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Tag: Formula E
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Mahindra Racing unveils Season 8 car: M7 electro-ZF
The Anglo-Indian outfit unveiled its new car with a refreshed identity at the new ZF factory in Birmingham, UK. Team principal Dilbagh Gill, drivers Alexander Sims and Oliver Rowland – a new signing for Season 8 from Nissan e.dams – were joined by Mahindra & Mahindra’s chief customer and brand officer Asha Kharga at the event.
“The new dynamic Mahindra wordmark reflects the sleeker, more tech-focused Mahindra of today,” said Kharga. “The new ‘Born EV’ logo is electric-in-motion, it feels like a force of red and silver energy passed by in high-speed. It reflects our focus and commitment to the electric revolution. By sporting the new identity, the race team has become the first of Mahindra companies to be adorned with the new brand identity elements.”
- Mahindra Racing’s Season 8 charger unveiled: The M7Electro, powered by ZF, features an all-red livery embellished with Mahindra & Mahindra refreshed identity
- The global unveil of the brand-new Mahindra wordmark and Born EV logo reflects the marque’s focus and commitment to the electric revolution
- Shell and Maurice Lacroix extend team partnerships
- Team certified ISO 14001 as it continues to lead the way as Champions of Sustainability
Mahindra’s design division, Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (M.A.D.E.) has been instrumental in creating the ‘Born EV’ platform. Mahindra Racing, competing at the pinnacle of global electric racing, is helping accelerate Mahindra’s global EV vision by bringing knowledge and technology from the sport to road vehicles in its ‘Race to Road’ technology programme.
Continuing to lead the way as Champions of Sustainability, Mahindra Racing is also proud to announce yet another accolade to its rollcall of achievements. Following a successful audit process, the team has received official ISO 14001:2015 certification. ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an Environmental Management System (EMS). It helps organisations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders.
The M7Electro will take on its final year of racing before the Gen3 cars replace the current Gen2 from Season 9 onwards. This season will see the continuation of competition of the car powered by the ZF powertrain and utilising the dedicated e-Transmission fluid developed by Shell for optimised on-track performance. These key technical partnerships that debuted during Season 7 saw the team achieve 1 race victory, 4 podiums, 9 Super Pole appearances, 1 Pole Position and 2 Group Qualifying Poles.
Season 8 sees a new phase of the team’s partnership with Shell, as it extends and strengthens its relationship with Mahindra Racing on a multi-year basis. The team is also pleased to announce an extension of its partnership with luxury Swiss watchmaker Maurice Lacroix, which continues as Official Timekeeper.
Dilbagh Gill, CEO & Team Principal, Mahindra Racing said, “On the cusp of a new season, we are thrilled to reveal our new race car. We head into our eighth year of competition reinvigorated and working hand in hand to maximise our package with the fantastic partners we have; including ZF and Shell, whose technology forms key parts of our M7Electro.”
Nick Heidfeld steps away from his previous position as Official Test and Reserve Driver but retains his role as Special Advisor to Mahindra Racing. Jordan King continues for a second year as Development Driver.
Alexander Sims, entering his second year as a Mahindra Racing driver, will compete in the #29 M7Electro, which fans have voted to be named as ‘Rath’ (which means Chariot in Hindi). Alongside him in the #30 will be Oliver Rowland, who joins Mahindra Racing from Nissan e.dams, having achieved 1 victory and 5 podiums in his Formula E career to date. Fans have voted his car to be called ‘Rowl With It’ in this season.
Mahindra Racing will be in action alongside the other teams at the official pre-season test from 29 November to 2 December 2021 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. Season 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will start on 28 January 2022 with a double-header in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia and is due to be the longest season in Formula E history, comprising 16 races.
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Lucas Di Grassi wins finale’s double-header opener
Victory for Lucas Di Grassi on Audi’s farewell weekend, a fighting drive by Edoardo Mortara, a non-score for Nyck de Vries and a race of two halves’ for DS Techeetah set the scene for a pulsating final day of the 2020/21 campaign…
Berlin, 14 August 2021: Lucas Di Grassi delivered Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler a sublime second victory of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Berlin today (14 August), as he stormed into title contention on the German manufacturer’s home soil.
From third on the grid around the Tempelhof Airport circuit, Di Grassi – a winner in the German capital two years ago – initially held station, closely shadowing fellow former champions Jean-Éric Vergne and António Félix da Costa ahead, with the DS TECHEETAH drivers trading places at mid-distance as the defending title-holder advanced to the front of the field.
