Paris ePrix: Circuit Presentation and Stakes
Formula E returns to Paris for the fourth time in its history. An event, the eighth of this 2018-2019 season, and perhaps a turning point!

A fourth ePrix in the streets of the French capital: Paris loves Formula E. And for good reason, it was in a small Italian restaurant in the capital that the discipline was officially born, in February 2011, through a meeting between Alejandro Agag and Jean Todt, president of the FIA. Loyal to the calendar with 4 participations, the City of Light is one of the most frequented by the electric world, along with Mexico and Monaco or Berlin, which has hosted 5 ePrix but on two different circuits.
Presentation of the circuit
Around the Invalides, the Parisian track has not changed one bit since the first edition in April 2016. With only 1.921 km and 14 turns, the circuit is one of the smallest in the championship, the third smallest behind Monaco (1.765 km) and Hong Kong (1.860 km). It is a short track but not as narrow in width as the last Rome ePrix, which was marked by a massive race pile-up initiated by José Maria Lopez’s Dragon.
As since 2016, the start in Paris will be given from the Boulevard des Invalides. A great first opportunity for drivers to push their limits, as they will have a short straight line before diving into a first right-hand turn (T3), almost at a right angle, towards Avenue de Tourville. Major drawback: the tarmac, which is a mix of new and old asphalt, complicating the braking.
The single-seaters will then enter a snail-shaped sequence, to the right, around Place Vauban, between T4 and T7. A good entry is crucial and will provide speed through this series of turns! The best will make a difference in qualifying, on a temporary asphalt that covers the usual cobblestones. Highly abrasive, this asphalt will certainly allow drivers to set faster times at the end of the race.
Different levels of grip will be offered to the drivers, but they must not lose speed towards the ninth turn. Why? Because the longest straight of the circuit will follow, along with its big braking zone at the tenth turn. This zone will be one to watch: at times we will see overtakes, but also crashes and collisions if one of the drivers becomes too greedy. We think, for example, of Lucas di Grassi, who attempted a desperate attack on da Costa in 2017, resulting in a crash.
Crash! @afelixdacosta out after contact with @LucasdiGrassi #ParisePrix pic.twitter.com/FO8DdDFOJ9
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) 20 mai 2017
A bumpy section will follow, with a new sequence, still to the right, which this time wraps around Place des Invalides, with the Army Museum in the background. The drivers will then cross the timing line, which will be used for practice and qualifying sessions.
The lap ends with a quick right turn, leading to the start/finish straight. We can’t wait to see the 22 drivers reaching over 250 kilowatts in qualifying, on a track as tight as the one at Les Invalides!
“The Paris circuit is truly typical of Formula E: short, bumpy, with lots of right-angle turns!”
(Thomas Chevaucher, Technical Director DS Performance)
Issues: first repeat or eighth different winner?
This 2018-2019 season is slowly entering its decisive phase. The Paris ePrix is the eighth of the season: six more are still on the schedule, including Saturday’s race. However, no driver has yet emerged as the leader in the championship, with 10 drivers within 25 points of each other, the equivalent of a victory!
Better, no competitor has won two races this season. So, which driver who has already won can reach the top step of the podium in Paris? It’s hard to say. Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Techeetah) and Edoardo Mortara (Venturi) seem to have a slight advantage, victorious on two “similar” circuits to that of the Invalides, in Sanya and Hong Kong.
Among the other favorites, let’s mention Lucas di Grassi (winner in Mexico) for Audi Sport and the second DS Techeetah, driven by André Lotterer. The German is circling around success, with promising recent races: a fourth place in Hong Kong, a retirement in Sanya after leading until the final lap, and a second place in Rome two weeks ago after securing pole position. Lotterer could very well be the eighth winning driver this season!
On the list of contenders, we also have two prestigious names: Pascal Wehrlein (Mahindra Racing), who lost the victory at the line in Mexico, and Sébastien Buemi, who is chomping at the bit in his Nissan e.Dams. Ranked 13th overall, the Swiss driver will at least have the advantage of starting among the first in the qualifying session. The opportunity is promising!
” It will be difficult to overtake on this circuit. The weekend will be even more about the qualifications! “
(Tom Dillmann, NIO Formula E Team)
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