ePrix Berlin: Overview and challenges

Home pressure for the ABT Schaeffler team

The question is repeated tirelessly this season. Who will be able to dethrone Sébastien Buemi? Three weeks ago, we left the Swiss at the top, after his two victories in one week, in Monaco, then in Paris.

The only driver to have reached ten victories in Formula E (eleven to be precise, including five this year), the Renault e.dams driver currently has a 43-point lead over his nearest competitor. And for Lucas di Grassi, it’s about responding immediately. The last race for the ABT Schaeffler leader was chaotic, marked by a retirement (the first) and a collision with Antonio Félix da Costa.

However, the Brazilian is still Buemi’s main competitor in the title race. Trailing behind, Nico Prost is the third man at the moment with his 58 points. For the teammate of the overall leader, the objective of this German weekend will primarily be to reach his first podium of the season, which has so far only been marked by three fourth places. Behind them, Nick Heidfeld could very well confirm his strong progression. The former BMW driver has made it onto the podium in the last two races, each time in third place.

In this group of outsiders, it will be important not to forget Jean-Eric Vergne, who was let down in Paris by his steering column.

For this, JEV will be supported by a new partner, namely Stéphane Sarrazin, who will take the wheel for the last three weekends of the season. The usual Venturi driver actually benefits from Esteban Gutiérrez’s departure to IndyCar, replacing Sébastien Bourdais, who was violently injured during the Indianapolis 500 qualifying. In this shuffle, Tom Dillmann also benefits, stepping into the seat left vacant at Venturi.

At home with his team and driven by Audi, Daniel Abt will channel the enthusiasm of the German fans, just like Nick Heidfeld or Maro Engel (Venturi). Son of the owner of the eponymous team, the Bavarian can recall the good memory of the 2016 Berlin ePrix, which he finished in second place, still the best result of his electric career.

With only a sixth place to his name so far, the former GP2 driver must not miss the boat. A strong performance from him could help relaunch his team in the race for the constructors’ title, so far overshadowed by rival Renault e.dams (195 points for the French team, 115 for the German team).

The Circuit: A Return to Basics

Present since the beginning (like Buenos Aires), the Berlin ePrix is a classic in Formula E. However, the German edition has yet to find a permanent venue. The first race during the 2014-2015 season took place on the track of the decommissioned airport, but on a different layout. Last year, the race was shifted to the heart of the German capital (with Tempelhof Airport requisitioned to address the migration crisis), along Karl-Marx-Allee, near Alexanderplatz.

This year, the layout has been revised and shortened. Unlike the 2015 edition, the circuit now measures only 2.27 kilometers, compared to the initial 2.47 kilometers. Less winding, the track (ten turns) promises to be more complete. The first turn will offer a “snail” configuration, like the Shanghai layout, but to the left this time. Then, drivers will notably pass through a tunnel set between T3 and T4. The last turn, U-shaped, will create speed differences towards the start/finish straight. One constant remains: the slippery and abrasive track surface, which promises to be a headache for setups!

Initially planned for just one race, the last European race of the season has been awarded a second round on Sunday to make up for the cancellation of the Brussels ePrix. A maximum of 58 points are at stake for the driver who would achieve the Grand Slam (25 points for the win + 3 points for pole position + 1 point for the fastest lap).

And to break the routine between the two races, the organizers have even decided to add two additional laps for Sunday! Thus, the engineers will also have to rack their brains to optimize the electrical consumption of the cars, in a race that will exceed the 100-kilometer mark for the first time…

Let @Daniel_Abt guide you through the venue for this weekend’s #BerlinePrix double header https://t.co/lj7qgRJWNF pic.twitter.com/kOg8QnwozL

— FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) 7 juin 2017

New circuits on the 2017-2018 season calendar:

The fourth season is taking shape. Full of surprises, this round of Formula E is set to begin with a double race in Hong Kong. Subsequently, the championship will head for the first time to Chile’s capital, Santiago; before returning to the permanent circuit in Mexico.

Another new destination, the electric single-seaters will visit the Sao Paulo circuit, without going through the Interlagos track.

Then, it will be a return to Europe with an ePrix in Rome for the first time. A race in Germany is expected to take place, but the destination is unknown, with an existing project obviously in Berlin but also in Munich.

In the wake of this, the next race would take place in Zurich or Moscow. The drivers of the discipline will then head to North America to compete in two double races, in Montreal and then in New York, in the reverse order proposed this summer.

Furthermore, the possibility of the championship returning to London and Shanghai is being studied. The races themselves should be closer together in time to avoid a long gap between two events.

Pit stops retained for season 5:

A working group, including Roger Griffiths (Andretti) and Jean-Paul Driot (Renault e.dams), has looked into the matter. Let’s recall that changing cars will no longer be necessary with the introduction of a new generation of batteries, expected in season 5. However, introducing a tire change has been ruled out, as it would indeed bring an excessive logic of costs.

The two possibilities being studied are actually to require single-seaters to cross the pit lane at a specific point in the race, or to allow single-seaters to receive a predetermined amount of additional energy, decided by the team and the driver. Most drivers, like Lucas Di Grassi, support the idea of maintaining a mandatory pit stop to develop strategic options. This is not very surprising given the Brazilian’s victory in Mexico two months ago, achieved thanks to an anticipated car change…

Breaking News: Contract Extensions at Renault e.dams!

The French team took advantage of the preparation for this double ePrix to announce its future lineup. As a sign of stability, Jean-Paul Driot’s team has announced that they will retain Sébastien Buemi and Nico Prost for the next two seasons. The contracts of both drivers thus run until the end of 2018-2019. At the same time, Jérôme d’Ambrosio has also been confirmed by the Dragon Racing team for the fourth season of Formula E.

The TV program

Rights holder, the Canal+ group will offer you the opportunity to experience this double Berlin ePrix. The meeting is scheduled for a slight delay this Saturday, June 10th, for the first race, broadcast at 5:05 PM, on Canal+Sport, following the third practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix in Formula 1.

You won’t have to change channels to follow the second race on Sunday, this time broadcast live, with an antenna pickup scheduled for 3:50 PM! A great doubleheader in prospect this weekend for fans of Formula 1 and Formula E…