No sooner had he conceded the top spot than qualifying pace-setter Vergne found himself under pressure from not just one but two Audis, with René Rast having scythed his way up the order in ATTACK MODE from 12th on the starting grid. The pair wasted little time in making their move as they relegated the Frenchman to fourth, but they were not done yet, and a peerless display of teamwork saw Di Grassi and Rast depose da Costa from the lead in one fell swoop.
Once Rast’s ATTACK MODE had run out, the German began slipping back down the order, but his team-mate was still very much on a mission and after relinquishing the initiative to ROKiT Venturi Racing duo Edoardo Mortara and Norman Nato when he activated his own ATTACK MODE, he swiftly set about reclaiming it.
As the top three pulled away from Rast, Di Grassi relived Nato of second place with 13 minutes remaining, before rapidly zeroing in on Mortara in the lead. It was not long before the 2016/17 champion was through, and despite a late counter-attack from his Swiss rival, he held on to secure his 12th career Formula E win – a result that has vaulted him up the order from 14th in the Drivers’ table to sixth with just one race remaining.
The runner-up spoils for Mortara have elevated the Venturi ace to second in the title standings, only three points adrift of the summit, while Mitch Evans similarly kept his own championship aspirations very much alive with a hard-fought third place for Jaguar Racing.
From seventh on the grid, the New Zealander immediately gained a position at the expense of Nissan e.dams’ Sébastien Buemi before continuing to move forward, pulling off an ultra-committed switchback pass on Nato through Turns Six and Seven to squeeze through to third. Thereafter, he drove a defensive line to keep the Frenchman at bay, as the Venturi rookie narrowly missed out on the rostrum but nonetheless celebrated the best result of his season to-date in fourth.
Jake Dennis was another to launch a late assault on the podium, the BMW i Andretti Motorsport man showcasing his excellent racecraft as he recovered from a slow start to wind up fifth and gain a spot to third in the championship chase. Behind the Briton, Vergne and da Costa ultimately faded to sixth and seventh, around a circuit where they had dominated only 12 months earlier.
Maximilian Günther in the second BMW i Andretti Motorsport entry and Rast were the remaining two drivers in the hunt for silverware in the closing stages – ultimately placing eighth and ninth, as the latter posted the race’s fastest lap – with André Lotterer taking the last point on offer in tenth.
Amongst the big names that failed to score, Sam Bird survived a first lap tag that sent him into a half-spin only for his Jaguar Racing machine to crawl to a halt on the start-finish straight just over ten minutes in, bringing out the safety car and spelling the British driver’s third straight retirement since briefly re-taking the championship lead in New York last month.
Having begun the E-Prix from the back of the grid, Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ) and Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing) could manage no better than 12th and 15th at the chequered flag, while Nyck de Vries in the sister Mercedes lost time due to a collision with Mahindra Racing’s Alex Lynn that necessitated a visit to the pits and left him a lap down.
The Dutchman still leads the championship, albeit now by a reduced margin, with the gloves set to come off tomorrow (Sunday, 15 August) for one final showdown on the streets of Berlin, when the 2020/21 FIA Formula E World Champion will be officially crowned. The 15th round of the season on the circuit’s reversed ‘NILREB’ layout will get underway at 15:34 CET
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Antonio Felix da Costa gets big win to kick start title defence: Formula E
Reigning champion emerges on top after thrilling three-way scrap for supremacy on streets of the Principality
Monaco, 8 May 2021: Arriving in Monaco sitting outside the top ten in the points classification, reigning champion António Félix da Costa knew he needed a big result to kick-start his title defence in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. On Saturday (8 May), in Round 7, the DS TECHEETAH ace dug deep indeed to clinch his first win of the season at the end of a hugely entertaining encounter.
Da Costa began the Monaco E-Prix – held, for the first time, around the full grand prix circuit – from pole position, but he conceded his advantage to Robin Frijns early on when his Envision Virgin Racing rival pulled out of the slipstream and dived to the inside at Ste Dévote.
The Portuguese star thereafter stayed close enough to the new leader so that each time Frijns activated Attack Mode, he was able to reclaim the spot – albeit only briefly before the Dutchman used his extra power to redress the balance.
