Update on the season before the Buenos Aires ePrix

The opening of the second Formula E season was full of hope for all the teams in the discipline. Yet,

Despite the inter-season changes, the hierarchy remained largely equivalent compared to the season.

After narrowly missing the double title of Drivers and Constructors, the Renault e-Dams team resumed its forward march from the opening of season 2. In the heart of the Beijing Olympic Park, Sébastien Buemi had the perfect weekend: pole position, victory, and fastest lap in the race for the Swiss driver, becoming the first driver in Formula E history to achieve the maximum score of 30 points in a single ePrix day.

This momentum seemed to be confirmed during the first laps in Putrajaya for the second race. Buemi secured a new Pole position, and in what a manner, with a time 1.7 seconds faster than Nico Prost’s time on the same track in season 1, proof, if any were needed, of the competitiveness of the Renault Z.E 15 single-seater!

But the outcome of the race was much more unfortunate for the Swiss: his car suffered a temporary breakdown halfway through, costing him several cruel seconds of immobilization. Thus, this race slipped away from the Renault e.Dams team. To the great benefit of Lucas di Grassi (Abt Schaeffler team), who won a race with a completely crazy outcome.

Despite a slower car, the consistency of the Brazilian driver at the start of the season is commendable. Let’s remember that Di Grassi had already contended for the first World Drivers’ Championship Title right up to the final corners of the last race against Nelson Piquet Junior and Sébastien Buemi. These two men are therefore the strong contenders at the start of this season. They were also strong during the third ePrix of the season in Punta del Este, a seaside resort on the Uruguayan coast.

A third man emerged during the Qualifications. The driver from the Dragon Racing team, Belgian Jérôme d’Ambrosio, indeed secured his first Pole position in the discipline. A few hours later during the race, however, he could not resist the attacks of Sébastien Buemi, who overtook him on the eighth lap of the race.

The former Scuderia Toro Rosso driver then soared to his second victory of the season, despite a strong race from Lucas di Grassi who climbed to second place, overtaking D’Ambrosio in the process during the car changeover. He nearly threatened Buemi’s victory, finishing just three and a half seconds behind him.

Behind this well-established hierarchy, performances are more uncertain. After choosing to build its own powertrain, the Franco-British team DS Virgin has experienced mixed fortunes. Sam Bird nonetheless managed to emerge from the Malaysian chaos in Putrajaya by finishing on the second step of the podium. His teammate Jean-Eric Vergne was less successful: the Parisian only started scoring points in Punta del Este with six points collected.

This total is, however, higher than that of the reigning champion, Nelson Piquet. After experiencing success in season 1, the Brazilian driver is struggling this year with his Nextev team. The single-seater seems to be making slight progress, though. After achieving eighth place in Putrajaya, Piquet was on course for a Top 10 finish in Punta del Este before experiencing an accident in the last lap following an intense duel with Jean-Eric Vergne.

In the World Drivers’ Championship standings, Sébastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi arrive in Argentina in strong form, with 62 points and 61 points, respectively. A world of difference separates them from the rest of the pack, with Jérôme d’Ambrosio as the closest pursuer, having (only) 28 points.

Here is a complete reminder of the General Driver Standings…

… And the Constructors’ Championship: