Berlin ePrix 2024: Presentation and Stakes

Berlin is preparing to host the ninth and tenth races of season 10 of Formula E, which mark the halfway point of the season. The German event is one of the last four destinations that the electric single-seaters will visit as only double races are left to be contested. The championship is still wide open and each race promises its own share of twists and turns.

An interrupted presence on the calendar since season 1

The German capital has the distinction of being the city that has hosted the most races in the history of Formula E. Present on the calendar since season 1 in 2015, Berlin has already seen 18 races take place in its metropolitan area over nine seasons.

A figure to be put into perspective nonetheless given that in order to adapt to the disruptions of the calendar linked to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, six consecutive races were held in Berlin during Season 6.

In 2015 and since 2017, the ePrix takes place on the runways of Berlin-Tempelhof Airport, closed to air traffic since 2008. In 2016, the race was held in the city center of the German capital.

In the record books, Sébastien Buemi, Lucas di Grassi, and Antonio Felix da Costa have each won two races there. In addition, with the exception of season 1 champion Nelson Piquet Jr and current champion Jake Dennis, all FE champions have won at least once in Berlin; Sébastien Buemi (2016, 2017), Lucas di Grassi (2019, 2021), Antonio Felix da Costa (2020), Jean-Eric Vergne (2020), Stoffel Vandoorne (2020), and Nyck de Vries (2022).

Berlin has also seen several drivers win for the first time in FE like Oliver Rowland with Nissan in 2020 and Norman Nato with Venturi in 2021.

A new layout for season 10

This year, Berlin-Tempelhof airport is getting a new layout to host the Formula E. At 2.343 kilometers long, it consists of 15 corners ranging from fast curves to tight braking points.

After the straight start/finish line, the drivers will begin the lap with three left turns before a right angle turn to the right that sets up a slightly curved straight line. At the end of this, two new right angle turns to the right will offer overtaking opportunities.

The tour continues until hairpin turn 9 before the third long straight of the circuit which ends with three left turns, the last of which will allow to regenerate a maximum amount of energy.

Turn 15 then brings the single-seaters back to the starting grid of the second shortest circuit of the season after the one in London, which Formula E will visit at the end of July for the finale of this 10th season.

Jaguar is emerging as the favorite.

At mid-season, the top four in the championship are separated by fourteen points. Barring a surprise, of which FE has already shown it is never immune, Pascal Wehrlein, Nick Cassidy, Jake Dennis, and Oliver Rowland should find themselves among the contenders for victory in Berlin.

The Monaco ePrix showed that well-executed team strategies could lead to good results. Jaguar and DS Penske can attest to this. With his victory in the Principality, Mitch Evans has put himself back in the title race and as often since the beginning of the year, he will have to be reckoned with to ensure the show.

The Jaguar driver and his teammate Nick Cassidy are the only drivers to have won both races in Berlin last season. Third in Monaco behind the two New Zealanders, Stoffel Vandoorne finally returned to the podium after a year and a half of drought. With regained confidence combined with the good performances of the DS E-TENSE FE23, the Belgian and his teammate Jean-Eric Vergne could once again cause a stir.

The start of the two races of the Berlin ePrix will take place on Saturday, May 11 at 3 p.m. and Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m..