In an enthralling cat-and-mouse duel, the momentum then swung again when – after closing the gap – da Costa used his FanBoost to re-pass Frijns upon emerging from the tunnel. His lead, however, was short-lived, as Jaguar Racing’s Mitch Evans – who had shadowed the top two throughout – dispatched the Virgin and DS TECHEETAH cars in swift succession to hit the front at two-thirds distance.
The New Zealander’s move on da Costa – squeezing past on the sprint up Beau Rivage – was particularly impressive. What’s more, it was made just before the safety car was summoned to allow René Rast’s stricken Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler car to be removed, after the German swiped the barriers having fought his way up the order into seventh.
When the action resumed with just over seven minutes remaining, the scene was set for a grandstand finish, with Evans in the lead but his immediate pursuers – spearheaded by da Costa and Frijns – all having more useable energy available.
As the Jaguar driver began defending, da Costa went on the attack, attempting the same manoeuvre that had been pulled on him at Beau Rivage earlier but to no avail. Undeterred, he tried again, darting to the outside exiting the tunnel on the last lap and somehow managing to slow the DS TECHEETAH down in time to successfully navigate the chicane. It was an ultra-committed move – and it paid off richly.
As the 29-year-old sped clear to take the chequered flag first for a victory that has vaulted him up the title table, Evans was left to try to fend off the marauding pack behind. Approaching the finish line, Frijns shot out from under the Jaguar’s rear wing and nosed in front by barely two hundredths-of-a-second to secure the runner-up position – and with it, the championship lead.
Following a gritty effort, Evans ultimately placed third, ahead of the second DS TECHEETAH entry of double champion Jean-Éric Vergne. The Frenchman – one of only two current competitors to have previously won in Monaco in Formula E entering the event – had to produce a late fightback after missing his second Attack Mode and needing to activate it again, dropping him briefly to eighth.
Amongst the drivers that Vergne re-passed to claim fourth at the flag was BMW i Andretti Motorsport’s Maximilian Günther, who ran as high as third but spent much of the time battling with Nissan e.dams’ Oliver Rowland. The pair made contact late on but Günther held firm for fifth, with Rowland winding up sixth.
Fellow Brit and former championship leader Sam Bird performed well to rise from 16th on the grid to seventh in the final reckoning for Jaguar Racing to keep his own title bid on-track, with series rookie Nick Cassidy (Envision Virgin Racing), Mahindra Racing’s Alex Lynn and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s Lucas Di Grassi completing the top ten.
Elsewhere, there were no points for Mercedes EQ duo Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne, who had begun the weekend at the summit of the standings.
The 2020/21 Formula E campaign will now take a six-week break before resuming in Mexico for the Puebla E-Prix double-header on 19/20 June.
ANTÓNIO FÉLIX DA COSTA, DS TECHEETAH
“Winning a race in Formula E this year is very tricky. We all have a very good understanding and make each race more challenging for each other. Mitch lost a lot of time fighting with JEV and that helped me a lot. There were different factors that led me to the first step of the podium. It was a pleasure racing against Robin and Mitch – They raced super fairly. I put a lot of pressure on myself to win this race, we haven’t excelled this year and this weekend I worked a lot to get in the right mindset and come here and be successful.”
ROBIN FRIJNS, Envision Virgin Racing
“I am frustrated I didn’t get the extra three points from the Julius Baer Pole Position but I think I can be happy with this result. Today I felt strong and confident in the car and this showed in our performance. We all enjoyed ourselves today and it was a good race. In Season 5 I was in the same situation at this time in terms of points. I need to keep the momentum going and maximise our potential for the reminder of the season.”
MITCH EVANS, Jaguar Racing
“I am really gutted but I’ve got myself into that position because I burnt energy during the race. I had track position, but Antonio was very strong. I knew he was going to overtake me so I was only trying to delay it as much as I could. This result hurts because it’s Monaco and everyone wants to win here. It felt like a very good race in the car and I look forward watching the replay!”
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Stoffel Vandoorne bounces back in style to win in Rome
Rome, 11 April 2021: After his pole position performance yesterday unravelled over the course of a luckless race, Mercedes-EQ star Stoffel Vandoorne earned his redemption in fine style today (11 April), dominating the second leg of the Rome E-Prix to fire himself firmly into title contention in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Vandoorne began the race around the Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR in fourth place, but he did not stay there long. Following another safety car start due to the damp conditions, Nick Cassidy led the field for Envision Virgin Racing from fellow series rookie Norman Nato (ROKiT Venturi Racing), but the New Zealander’s baptism of fire in Formula E continued as he locked up into Turn Three and spun away his advantage.
