Punta del Este ePrix: Presentation and Stakes

Rosenqvist’s misfortune allowed Vergne to create an initial gap in the championship.

Jean-Éric Vergne’s fifth place in Mexico might have seemed like a disappointing result for the Frenchman, but Felix Rosenqvist’s retirement while he was leading by a considerable margin turned this position into a conclusive result for the Techeetah driver. This allowed him to take a 12-point lead in the title race. Another victory could enable the former Formula 1 driver to further extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.

In the case of Felix Rosenqvist, the situation is quite different since the Swede, who was leading the championship two races ago (since his victory in Marrakech), lost a lot due to the mechanical failure he suffered in Mexico. If reliability is no longer an issue, there is no doubt that his usual speed should allow him to get back in the fight for the title.

The last race also went poorly for Sam Bird as the DS Virgin driver was forced to retire after an overly aggressive attack on Nicolas Prost. While his consistency had allowed him to stay in contention until then, he will need to quickly regain it to remain in a good position in the championship. Experience could be crucial when it comes time to make the final calculations.

For season two champion Sébastien Buemi, the comeback continued with a third consecutive podium in Mexico. This allowed him to come within nine points of the championship podium, although he still trails the leader by 29 points. If he manages to show speed in qualifying for this round and confirms it in the race, the inexorable climb of the Renault e-dams driver could very well continue even stronger.

The other drivers to watch in this e-Prix will be Nelson Piquet Jr, who remains consistent, Daniel Abt who finally scored his first victory in Mexico, Nicolas Prost who continues to disappoint, and finally the reigning champion Lucas Di Grassi, who scored his first three points in the last race, which could help him finally break the jinx.

Punta del Este serves as a backup this season.

The coastal city of Punta del Este in Uruguay is not a stranger to the championship as it’s already the third time an electric formula race is organized there. Indeed, the city was part of the championship during the first two seasons. This year, it was not initially planned for Formula E to make its return there, but due to the cancellation of the very first Sao Paulo ePrix because of organizational problems. However, to avoid losing a race, the championship leaders managed to organize this replacement race very quickly, thanks to the cooperation of local authorities.

The 2.785-kilometer track features 20 turns, runs along the Atlantic coast for half of the circuit before moving inland for the other part. Overall, it is a particularly winding and atypical circuit compared to the other rounds of the championship. The last two editions saw Sébastien Buemi take victory. Will this 2018 CBMM Niobium Punta del Este ePrix smile on the Swiss again?

Our destination this week: the Punta del Este Street Circuit 🇺🇾

Vote for #Fanboost -> https://t.co/xN1u8I4e7H @audiformulae @FIAFormulaE #ABBFormulaE #FormulaE #PuntaDelEsteEPrix #etron #ProgressFeelsElectric #LeagueofPerformance pic.twitter.com/7Q3EqqPlZD

— Audi Sport (@audisport) 14 mars 2018

The latest information to remember

Ford considers entering Formula E at the end of its WEC program:

The Ford group is reportedly in the process of deciding on a future commitment in the championship to replace its World Endurance Championship program, which will end in 2019. However, some rumors suggest that the oval brand wants to join the championship as early as next season by partnering with an existing team. Formula E boss Alejandro Agag is even said to have visited the company’s headquarters in Detroit. But what is certain is that Ford’s entry would necessarily involve acquiring a team or forming a partnership. Indeed, the championship plans to limit itself to 12 teams. The team best positioned to host Ford would be Dragon. The American team is based in California and headed by Jay Penske. The son of the famous Roger Penske could have an easier path due to his father selling Ford vehicles through his business group. Furthermore, his NASCAR team also races Fords, making it the first American manufacturer to join the championship.

Günther signs with Dragon, Franco Chiocchetti with HWA:

The 20-year-old German driver Maximilian Günther has been designated as the reserve and test driver for Dragon Racing team. The former F3 driver, who finished as vice-champion in 2016 and third in the championship in 2017, will drive for Team Arden in F2 this season. Note that Günther had taken the wheel for the team during the young driver tests in Marrakech. Franco Chiocchetti, the former engineer of Lucas Di Grassi at Audi, joined Mercedes HWA’s racing division after the Mexico race. This structure will manage the star brand’s program upon its arrival next season. Some engineers from HWA have already joined the Venturi team as part of a partnership with Mercedes. The reasons for the engineer’s departure, who played a crucial role at Abt Audi, are said to be that the South African did not agree with the direction taken by the team following its full acquisition by Audi.

The 2018-2019 season will indeed see the introduction of a second, more powerful engine mode:

The championship will indeed introduce a second engine mode from next season, which will provide a one-second per lap gain for 40 minutes to each driver by adding 25 KW of power. Simulations of this new system should take place in March and April during collective tests. A second series of experiments on the new car for season five should also occur in September or October, most likely at the Donington Park circuit in the UK. Also, be aware that the point for the fastest lap in the race will not exist next season. It will be replaced by a point awarded to the driver who has managed their energy best during the race, with details yet to be specified.

The next Monaco ePrix will use the full circuit:

The next Monaco ePrix, which will take place next season, will use the full layout for the first time after two editions on a shortened version. This was announced by the discipline’s management. The use of the F1 circuit will be made possible by the new generation of single-seaters. Indeed, the current single-seaters do not have the technical capability to tackle the steep climbs of the first sector. This will undoubtedly please Sébastien Buemi and Lucas Di Grassi, who have been advocating for it. It will also lend even more credibility to the championship in the eyes of various observers.

TV program

As usual, you will have two ways to follow the race and the qualifications. The qualifying session can be watched from 4 PM on Eurosport 2 and from 3:55 PM on Canal+ Sport. Regarding the race, you can watch it on Canal+ Décalé at 7:55 PM and also on Eurosport at 8 PM.

This presentation ends here but stay tuned for a detailed summary of this Punta del Este ePrix on MotorsInside.