird.
FP2-
ROKiT Venturi’s pace was still unbeatable in Free Practice 2, as Lucas di Grassi and Edoardo Mortara led the way with the first and second quickest times of the day.
Di Grassi’s 1m 06.133s was two tenths quicker than his teammate managed in FP1 and 0.150s quicker than Mortara in FP2. The pair then lead Oliver Rowland, who went quickest in the first session ahead of Round 7.
The full top 10 are: P1: Di Grassi, P2: Mortara, P3: Rowland, P4: Vandoorne, P5: Wehrlein, P6: Dennis, P7: Vergne, P8: Frijns, P9: Turvey and P10: Da Costa.
Qualifying-
ROKiT Venturi Racing’s Edoardo Mortara, held his own in qualifying as he grasped a second consecutive Julius Baer Pole Position in two days, he only had to wait 5 years and two came along at once!!…
The shock of qualifying for Round 8 was seeing the top 3 in the championship not start higher than 7th… Vandoorne who came into the weekend leading the championship only managed P8, Vergne who is in 2nd in the Championship was behind the leader and the same for Mitch Evans also, who had been on a role until now.
The full top 10 are: P1: Mortara, P2: Frijns, P3: De Vries, P4: Lotterer, P5: Da Costa, P6: Cassidy, P7: Di Grassi, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Vergne and P10: Evans.
Round 8-
Mercedes EQ driver and reigning champion Nyck de Vries, powered to a comfortable, managed drive to the race win, where he won the Season 7 title triumph. Mortara following 2.5s back, with Vandoorne making it two Mercedes EQ cars on the podiums and three Mercedes EQ powertrains in the top three. The Belgians third place finish also extended his silverware streak to three races.
Lucas di Grassi came home fourth to extend that to four Mercedes powered cars in the top four in a dominant outing. Oliver Rowland made good progress from 10th to an eventual seventh. A bit of a weird weekend for DS Techeetah as Jean-Eric Vergne finished 9th…
We’ve had a bit of a difficult ride the past three races. So, honestly I’m just very pleased to be here and to be back. Obviously it’s a bit of an emotional one for me. It was the perfect way to come back after a difficult day yesterday and the work put in with my engineers to find positives. Edo (Mortara) has been very strong all weekend so we definitely had to keep it clean, but the team managed very well on their side and I executed it, so I’m very pleased.
Nyck de Vries on winning Round 8.
The full top 10 are: P1: De Vries, P2: Mortara, P3: Vandoorne, P4: Di Grassi, P5: Frijns, P6: Da Costa, P7: Rowland, P8: Lotterer, P9: Vergne and P10: Evans.
We now have just under 3 weeks until we are back for Round 9, for the Jakarta E-Prix on the 4th June!
Mahindra Racing’s Oliver Rowland, set the early pace with a 1m 06.270s ahead of Lucas di Grassi, with current World Champion leader, Stoffel Vandoorne back in third.
Edoardo Mortara, placed his ROKiT Venturi Racing Silver Arrow 02, fourth to make it two in the top four for the Monegasque team. The top 20 runners sat within eight and a half tenths of a second of one another, come the chequered flag on the session.
Full top 10 were: P1: Rowland, P2: Di Grassi, P3: Vandoorne, P4: Mortara, P5: Dennis, P6: Wehrlein, P7: Vergne, P8: Buemi, P9: Da Costa and P10: Frijns.
FP2-
Andre Lotterer put in a late lap to top the timesheets of Free Practice 2, ahead of Edoardo Mortara in 2nd and Sebastien Buemi in 3rd.
After the first free practice having 20 drivers split by just over 0.850s and this time, 21 drivers were separated by under three quarters of a second. Lap times aren’t the only focus in practice though, as drivers and engineers will be working flat out to understand things like energy management and setup ahead of qualifying and the race.
The top 10 were: P1: Lotterer, P2: Mortara, P3: Buemi, P4: Wehrlein, P5: Frijns, P6: Evans, P7: Dennis, P8: Da Costa, P9: Rowland and P10: Vandoorne.
Qualifying-
Edoarado Mortara, fired to a maiden Julius Baer Pole Position ahead of Round 7, as the ROKiT Venturi driver hung it all on the line to beat Alexander Sims to the mark.
But, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Mortara, as he looked to be compromised by a Turn 1 error, the Swiss-French-Italian running wide and opening the opportunity for Sims to capitalise.
The highlight of qualifying though was the Semis between Jean-Eric Vergne and Alexander Sims, having dived deep into Turn 1, but not as much as Vergne did- Vergne fell back by 0.150s.
As the lap continued, the gap gradually kept coming down as JEV was fighting hard. Vergne continued to reel the Brit in and as the Frenchman flew across the start/finish line he’d exactly matched Sims’ effort, the pair setting an identical lap time down to the thousandth of a second.
The top 10 were: P1: Mortara, P2: Sims, P3: Da Costa, P4: Vergne, P5: Lotterer, P6: Wehrlein, P7: Sette Camara, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Evans and P10: Buemi.
Round 7-
Edoardo Mortara, produced a complete drive to seal victory in the Berlin E-Prix, Round 7 heading home Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne.
But, nothing is that simple as Mortara had all to do as a fiesty looking Vergne back and the decisive moment came on Lap 37 as the Venturi driver went on the defensive at Turn 6, luring JEV into a move – the Frenchman diving too deep and fall back 1.5s.