Nato duly inherited the top spot ahead of Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) and Vandoorne, both of whom would soon demote the ROKiT Venturi Racing machine to third position. The Belgian then set about closing down the 1.3-second gap to his German rival in front.
Vandoorne was the first of the pair to activate his opening Attack Mode, conceding ground only to Wehrlein. The latter followed suit shortly after, elevating the Mercedes man to the lead, at which point the race turned on its head. A coming-together between former champions Lucas Di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler) and Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) left the Brazilian in the wall, bringing out a Full Course Yellow.
That neutralised the remaining two minutes of Wehrlein’s Attack Mode, preventing him from launching a counter-offensive – and from that moment on, Vandoorne never looked back.
With 13 laps in the books, the 29-year-old was almost five seconds clear of his nearest pursuer, which was now Mahindra Racing’s Alexander Sims, who spent the early stages battling his way past Maximilian Günther (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) and Nato before catching Wehrlein at the Full Course Yellow re-start to pinch second place.
Vandoorne’s comfortable margin was erased with just a handful of minutes left on the clock, when René Rast tapped the wall exiting the final corner and broke his suspension to compound a tough day for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler. With the German’s car stuck in the wall, the safety car was summoned, bunching the pack together.
What followed was a single-lap, flat-out blast to the chequered flag, with the leader deploying his FanBoost to put some breathing space between himself and Sims and hold on to the end. The Briton capped an impressive race by clinching the runner-up spoils, with Nato taking third on-the-road after re-passing Wehrlein with 13 minutes remaining.
The Frenchman, however, would subsequently be disqualified for excessive energy consumption, promoting Wehrlein to the podium. In some consolation for ROKiT Venturi Racing, Edoardo Mortara wound up fourth following a strong drive, producing a spectacular save on the last lap after briefly losing control over a bump. Günther followed him home in fifth to finally kick-start his season, with Saturday podium-finisher Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) fighting up the order into sixth.
Defending champion António Félix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH) was one of the stars of the show as he scythed his way through the field from a lowly 16th on the grid to seventh at the flag, with Tom Blomqvist (NIO 333), Dragon/Penske Autosport’s Nico Müller and Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) rounding out the top ten.
Pole-sitter Cassidy’s day went from bad to worse as, after battling back from 11th to eighth following his early spin, he was tipped into the wall by Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams) – an indiscretion for which the Briton picked up a ten-second penalty.
There were no points, either, for Saturday winner Jean-Éric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH), who could manage no better than 11th after struggling in qualifying. He then lost further time due to Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing) failing to keep within ten car-lengths of the car ahead during the safety car start – for which the Dutchman received a five-second penalty.
Indeed, none of the top three in the championship standings entering the race ultimately scored, with two of them – Jaguar Racing’s Sam Bird and Mercedes-EQ’s Nyck de Vries – eliminated in a three-car final lap pile-up initiated when the Dutchman lost control on the run to Turn Seven, with Rowland similarly caught up in the mêlée.
The 2020/21 Formula E season will continue with another double-header in Valencia, Spain on 24/25 April.
Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team)
“Today was all about redemption for yesterday. The pace of the car has been great the whole weekend and today we managed to get a decent qualifying session despite the challenging track conditions. I want to congratulate my team. We had a very good strategy with Attack Mode and managed to build a gap when needed. It feels good to achieve this today with this team.”
Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing)
“The team seemed pleased with the result today. The gap to overtake Pascal was pretty narrow, but we reacted well and had a successful strategy. I am happy with the race and the way we used Attack Mode. It is my second weekend with Mahindra Racing and we still have lots to learn with pace and qualifying. We’ll keep working and trying.”
Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team)
“It feels good to be on the podium, but I am still disappointed as I was leading the race at one point. We missed some good opportunities but it was a good day for us overall. In the race and qualifying it feels like we are lacking pace. We need to keep working and improve for the next race. I’m pleased with my result on my second weekend with TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. Stoffel was extremely fast today so congratulations to him on his first win of the season!”
