Monaco ePrix: Presentation and Stakes

For the third time in its great history, the Monaco circuit will host a Formula E ePrix. The first time the Principality hosted the electric discipline was in 2015: won by Sébastien Buemi, it was the very first race held in Europe. The Swiss driver was then the first to notch a second victory in his electric record: the Renault e.dams driver clinched the title at the end of that same season. Absent from the calendar in 2016, the race returned for a second time in 2017, with another edition won by Buemi! The Monaco ePrix then did not take place in 2018.

Presentation of the circuit

The Monaco track is the smallest on the calendar at 1.765 km. It is the only one with the Mexico City circuit to incorporate sections of a Formula 1 race. However, the electric version is 2 kilometers shorter than the original circuit. The notable difference between the two tracks is the removal of the Mirabeau climb, which is considered too energy-consuming.

The start is, as usual, given on the pit straight which then leads into the first corner. But the drivers do not go up Mirabeau: they dive to the right, taking a straight line that then leads to the chicane at the end of the Tunnel. The cars then enter the final part of the Formula 1 circuit, with the Tobacco corner. Then comes the sequence of the Swimming Pool, here turns 6, 7, and 8. The circuit ends with the very tight Rascasse corner, before heading towards Anthony Noghes and the start/finish line.

Despite the proximity between the rails in Monaco, it’s a safe bet that the drivers will try everything to overtake. In this extremely tight championship, every position counts to stand out!

Go for a virtual lap of the 2019 #MonacoEPrix track! #ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/R6iuhtsDDQ

— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) 9 mai 2019

Issues: the continuity of a ninth different winner, or a real turning point in the championship?

After nine rounds, the championship remains just as tight: in the standings, the top 7 drivers are within 20 points! It almost takes just one race win for a driver to gain the advantage. Even more incredible: no driver has claimed two victories this season. After his success in Paris two weeks ago, Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing) is leading the championship with only a 1-point lead over André Lotterer (DS Techeetah). Even without a win, the Belgian driver holds a prime position in the standings thanks to his consistency in each race. The two major absentees this season, for now, are the reigning champion, Jean-Éric Vergne, and Sébastien Buemi, the 2015-2016 season champion, who is now 51 points behind the leader, sitting in a distant 13th place in the driver standings.

The teams are also almost all honored as seven of them (out of twelve) have won. Only the British team Envision Virgin Racing has won two races thanks to Sam Bird’s victory in Santiago, and Frijns’ in Paris. Despite this achievement, it is the DS Techeetah team that leads the rest of the pack in the constructors’ standings. The Franco-Chinese team is the only one to have achieved a double this season in Formula E. How many of these #MonacoEPrix stats and facts did you already know? It’s stat attack time! #ABBFormulaE Among the favorites for the Monaco round, naturally mention Sébastien Buemi, for his nice 3/3 in the first three editions. This Saturday, the Swiss driver will also have a pretty advantageous position in qualifying: the former Toro Rosso driver will start in the third group, on a track likely more rubbered in than for the first competitors.

It will also be necessary to keep an eye on his Nissan e.dams teammate, Oliver Rowland, second in the qualifications for the Paris ePrix. The Briton will also start in this third group.

Also, let’s mention Pascal Wehrlein, the poleman of Paris, before his relegation for non-compliant tire pressure on his Mahindra. The German will start in the same qualifying group as the two Nissan e.Dams drivers. Not rewarded in Paris, 10th at the finish, Wehrlein will certainly have a score to settle!

But Mahindra is not the only favorite team. Indeed, this Saturday we might count on the good form of the DS Techeetah, comfortable on the winding Formula E circuits. Their position in qualifying will not be advantageous, however, as Vergne will start in the second group in order of appearance, Lotterer in the first, on a track not yet completely rubberized.

Another likely favorite on the streets of Monaco, Lucas di Grassi! The Brazilian driver has always finished on the podium in Monaco, in the shadow of Sébastien Buemi.

Two Monaco masters go head to head on Saturday! #MonacoEPrix #ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/LMTLakDFEH

— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) May 9, 2019

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