Vandoorne produced one of the drives of the day, as he shuffled down the order to 12th at the end of Lap 12, the Belgian driver had slipped by six by the halfway point and looked as good a bet to take the race win. But, he had to settle for third after a back and forth with Vergne.
The full top 10 were: P1: Mortara, P2: Vergne, P3: Vandoorne, P4: Lotterer, P5: Evans, P6: Wehrlein, P7: Bird, P8: Da Costa, P9: Sims and P10: De Vries.
Avalanche Andretti Formula E took to social media to announce that they will be joining forces with Porsche from the start of Season 9.
Porsche will provide the powertrains and other support services for the Andretti team, under a long-term agreement.
The agreement will bring the Andretti name and Porsche brand together for the first time since 2008, when the late John Andretti carried the Porsche emblem for the Daytona 24 Hours.
The manufacturer and family share a storied past, which includes a run at Le Mans that saw the father-son pairing of Mario and Michael Andretti as teammates for one of motorpsort’s most iconic races.
Our Formula E journey began with Season 1 and we’re very proud to now be looking ahead to the next generation of the sport. Avalanche Andretti FE has an ambition to win, and with the support of Porsche, we have full confidence in our performance and growth. The agreement is an important step in our future and commitment to our sport, partners, and fans. Our history with Porsche as two historic racing teams means this collaboration was a natural fit, and we look forward to a new chapter starting in 2023.
Michael Andretti, CEO and Chairman Andretti Autorsport.
Season 9 will be an important year for our team and the series. It was vital that we made a strong choice in our powertrain provider in preparation for this new chapter and exciting generation of car – and we have that in Porsche. We are looking forward to starting Gen3 as a formidable competitor. We remain focused on the rest of this season, we continue our powertrain relationship with BMW, who have been a valued partner to our team and will support us until the end of this season. We’ve had many successes together through the years and thank them for both their partnership and friendship.
Roger Griffiths, Team Principle Avalanche Andretti Formula E.
It’s important for us to support a customer team that demonstrates the same passion and professionalism in Formula E as we do. Avalanche Andretti has raced in Formula E since the inaugural 2014 season. For us, it’s a huge vote of confidence that one of the most experienced teams has chosen to work alongside Porsche from Season 9 onwards and wants to field two Porsche 99X Electric racers. Porsche and Andretti are united by a long tradition, and it all started when Mario and Michael made their Le Mans debuts in a Porsche 956 in 1983. We’re delighted that the tradition is continuing in Formula E, and we hope our partnership will be just as successful.
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport.
We are back for Formula E this weekend with a double header in Berlin for Round 7 and 8, which marks our halfway point of Season 8.
Formula E’s 11 teams and 22 drivers return to the German capital – a fixture which has been on the calendar since 2014/15 to tackle an anti-clockwise and clockwise variation of the circuit.
With Vandoorne currently leading the Championship, will he be victorious in Berlin? His teammate definitely needs a good weekend, de Vries currently sits in 8th on 39 points, he needs another win to kick start to defend his Championship title.
What can Mitch do? His came off the back of two very good weekends, so he will be raring to go once again and get on that podium.
The Circuit-
Back for the eight year, the race takes place on the giant apron section of the historic Berlin Tempelhof Airport. The drivers can expect a challenge with two circuits over two days, as the Sundays race will see the return of the reversed NILREB circuit for Round 8.
Drivers should also be aware of the challenge of the concrete being high grip which can take its toll on energy levels and race strategies. Saturday will see the driver tackle the circuit traditionally in anti clockwise, where as Sunday is clockwise.
Mitch Evans currently holds the Berlin Lap Record with a 1:08.350 (2020). Lucas di Grassi holds the NILREB Lap Record with a 1:08.305 (2021).
Formula E and the FIA have announced that Marrakesh will be hosting Round 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, on Saturday the 2nd July.
The 2022 Marrakesh E-Prix will once again be held at the Circuit Automobile International Moulay El Hassan street circuit with the support of local authorities, restores the schedule of 16 races in Season 8 after the Vancouver E-Prix was postponed.
It will be the fifth time the Moroccan city of Marrakesh will host an E-Prix, subject to the FIA World Motor Sport Council and ASN approval, following the Season 3 debut in November 2016 and further races in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Formula E seems to have remained tight lipped on the specific reasons for the Vancouver postponement but it is known that a permit was not issued for the race after issues between the city council and local promoters, the OSS Group.
The Circuit Automobile International Moulay El Hassan, was at one stage going to feature on the 2022 calendar, as a replacement for a planned race in China. But Formula E officials decided instead to swallow a seven-week gap between the Mexico City and Rome races instead.
This isn’t the first time Formula E has had issues with calendars delivery, before the pandemic with a variety of political and commercial problems scuppering plans for races that ranged from Brussels, Rio de Janiero and Cape Town, the latter of which was postponed from this February due to a variety of complications.
ABT Sportsline has confirmed it will return to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from the beginning of the Gen3 era, starting next year.
The German outfit will enter as a customer team after having been a fixture throughout the championship’s first seven seasons. Despite a hiatus in Season 8, following the exit of Audi ABT can still count itself among the most successful teams in Formula E history, with 47 podiums and 1,380 points to its name.
The team won the first ever Formula E race in Beijing in 2014, whilst Lucas di Grassi steered to the Drivers’ title in 2017, ABT then sealed the Teams’ crown a season later and partnered with Audi between 2017 and 2021.