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Jean Eric Vergne win the opening leg on Saturday: Formula E
Rome, 10 April 2021: Having endured a scoreless start to the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Saudi Arabia, Jean-Éric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) launched the pursuit of his third title in style in the opening leg of the Rome E-Prix on Saturday, as the Frenchman came, saw and conquered on a dramatic day in the Eternal City.
Stoffel Vandoorne began the race from pole position for Mercedes-EQ ahead of André Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche), Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams) and Lucas Di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler), with Vergne down in fifth – although that was something of a minor miracle in itself after missing the entire second free practice session, due to his DS TECHEETAH car needing to be rebuilt having sustained damage in an FP1 pile-up triggered by NIO 333’s Oliver Turvey.
Following a safety car start due to damp conditions, it did not take long for the race to come alive around the reprofiled Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR, as Vandoorne and Lotterer collided while disputing the lead – a coming-together that earned the German a five-second penalty and relegated the pair to seventh (Lotterer) and 13th (Vandoorne).
That elevated Rowland – who had looked set for pole position in qualifying prior to tapping the wall on the exit of the final corner – to the head of the field, but his luck would likewise soon run out, as a drive-through penalty for using too much power dropped the Briton well out of the reckoning.
Di Grassi thus inherited the top spot from fellow former champion Vergne, and the two Formula E heavyweights would go on to wage a thrilling tussle for supremacy. The Frenchman got the better of the first round of Attack Mode activations to reverse the order, but with just under seven minutes remaining on the clock, his Brazilian rival redressed the balance with a superb opportunistic pass into Turn Four.
The 2016/17 title-winner appeared to be on-course to claim his first win in almost two years, but there was one more sting in the tail still to come, as his car suddenly lost drive with five minutes to go. That reinstated Vergne into the lead and proved to be the catalyst for a race-ending accident for Vandoorne, who had fought his way boldly back up to fifth following his early delay.
As the Belgian steered right to avoid the slowing Di Grassi, he spun into the wall, with Mercedes-EQ stablemate Nyck de Vries – championship leader coming into the weekend and a man who briefly led the Rome E-Prix, too – caught up in the ensuing mêlée and similarly out on the spot.
The damage prompted a Full Course Yellow and the race ended behind the safety car. Vergne duly crossed the finish line to secure his tenth career victory – completing a remarkable turnaround from his morning troubles – with Sam Bird and Mitch Evans following him home in second and third to register Jaguar Racing’s maiden double rostrum in Formula E, having started down in tenth and 12th on the grid.
Bird, indeed, was arguably the biggest winner of the day, as the runner-up spoils vaulted him into a nine-point championship lead. The Briton was a man on a mission throughout, pulling off a series of spectacular passes. Both he and Evans battled impressively by de Vries as they worked their way into podium contention, with the latter picking up an extra point for posting the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap.
Robin Frijns wound up fourth for Envision Virgin Racing to continue his strong start to the campaign. The Dutchman momentarily launched a bid for the lead before falling down the order slightly, but the result was nonetheless enough to lift him to second in the title standings.
Two-time champion Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) tallied his first points of the season in fifth, with René Rast offering Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler some consolation for team-mate Di Grassi’s woes as he scythed through the field to finish sixth from a long way down the grid.
Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche), Alex Lynn (Mahindra Racing), Maximilian Günther (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) – who survived a wild, wall-swiping spin – and Tom Blomqvist (NIO 333) completed the top ten.
Elsewhere, it was very much a day of ill-fortune and attrition in the Italian capital, with Rowland able to recover no further than 12th, Lotterer slipping back to 14th and defending title-holder António Félix da Costa (DS Techeetah) joining fellow big-hitters Di Grassi, de Vries and Vandoorne in retirement.
Round four of the season will get underway at 13h00 CET tomorrow (Sunday, 11 April).
Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH)
“Today was the first race weekend with the new powertrain and it felt really good. The team did a great job to fix the car in time for the race after FP1. My engineer was very good in giving me directions on energy management and Attack Mode. I had a very good management during the race and it was a question of making of the most of the energy reduction. When Lucas tried to overtake me I didn’t stop him because I knew we had more energy and there was a long way to go. I knew that I could’ve taken him.”
Sam Bird (Jaguar Racing)
“We had a really good start as a team with another podium finish. I won here before, but I can’t compare the two tracks. The circuit was very difficult, but I am really pleased with the performance. It felt really comfortable and we didn’t waste too much time in overtaking. JEV defended very well and I’m happy with the result.”
Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing)
“This is our first double podium as a team – congratulations to everyone involved and Sam. We work really well together and when we are around each other. It wasn’t an easy race to manage at all. The conditions weren’t easy and starting in the middle of the pack, you can easily get caught up in crashes. I’m glad we started under the safety car as T1 could’ve been tricky, but our pace was extremely strong.”
Calendar Update:
The event in the Italian capital has become a double-header event, hosting Round 3 and 4 on April 10 and 11, Formula E and FIA confirmed earlier today.
The Valencia E-Prix will also become a double-header event, hosting Round 5 and 6 of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on April 24 & 25.
Formula E and the FIA will continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are in constant communication with their community of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters and host cities.
The remainder of the Season 7 calendar will be confirmed shortly.
All calendar updates depend on travel restrictions, as well as local government protocols and are subject to approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
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Nyck de Vries sprints to victory: Formula E
Diriyah, 26 Feb 2021: Just as he did in both free practice sessions, and just as he did in qualifying, Nyck de Vries left his competitors eating his desert dust in this evening’s opening leg of the Diriyah E-Prix, sprinting to the first victory of his ABB FIA Formula E World Championship career as Mercedes-EQ picked up from where it had left off in Berlin last summer – on the top step of the rostrum.
From his maiden Formula E pole position, de Vries made a textbook launch when the lights went out, as fellow front row sitter Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) found himself grappling with wheelspin and a Turn One lock-up that not only forced him to fight off the attentions of countryman René Rast behind, but also gifted de Vries a solid early lead.
By the time Wehrlein had composed himself to consolidate second place, de Vries was up the road, and whilst the German went on to close the gap and briefly apply some pressure, it was not long before his Dutch rival began stretching his legs again.
Even two safety car interruptions could not disrupt de Vries’ impressive rhythm, as the 26-year-old maturely handled the neutralisations in his stride, going on to take the chequered flag more than four seconds clear of his closest pursuer.
The battle for the runner-up spoils was ultimately settled in favour of Edoardo Mortara, who kept his powder dry in the initial stages before pulling off a supremely committed pass on the main straight to thread the needle between Mitch Evans and Wehrlein and spectacularly steal two positions in a single manoeuvre. The ROKiT Venturi Racing ace then took full advantage of the race’s second safety car intervention to outfox Rast for second.
Jaguar Racing’s Evans was another to demote Rast in the closing laps, pinching the final podium position from his Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler adversary and relegating the German to fourth in the final reckoning.
Wehrlein ultimately faded to fifth, struggling increasingly to maintain pace and energy on his return to Formula E, with Nissan e.dams’ Oliver Rowland following him home in sixth after trying every which way to prise open the door late on. The Briton made the best of the first group conditions in qualifying to snare a top ten grid berth, before making further progress during the race.
Former Diriyah winner Alexander Sims wound up seventh for Mahindra Racing, with de Vries’ Mercedes-EQ stablemate Stoffel Vandoorne gaining seven spots from his starting position to cross the finish line in eighth.
Lucas Di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler) was another big mover – the 2016/17 title-holder advancing from 16th to ninth – with Oliver Turvey claiming the final point on offer in tenth, getting NIO 333 immediately off the mark following a scoreless 2019/20 campaign.
Defending champion António Félix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH) could manage no better than 11th from his lowly 18thstarting slot, with fellow title-winners Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) and Jean-Éric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) similarly missing out on points in 13th and 15th respectively.
There was disappointment, too, for Jaguar Racing’s Sam Bird and Mahindra Racing’s Alex Lynn, whose spirited scrap for sixth just before mid-distance ended in tears and a collision – forcing both into retirement and prompting the race’s first neutralisation. Maximilian Günther (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) was the only other non-finisher after side-swiping the wall in an incident that brought out the second safety car.
Happily for all three, they immediately have a chance to make amends in round two of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season tomorrow (Saturday, 20:00 local time) – but on today’s evidence, the biggest question would appear to be if anybody can beat the dominant de Vries…
Nyck de Vries, Mercedes-EQ
“My first victory in Formula E! What a fantastic result and a perfect start to our second season. I don’t know why, but I was quite calm after the race despite the pleasure of winning. It’s been a great weekend for me so far, setting the fastest time in every session and then winning the E-Prix itself. That’s obviously a very nice feeling, but it was by no means an easy race. There were so many safety car deployments, and it was difficult to always select the right energy management. It took a lot of communication with the team, but it’s great that I was able to come home with the win in the end. Many thanks to the whole team. I know it sounds like a cliché, but everyone in our team has worked very hard over the winter to get us up here on the podium today. So again, a huge thank you to the whole squad for their tireless work. You’ve earned this victory.”