ABT has already secured a powertrain supplier for 2023, which they will announce shortly and discussions are already underway as the privateer aims to secure a pair of ‘clever’ drivers to leverage every possible advantage at the start of Formula E’s new era.
Formula E has always had a big place in our hearts and we have never made a secret of the fact that we want to be back. After the internal kick-off, we are now talking to our current and potential partners. The goal is to bring a strong team to the championship, both on and off track.
Hans- Juergen Abt, Managing Partner.
We have always been in contact with Formula E, had many discussions and have received great support from the whole team around Alejandro (Agag), Alberto (Longo) and Jamie (Reigle). As far as our two drivers are concerned, we have very clear ideas. We will probably start the 2023 season as underdogs, unlike last time as a factory team. That’s why it’s all the more important that we have quick and clever drivers in the cockpit, who fit in well with us. The first talks are exciting and very positive, so I’m sure we’ll have our team together soon.
Thomas Biermaie, CEO ABT.
Formula E is the pinnacle of all-electric motorsport so it’s natural that teams and manufacturers leading the electric mobility revolution want to be part of the championship. In Season 9 we will introduce two game-changing developments designed to enhance the appeal of racing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. First, we debut the Gen3 race car which will set the standard in performance, efficiency and sustainability. Second, we introduce new financial regulations to underpin competitive balance and financial sustainability for our teams. Together, they create an environment for competitive racing and long-term growth. We look forward to seeing ABT embrace these opportunities as they return to Formula E in Gen3.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the City of Sao Paulo, alongside SPTuris and GL Events, signed a contract at the Monaco E-Prix that will see the all electric series head to Brazil, subject to the FIA’s approval.
The five year agreement, as well as the option to renew, this means that the city of Sao Paulo could play host to the world’s foremost electric motorsport championship from Season 9- the beginning of Formula E’s new era, Gen3.
Formula E has already unveiled its round in Cape Town for next season, whilst the postponed Vancouver is also set to make its first appearance on the calendar next year, the Indian city of Hyderabad also has an agreement to host a race.
This isn’t the first time Sao Paulo potentially will be seen on the calendar, as it has previously been on a provisional calendar and was set to host a race in the 2017-18 season before being dropped for Punta del Este.
“We are delighted that the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be heading to Brazil for the very first time pending approval at the FIA World Motor Sport Council in June. The country has a huge, long-standing passion for motorsport, it’s a big market as one of the largest countries in the world, and São Paulo itself is a historic race location. “We can’t wait to welcome the Brazilian fans, they are like no other and there is sure to be a lively, unique atmosphere as the fans enjoy Formula E racing with the leap forward in technology and performance we are going to see with Gen3.
Alberto Longo, Formula E Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer.
The news of São Paulo hosting the next generation of Formula E is music to my ears. Not only does this milestone signify the return of the pinnacle of electric motorsport to South America but it’s an important step towards the electrification of the Brazilian automotive market. On a personal note, there is nothing like the pride and incredible energy of the Brazilian racing fans so it would be a dream come true for me to race in this game-changing championship in front of a home crowd.
Round 6 is here and we are in Monaco, lets take a look on how its gone!
FP1-
Reigning champion Nyck de Vries set the pace in the first session of the 2022 Monaco E-Prix, setting a 1m 31.154s, with Nick Cassidy doing well just a tenth of a second of the Dutchman’s laptime.
Edoardo Mortara was next in the order but almost half a second back on home soil for ROKiT Venturi Racing, whilst the winner of the 2021 Monaco E-Prix rounded fourth.
The full top 10 were: P1: de Vries, P2: Cassidy, P3: Mortara, P4: Da Costa, P5: Buemi, P6: Lotterer, P7: Bird, P8: Vergne, P9: Dennis and P10: Evans.
FP2-
Antonio Felix da Costa topped the timesheets in Free Practice 2 with a 1m 30.435s. The season 6 champion headed Jaguar TCS Racing’s double Rome winner, Mitch Evans by 0.2 seconds.
A number of drivers were testing the limits before qualifying, with Dan Ticktum looks to steal every inch in the braking zones but firing his NIO 333 car long into the run off, outside Sainte Devote and Antonio Giovinazzi clipping the wall on the exit of the Swimming Pool- as did Jean-Eric Vergne who clouted the barrier, trying to improve on his fourth-fastest time.
The session was red flagged half way through as Alexander Sims car stopped to halt with what looked like a technical issue. Robin Frijns had set the pace prior to the stoppage.
The top 10 are: P1: Da Costa, P2: Evans, P3: Frijns, P4: Vergne, P5: Gunther, P6: de Vries, P7: Wehrlein , P8: Lotterer, P9: Mortara, P10: Dennis.
Qualifying-
Jaguar’s Mitch Evans, extended his hot streak as he got pole position blowing away Porsche Formula E Team’s Pascal Wehrlein by more than two tenths of a second.
Wehrelin looked like he had it in the bag especially through Sainte Devote and up the hill, but Evans proved quicker than the German and extended his margin to 0.2 seconds by the tunnel. The Porsche driver then fell away and Evans flew to complete a 1m 29.839s the quickest time of the day.
The full top 10 being- P1: Evans, P2: Wehrelin, P3: Vergne, P4: Vandoorne, P5: Di Grassi, P6: Lotterer, P7: Frijns, P8: De Vries, P9: Rowland and P10: Bird.
Round 6-
The Mercedes EQ of Stoffel Vandoorne mastered the streets of Monaco, with a tactical drive to win the 2022 Monaco E-Prix Round 6 and now lead the Drivers World Championship lead. The Belgian beat polesitter, Mitch Evans to the top step with Jean Eric-Vergne in third.
Vandoorne emerged on the right side of a mid-race full course yellow and safety car which threw race strategies up in the air. Vandoorne had hit the front after then-leader Pascal Wehrlein retired from the lead with technical issues on lap 16.
Evans couldn’t quite capitalise on the searing pace that saw him fly to Julius Baer Pole Position but 18 points and second spot after a Rome win-doubles sees the Jaguar driver’s hot-streak continues.
The top 10 are: P1: Vandoorne, P2: Evans, P3: Vergne, P4: Frijns, P5: Da Costa, P6: Di Grassi, P7: Cassidy, P8: Buemi, P9: Dennis and P10: De Vries.
We are back in two weeks for Round 7 & 8 for the Berlin E-Prix, on the 14th and 15th May.
The future of all-electric high performance motorsport was revealed today at the Yacht Club de Monaco by Formula E and the Fedration Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), where the third generation Formula E car was revealed to the public.
The Gen 3 car is the world’s first race car which is designed for street racing, it will be debuting for Season 9 (next year) where some of the world’s greatest manufacturers race wheel to wheel on the streets of iconic global cities.
It was developed by engineers and sustainability experts at both the FIA and Formula E, the car is designed to show the world that both high performance and sustainability can powerfully co-exist without any compromise.
Seven of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers have registered with the FIA to race the Gen 3 car in Season 0 with pre-season testing this winter. They are:
DS Automobiles, France
Jaguar, UK
Mahindra Racing, India
Maserati, Italy
NIO 33, UK & China
Nissan, Japan
Porsche AG, Germany.
Design, engineering and the production innovations for the Gen3 car include but not all:
Performance:
Fastest Formula E car yet with a top speed over 322 kph/ 200 mph.
Round 95% power efficiency from an electric motor delivering up to 350kW of power.
First ever formula car with both front and rear powertrains.
Sustainability:
Gen3 batteries are among the most advanced, sustainable batteries ever made.
Linen and recycled carbon fibre will be used in bodywork construction for the first time in a formula car.
All Gen3 suppliers will operate in line with top international standards to reduce environmental impacts of manufacturing.
Both technologically and environmentally, Gen3 sets new standards in the sport. The FIA and Formula E development teams have done a superb job, and I thank them for their hard work on this project. I am delighted to see so many leading manufacturers already signed up to the championship’s next era and await Gen3’s competitive debut in Season 9 with great anticipation.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President.
Monaco is the spiritual home of motorsport and there is nowhere more fitting to unveil our Gen3 race car. The Gen3 disrupts and challenges the conventions of motorsport, setting the benchmark for performance, efficiency and sustainability without compromise. Together with the FIA, we are proud to reveal the Gen3 to Formula E fans and demonstrate to the wider sports industry how elite sport, high performance and sustainability can successfully co-exist in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. We cannot wait to see how our teams and drivers push the car to its limit in 2023.
Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer Formula E.
My Opinion-
What a car!! Love the way it looks, I can’t wait to see how the team’s livery will look on the Gen3 car and to see it on track! It’s definitely a step forward in being a sustainable sport which is nice to see.
We are back this weekend for Round 6 of the 2022 Formula E Championship, and this week we are in Monaco.
The field of all electric cars will once again race up the hill through Mirabeau and the famous Casino Square, round the Grand Hotel Hairpin ad through the inimitable Monaco tunnel ahead of the Nouvelle Chicane.
Last time here it was, DS Techeetah’s Antonio Felix Da Costa who took the victory in an absolute classic- which is undoubtedly one of the most exciting races in the history of Formula E, capping a first outing on the full Monaco circuit with an audacious overtake at the exit of the tunnel on the final lap of the race for the win.
The race itself, saw 28 overtakes between the top six alone, with the lead having changed six times. Could we see more of the same this year?
Looking at the driver’s standings, Jean-Eric Vergne leads the championship with 60 points, with Robin Frijns following close behind in second with 58 points. We then have Mercedes, Stoffell Vandoorne in third with 56 points. The reigning world champion is down in 8th with 38 points, de Vries will be wanting a good weekend.
Onto the teams, and its Mercedes EQ leading the championship with 94 points, we then have Tag Heuer Porsche in second with 85 points and DS Techeetah in 3rd with 80 points.
The circuit-
The 2022 Monaco E Prix, will see the amended Nouvelle chicane make way for the full, traditional circuit layout around the Principality’s harbour front.
Stoffel Vandoorne currently hold the fastest lap of the circuit, 1:34.428 (2021).
Nissan has announced the acquisition of the Le Mans based e.dams race team, with the Japanese manufacturer taking full ownership of its involvement in Formula E.
Nissan’s competition in Formula E supports its long-term commitment to electrification and sustainability laid out in Nissan’s Ambition 2030 plan. The Japanese company outlines the acquisition and taking full control of its Formula E project as the natural next step.
Nissan first entered Formula E back in 2018, in partnership with e.dams with both companies racing together in the all electric championship as the Nissan e.dams Formula E Team. In March 2021, the Japanese automaker announced its commitment to the Formula E Gen3 era, which runs from Season 9.