Edoardo Mortara, ROKiT Venturi Racing
“It’s good to be back on the podium, apart from the races in Berlin, last season wasn’t too bad for us. We are a small team and it isn’t easy to get good results against big manufacturers with a lot more resources than us. These results are a victory for us. We were really competitive and hopefully it is going to be the same tomorrow. It was crucial to overtake Pascal, he overconsumed after taking Attack Mode. There wasn’t much space to overtake but I went for it and was lucky. Very happy with our result today.”
Mitch Evans, Jaguar Racing
“I felt like I knew what Edoardo was going to do. I wasn’t going to be able to defend so it was an easy pass for him. I was more worried about Pascal but I managed to pass him at the same time. At that point it was good to keep the momentum going. The pace was quite strong and I had a very strong rhythm before the first safety car. The first safety car affected us and made us burn an Attack Mode but overall the pace was really good. Huge congratulations to Nyck and Edoardo but especially my team.”
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Formula E 7th season to begin with Diriyah e-prix
Riyadh, 23 Feb 2021: The seventh season of ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – and its first as a World Championship – will get underway in Saudi Arabia this weekend (26 & 27 February), with big points on offer and a fierce battle in prospect around the Riyadh Street Circuit.
Not only is the Diriyah E-Prix one of just two double-headers on the 2020/21 Formula E calendar, but in a first for the all-electric single-seater series, it will take place after nightfall, with the action around the 2.495km track to be illuminated by low-consumption LED lights.
To add to the unpredictability, pre-season testing in Valencia at the end of last year saw all 24 contenders blanketed by barely three-quarters-of-a-second on the final day – closer than ever before in the championship’s history – setting the scene for a spectacular Saudi Arabian showdown.
António Félix da Costa goes into the new campaign as reigning champion after dominating proceedings last season. The Portuguese ace registered his second career Formula E victory in Diriyah in 2018 and is eyeing a repeat performance as he aims to launch the defence of his Drivers’ crown in the best possible fashion.
DS TECHEETAH team-mate Jean-Éric Vergne, meanwhile, is eager to bounce back from a troubled 2019/20 campaign that fell short of his two title-winning seasons. The Frenchman shadowed da Costa across the finish line in Saudi Arabia in 2018, and he is fired-up to turn the tables this weekend.
Mercedes EQ fields a similarly unchanged line-up of Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries. The Belgian secured second in the standings last summer by triumphing in the final race in Berlin and has twice been a podium-finisher in Diriyah, while de Vries showed increasing flashes of form towards the end of last season, which he is keen to build upon over the coming months.
As the winningest driver in Formula E history, not reaching the highest step of the rostrum marked a disappointment for Sébastien Buemi in 2019/20, and the Swiss star is determined to quickly rediscover his winning ways. On the other side of the Nissan e.dams garage, by contrast, Oliver Rowland broke through last August with his maiden Formula E victory in Berlin, and the Briton has his sights firmly set on more champagne celebrations.
Like Buemi, 2016/17 champion Lucas di Grassi endured a frustrating 2019/20 campaign – the first time he has failed to win a race or finish inside the top three in the overall classification – and the Brazilian is targeting a rapid return to form. His Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team-mate René Rast, meanwhile, is aiming to build upon a positive performance over the final six races of last season since returning to the series.
Maximilian Günther stole pre-season bragging rights in Valencia back in December by posting the fastest time of the test. The German was a double winner last year and new team-mate Jake Dennis turned heads with his composure and consistency at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Ominously for their rivals, the BMW i Andretti Motorsport team for which the pair compete has triumphed in two of the three races held in Saudi Arabia so far.
The second of those successes was achieved by Alexander Sims, who switches to Mahindra Racing for his third campaign in Formula E. There, he will race alongside countryman Alex Lynn, who laid down the benchmark on day two of pre-season testing.
The other Valencia pace-setter – on the opening day – was André Lotterer, who is confident of a further step forward for TAG Heuer Porsche in the team’s sophomore campaign in the championship. The German is partnered by compatriot Pascal Wehrlein, returning to the series after missing the second half of last season.