In partnership with Renault, e.dams took the first three Formula E Team’s titles and helped Sebastien Buemi to the 2015/16 Drivers’ Championship, with a best of second spot overall since combining forces with Nissan.
The change in ownership and new management structure will take place with immediate effect. Tommaso Volpe, General Manager of Nissan Formula E, will also become managing director at e.dams.
I am delighted that Nissan is taking over e.dams and today we are thinking of Jean-Paul Driot who, together with Nissan, had the vision for the team and helped to develop our partnership. Since his passing in 2019, Olivier and Gregory Driot took over and made sure the legacy of their father’s success would continue. It has been a pleasure working together and I would like to thank them for their commitment and support. This is an important step in our Formula E project. As the pinnacle of all-electric racing, Formula E gives us an engaging global platform from which we can show customers that EVs are not only fun and thrilling, but also that Nissan continues to be at the cutting edge of EV technology. We were happy to enter the sport in 2018 in partnership with e.dams. We have had a strong and successful collaboration, and we have learnt a great deal from their long-term experience in the series.We have a fantastic team in place, and we are looking forward to building on our success and experience together as a team, and to beginning this new chapter in our Formula E involvement.
Volpe said speaking of the news.
These are exciting times for all of us at Nissan, our fans and customers everywhere. We have been on the grid for over 85 years, and our desire to win continuously accelerates us forward. We learn as we race, and the relentless pace of technological progression that drives the Formula E championship will provide us with many opportunities to inform and develop even better cars for customers. The acquisition of the e.dams team not only reconfirms our long-term commitment to Formula E, but also to the exciting, high-performance world of motorsports competition as a whole. But we don’t only love to compete. We’re also passionate about delivering innovative and exciting driving experiences while demonstrating our commitment to zero emission and sustainable solutions. This acquisition will further empower us in the strategic electrification objectives of our business.
We were back on track for the final day of the Rome double header is here. Lets take a look at what went down.
FP3-
All 22 cars made it out for the final practice session of the double-header. Leading the way was former two-time champion DS Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne, who set the pace with 1m 38.608s, followed by standings leader Edoardo Mortara and Jaguar TCS Racing’s Sam Bird.
Finishing fourth fastest, Dan Ticktum who posted a 1m 39.257s in his Nio 333. The rookie compared the Rome street circuit to the Macau Grand Prix circuit, of which his win twice in his career.
With 22 minutes left of practice, Andretti’s Oliver Askew clipped the chicane on Turns 12 and 14, resulting in a red flag whilst his stricken car was collected from track.
With rain overnight, the track was damp in some places, especially under the trees that line some of the circuit. The cooler conditions this morning caught out Nick Cassidy who spun going into Turn 4.
The top 10 were: P1: Vergne, P2: Mortara, P3: Bird, P4: Ticktum, P5: Wehrlein, P6: Lotterer, P7: Evans, P8: Da Costa, P9: Frijns and P10: Di Grassi.
Qualifying-
DS Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne, leads the way into the final race of the Rome E-Pric as he defeated Andretti’s Jake Dennis in a blistering head to head on the streets of the Eternal City.
Vergne claimed his 14th pole in Rome ahead of Round 5 as the former champion posted a 1m 38.268. O.221s faster than Dennis. Both Mercedes-EQ drivers didn’t get into the Semi’s, Nycks qualifying ended in the groups not progressing onto the quarters. Where as Vandoorne got into the quarters and it stopped there not the best qualifying from the team.
The top 10 were: P1: Vergne, P2: Dennis, P3: Lotterer, P4: Evans, P5: Bird, P6: Frijns, P7: Wehrlein, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Da Costa and P10: de Vries.
Round 5 – Rome E-Prix
Jaguar TCS Racing’s, Mitch Evans stormed to victory once again in Rome, matching his win yesterday with another superb victory. Marking his third Rome victory, the driver led Poleman Vergne in 2nd and Robin Frijns in 3rd.
The action started, and Dennis lost second but at the top of the hill and Turn 7, Dennis managed to reclaim it with Lotterer back to third. There was a collision between Mahindra’s Alex Sims and Max Guenther, the German driver retired to the pits. For the home race hero, it wasn’t meant to be as he stopped on track between Turn 8 and 9.
After a short Safety car period after recovering Mahindra’s Sims car was recovered as he spun at Turn 14. There was 5 minutes and 15s of extra time added on to extend the race. Saving his Attack Mode until the end of the race, Evans took the boost with less than eight minutes of the race remaining, he went for Lotterer in front of him before taking the lead on the hill up Turn 7.
The top 10 were: P1: Evans, P2: Vergne, P3: Frijns, P4: Lotterer, P5: Vandoorne, P6: Wehrlein, P7: Turvey, P8: Di Grassi, P9: Buemi and P10: Ticktum.
We are back with Formula E in a few weeks time for the Monaco E-Prix on the 30th April.
Round 4 of the Formula E season has took place today, so lets take a look at how it is gone.
FP1-
Championship leader, Edoardo Mortara led the way in the first practice session with a time of 1m 40.022s, whilst Jaguar’s Mitch Evans came close behind in second followed by reigning champion, Nyck de Vries in third.
All 22 cars made it out for the session, while Nick Cassidy spent time in the pits after only competing two laps with a suspected driveshaft issue, the Brit made it out towards the end to complete 6 laps in total.
With the cool morning temperatures impacting breaking, a lockup from Jake Dennis saw the Brit avoid a narrow miss through the chicane. With seconds to go, Rowland suffered damage after contact was made with Jean-Eric Vergne, sent him into the wall on the chicane through Turns 12 and 13.
The top 10 were: P1: Mortara, P2: Evans, P3: de Vries, P4: Da Costa, P5: Frijns, P6: Vandoorne, P7: Lotterer, P8: Sims, P9: Bird, P10: Sette Camara.
FP2-
The DS Techeetah and former Rome winner, Jean-Eric Vergne topped the timesheets in the final practice ahead of qualifying with a 1m 39.082s. Ahead of Pascal Wehrlein in second and Sam Bird who went third fastest.
More problems for Mahindra’s Oliver Rowland, as he wrestled with his car sliding through Turns 12 and 13- the same spot he crashed earlier on. That same chicane stopped the running of Andre Lotterer as he clipped the inside of Turn 13 causing him to stop on track before a red flag came out.
The top 10 were: P1: Vergne, P2: Wehrlein, P3: Bird, P4: Dennis, P5: de Vries, P6: Evans, P7: Da Costa, P8: Mortara, P9: Vandoorne and P10: Frijns.
Qualifying-
Stoffel Vandoorne claimed his 7th Formula E pole, as he lined up against Robin Frijns. Heading down in Turn 3, Frijns lost time in the final, handing the lead to the Mercedes-EQ driver. Despite his best effort to catch him, Frijns failed to make up for lost time.
The pole marks Mercedes-EQ third Pole in four rounds, as the Mercedes power train continues to prove its dominance in the electric series. Could Stoffel turn the pole into a win? He already has a win here in the Eternal City last year, so it could very much be possible.
The top 10 are: P1: Vandoorne, P2: Frijns, P3: de Vries, P4: Da Costa, P5: Vergne, P6: Dennis, P7: Wehrlein, P8: Lotterer, P9: Evans and P10: Rowland.
Round 4-
Jaguar TCS Racing, Mitch Evans takes victory on the streets of Rome for the second time in his career. Evans dominated, pulling away from the field to lead Envision’s Robin Frijns in 2nd and Mercedes EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne in third.
Despite starting on pole, Vandoorne let his lead slip on the streets, giving way to a determined Mitch who stormed to victory after starting ninth. For the reigning champ, it wasn’t all good though, the Mercedes driver failed to finish the race, retiring after slowing on track and slipping down the order.
Home here, Antonio Giovinazzi, finished 18th after a steady race at the back of the grid- still adjusting to the challenging nature of driving on street circuits, Giovinazzi will be looking to make more of an impact in tomorrows race.
Nudged from behind early on in the race, Edoardo Mortara behind, Oliver Rowland hit the barrier on Turn 7, with the cars behind being backed up. Shortly after this, Max Guenther crashed into the barrier on Turn 11- the safety car was brought out whilst his car was recovered.
Formula E is back this weekend and we are in Rome for Round 4 and 5 after a two month break! It’s also Antonio Giovinazzi’s home race too.
Last time we were in Rome, Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH), picked his moments perfectly to drive from fifth to victory in the opening race of the Rome E-Prix double-header last season.
We have had 3 different winners, in the past 3 rounds, will we see a 4th different winner or will one of our 3 be victorious again? Mortara sits at the top of the standings with 43 points, Nyck de Vries in second with 38 and Wehrlein in 3rd with 30.
The Teams battle is very close with ROKiT Venturi Racing claiming the top spot with 68 points, Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team with 66 points and TAG Heuer Porsche has 60. There is then quite a big gap down to 4th is DS Techeetah with 39 points and Envision Racing with 39 and then Avalanche Andretti 3 points behind them.
Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR-
As one of the longest tracks on the calendar, the Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR races around the Obelisco di Marconi, against the backdrop of the iconic Colosseo Quadrato.
The Rome circuit features plenty of challenges for the drivers with undulations, lots of elevation changes, uneven surface and that jump – it’s a technically and fast track with long straights and a host of passing opportunities in the Eternal City.
The fastest lap of the circuit goes to Stoffel Vandoorne, Mercedes-EQ (2021)- 1:41.820.
Maserati and ROKiT Venturi Racing have announced a multi year partnership, ahead of this weekends Rome double-header, which will see the Italian manufacturer and Monegasque Formula E team link up from Season 9 of the Formula E World Championship.
When it joins the Gen3 era, Maserati will become the first Italian brand to compete in Formula E, as it ends a 60 year hiatus from single-seater motorsport.
The marque will unite with ROKiT Venturi Racing for the series’ next generation, with the Gen3 set to be the fastest, lightest and most powerful but yet the most sustainable electric single-seat race car yet.
ROKiT Venturi, have been in a partnership with Mercedes EQ since the 2019-20 season. Mercedes are leaving Formula E after this season, as they are going to concentrate on its works on motorsport activities in Formula 1.
Uniting with Maserati marks the start of a new chapter and represents the best possible outcome for the team following our successful partnership with Mercedes-EQ. Being entrusted with the return of one of motorsport’s most recognisable brands to international single-seater competition underlines our success in recent seasons in which we have firmly established ourselves as a commercially viable, race-winning team that can seriously contend for championships.With this commitment, the team is now in a fantastic position to contest Formula E’s next generation of competition which will commence in 2023.
Susie Wolff, CEO & Managing Partner, ROKiT Venturi Racing.
Returning to motorsport with Formula E was a natural choice for Maserati. We are driven by our passion and innovation and we’re happy to share this adventure with a partner that abides by the same values as we do and is looking ahead to the future, just like us. We share with the ROKiT Venturi Racing team the same determination and desire to compete and win on circuits all over the world
Davide Grasso, Maserati CEO.
Partnering with Maserati for Gen3 is brilliant news. It’s excellent for the team, for Maserati and Formula E, but above all else, it’s fantastic news for the fans who will witness the return of an iconic marque to top-tier motorsport. Not only does this establish strong foundations for our long-term future in Formula E, but it also marks one of the most exciting stories in international sport in which a prestigious brand is returning to its roots by joining the most progressive and fastest-growing form of motorsport.
Scott Swid, Chairman & Managing Partner, ROKiT Venturi Racing.
My Opinion-
Great move from Venturi! They knew they were going to be looking for a new partnership, as Mercedes were leaving. But it was also a great choice from Maserati too, Venturi have developed themselves into a race winning team, in which they can now fight to be championship contenders.
Seven of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers have registered with the Federation Internationale de l’Automovile (FIA) to race the next Gen3 car, which debuts in the next season of the FIA Formula E World Championshp.
The Gen3 race car is set to be officially unveiled to the public at the Yacht Club de Monaco on 28th April, ahead of the Monaco E-Prix on 30th April.
The manufacturers currently confirmed for the Gen3 era of Formula E are the following:
DS Automobiles, France
Jaguar, UK
Mahindra Racing, India
Maserati, Italy
NIO 333, UK and China
Nissan, Japan
Porsche AG, Germany
The full list of teams set for Formula E’s Gen3 era will be released later in 2022.
We are delighted to confirm the commitment of seven of the world’s leading car manufacturers to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, and we look forward to seeing them battle against each other. As a proving ground for future mobility, Formula E has always been at the cutting-edge of technology – as exemplified by the Gen3 single-seater – and we are confident that the forthcoming era will mark an exciting chapter in the series’ electrifying story.
FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
We are excited to welcome many of the world’s most innovative and competitive automotive manufacturers into the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The Gen3 race car will take Formula E’s iconic city centre racing to a new level, creating more intense action and drama on the track while delivering a leap forward in electric mobility off it. It will set the standard for performance and efficiency and serve as further tangible evidence of the innovative developments in electric vehicles achieved by manufacturers in the championship.
Formula E, FIA and the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) has revealed the track layout for the 2022 Monaco E-Prix, which is Round 6 of the World Championship.
The 19 turn, 3.337 km track will see the cars climb the hill at Sainte Devote and travel through the iconic Place du Casino, Mirabeau, Grand Hotel Hairpin and Portier.
DS TECHEETAH’s Antonio Felix Da Costa claimed victory last season in one of the most exciting races in the history of Formula E with a overtake at the exit of the tunnel on the final lap of the race- the series’ first on the full Monaco circuit.
Between the top six runners, there were 28 overtakes during the race. The circuit last year incorporated a modified chicane at Turn 11, which will disappear this year to make way for the traditional track.
The change of layout is to align with the highest standards of motorsport, it shows once again how Formula E continues to progress.
The 2021 Monaco E-Prix remains one of the finest races in Formula E history with an unprecedented number of overtakes. Our drivers are used to driving in street circuits which is why Monaco, one of the most iconic circuits in the world that all drivers know inside out, is particularly suitable for showcasing the unique style of Formula E motorsport. We can’t wait to see what the 2022 race and the drama that awaits.
Frederic Espinos, Sporting Director, Formula E.
Using the full Monaco track layout successfully last year was a major step forward for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This year, we are taking the final step, removing the minor modifications that were made for Formula E, so that we can to see our drivers and cars performing on the historical layout. This is another major achievement for our discipline and we look forward to another exciting race on the streets of Monaco.
Javier Maffioli, Formula E Head of Even Operations at the FIA.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s Gen3 race car will be unveiled at the Yacht Club de Monaco on the 28th April, ahead of the 2022 Monaco E-Prix.
The Gen3 car is set to race from Season 9, is going to be presented to manufactures, teams, drivers, partners and other VIP guests at the event. Fans will be able to also experience the show via the championships digital channels and get an in-depth look into it.
The Gen3 car is evidence of the progress in EV development achieved in the championship. Formula E has worked closely with the FIA and industry-leading engineers and experts in sustainability to ensure the car will also set the benchmark for sustainability in his performance race cars.
The car is the first ever Formula car aligned to Life Cycle Thinking, with a designed second life for tyres, broken parts and battery cells. Additionally, the Gen3 will be net-zero carbon- reinforcing Formula E’s statuses at the first sport series to be net-zero carbon from inception.
Need to know about the Gen3:
A electric motor delivering up to 350kw of power, capable of a top speed of 200mph, with a power-to-weight ratio that is twice as efficent as an equivalent 470BHP internal combustion engine (ICE).
At least 40% of energy used within a race will be produced by regenerative braking during the race.
The first Formula car with both front and rear powertrains: a new front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear.
The first Formula car that will not feature rear hydraulic brakes due to the addition of the front powertrain and its regenerative capability.
Lighter and smaller than the Gen2 to enable faster and more agile wheel-to-wheel racing.
Formula E’s Gen3 race car represents a leap forward for motorsport and electric mobility. Designed to demonstrate that high performance, efficiency and sustainability can be packaged together without compromise, the Gen3 car is our most powerful, lightest, and fastest race car to date. We look forward to finally taking the covers off the Gen3 in Monaco, a location steeped in motor racing history, and seeing the car light up city streets around the world next season.
Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO.
The arrival of the Gen3 is the latest momentous step of an incredible journey for the championship. We have come a long way – as electric vehicles have – in less than a decade. And we are not stopping as we bring together industry leaders to imagine the possibilities of the future of all-electric single-seater motorsport.
The proposed race track for Cape Towns inaugural Formula E World Championship E-Prix has been revealed by Formula E and e-Movement Ltd.
Subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the all-electric race cars will wind their way through the Green Point and Waterfront district, showcasing some of Cape Town’s most famous locations.
The track is to be predicted one of the fastest in the series and Cape Town is joining the likes of Monaco, Mexico City, Berlin, London and NY as city centres hosting an Formula E World Championship race.
Cape Town is set to become the first sub Saharan African city to host a round of the electric championship next year during the 9th Season- with the full calendar and dates being released later in the year.
The Cape Town E-Prix will start at the Green Point precinct’s Vlei Road, where the field of world-class drivers will race with Signal Hill as a backdrop. Then it’s a left turn into Helen Suzman Boulevard, and another left into Granger Bay Boulevard, presenting the racers with two sharp chicanes. The drivers will then head along the ocean front on Mouille Point’s Beach Road, before taking a sharp left-hander into Fritz Sonnenberg Road and a final right to reach the finish line.
Alberto Longo, Co-founder and Chief Championship Officer, Formula E, said: “We’ve had a very positive response within our ecosystem of teams, drivers and sponsors about coming to Cape Town, so we are delighted that the City is joining our Season 9 calendar. When I first met Iain Banner [Chairman of race promoter e-Movement (Pty) Ltd] in 2019, he said that he was confident that Cape Town had the potential to be one of the top cities on our global calendar. This is my first visit to South Africa and having now seen the beauty of the Mother City, I feel confident that he is right.”
Iain Banner, Chairman, race promoter e-Movement (Pty) Ltd, said: “The public has been crying out for an open-wheel, street-circuit race and we are now answering those cries. With Table Mountain as the backdrop and Robben Island in the foreground, I have no doubt the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will garner substantial support in Cape Town and throughout South Africa.”
Round 3 is here for Formula E and we are in Mexico City, lets take a look and see how the day went!
FP1-
Twenty of the twenty-two drivers were within a second on the time-sheets, with Lotterer’s benchmark set inside the final five minutes of the session. He and Wehrlein had set the early pace, as the circuit continued to clean and come to the drivers.
Buemi’s late lap split the Stuttgart team on the timing screens, with Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns wrestling through the stadium section and around the Peraltada to go 4th fastest.
The top 10 are: P1: Lotterer, P2: Buemi, P3: Wehrlein, P4: Frijns, P5: Da Costa, P6: Guenther, P7: De Vries, P8: Cassidy, P9: Dennis and P10: Vergne.
FP2-
Antonio Felix da Costa ended Free Practice 2 on top of the time-sheets, with a late full power run. Shoving Lotterer into 2nd place, with da Costa’s teammate Jean-Eric Vergne finishing third- the top 3 being split by just 0.052 seconds.
Several drivers struggled to get the balance right, with grip and the front and rear of the car not yet fully in sync.
The top 10 are: P1: Da Costa, P2: Lotterer, P3: Vergne, P4: Buemi, P5: Cassidy, P6: Evans, P7: Wehrlein, P8: Rowland, P9: Bird and P10: Di Grassi.
Qualifying-
Pascal Wehrlein took the Julius Baer Pole Position ahead of Round 3 in Mexico City. The driver kept his cool as the temperatures rose in Mexico City to post a 1m 07.100s while Edoardo Mortara crossed the line sideways, loosing his early Finals advantage to slip to P2 by 0.273 seconds.
Both Mercedes, ended up being out in the quarter finals- the pace just not being there as they scrapped through the group stages. Jake Dennis aswell, not even making the quarter finals. The Porsche’s were just on fire so far today, having pace throughout all free practices and qualifying too.
The top 10 are: P1: Wehrlein, P2: Mortara, P3: Lotterer, P4: Vergne, P5: Da Costa, P6: De Vries, P7: Frijns, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Cassidy, P10: Guenther.
Race-
WHAT A RACE!! Pascal Wehrlein has FINALLY got rid of his bad luck in Mexico! He turnt his pole position into the race win, with his team-mate coming home in second making it a 1-2 for the Porsche team. Jean Eric Vergne comes home in 3rd position!
No safety car was needed for this race, we had two retirements one being Sims where he stopped on track early on in the race, the other being Antonio Giovinazzi, he had to pit once then went in again to retire.
The top 10 are: P1: Wehrlein, P2: Lotterer, P3: Vergne, P4: Da Costa, P5: Mortara, P6: De Vries, P7: Frijns, P8: Di Grassi, P9: Buemi and P10: Guenther.
Now onto, the championship, Mortara still leads with 43 points, with Nyck de Vries still keeping his position in 2nd with 37 points. But Wehrlein moves up to P3 with 30 points, Lotterer moves up to P4 with 30 points. Di Grassi and Vandoorne drop down to P5 and P6.
We have a long wait now until the next race, which is on the 9th and 10th of April where we have round 4 & 5 for the Rome E-Prix.
Jordan's Track Talk 