Sam Bird was arguably the highest-profile mover of the off-season, leaving Envision Virgin Racing after six years to join Mitch Evans at Jaguar Racing, where he hopes to add to the nine Formula E victories he has achieved to-date – the most recent of which came in Diriyah in 2019.
Bird is succeeded at Envision Virgin Racing by rookie Nick Cassidy, with Robin Frijns remaining on-board in the sister car, while Dragon / Penske Autosport enters an unchanged line-up of Sérgio Sette Câmara and Nico Müller, who impressed by posting the second and third-quickest times respectively in pre-season testing.
ROKiT Venturi Racing will run Edoardo Mortara and series newcomer Norman Nato – another to display a strong turn-of-speed in Valencia – with NIO 333, like Mahindra, opting for an all-British line-up of Oliver Turvey and Tom Blomqvist and eager to significantly improve upon a scoreless 2019/20 campaign.
The first Diriyah ePrix will begin at 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Friday, 26 February, with race two following at the same time the next day.
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DS Automobiles commits to Gen3 era of ABB FIA Formula E Worlds
DS Automobiles has today announced that it has committed to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship starting in Season 9.
The sole French manufacturer on the Formula E grid, DS Automobiles has been involved since Season 2, partnering with Chinese racing team TECHEETAH since the start of the Gen2 era in Season 5. Together, the duo has become a formidable force on the grid, claiming twDS Automobiles has today announced that it has committed to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship starting in Season 9.o consecutive driver and teams’ championships, seven race wins and 15 podiums to date.
DS Automobiles is the only competitor to have produced two different driver champions. French driver and DS E-TENSE ambassador Jean-Eric Vergne took the title in Seasons 4 and 5. His Portuguese team-mate, Antonio Felix da Costa, is reigning champion. The pair will look to make history once again behind the wheel of the DS E-TENSE FE20 in Season 7 this year.
The work that Formula E and the FIA have done to shape the Gen3 era focuses on delivering a new generation of progress both as a sport, reaffirming Formula E’s position as the pinnacle of electric racing, and in the future of electric mobility. Gen3 will bring performance and efficiency benefits including more powerful, lighter cars, faster charging and cost controls, all increasing the competitive and unpredictable racing Formula E has become known for.
Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, said: “DS Automobiles securing a place on the grid for Season 9 and beyond reaffirms Formula E’s position as a technology proving ground and marketing platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers. We look forward to breaking new ground during the next phase of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with DS Automobiles.”
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will make its Season 7 debut in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia with two night races, at 17:00 GMT (20:00 local time) on February 26 & 27.
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McLaren Racing signs agreement granting option to join Formula E for Gen3
McLaren Racing has formalised its interest in joining Formula E’s team and manufacturer line-up from the new Gen3 era. Gen3 will take to the track from the 2022/23 season, bringing performance and efficiency advances including more powerful, lighter cars and faster charging as well as a set of technical and financial controls aimed at reinforcing the business case for Formula E’s ecosystem of teams and manufacturers.
McLaren Racing’s interest in Formula E is a validation of the series as the pinnacle of electric racing, both as a proving ground for the top racing teams in the world and as a test bed for the next generation of electric vehicles. McLaren Racing is one of the most successful operations in motorsport, enjoying a rich history of success in Formula 1 as well as IndyCar and Le Mans. McLaren Applied is Formula E’s exclusive Gen2 battery supplier under a four-season contract which concludes at the end of the 2021/22 season, after which McLaren Racing will evaluate the potential to deepen its involvement as a competitor in the electric championship.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will make its Season Seven debut in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia with two night races, at 17:00 GMT (20:00 local time) on February 26 & 27.
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Mahindra racing become 1st manufacturer to commit to Gen3 era: Formula E
Mahindra Racing today announced its commitment to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, becoming the first automotive manufacturer to sign up for the generation that commences with the 2022/23 season.
As Formula E begins its first season as an FIA World Championship, Indian manufacturer Mahindra has reaffirmed its strong, long-term relationship by committing to the Formula E Gen3 era, starting in 2022. The Mahindra Group aims to put half a million electric vehicles on Indian roads by 2025 and believes in Formula E’s ongoing role as an essential proving ground for future race-to-road electric vehicle and sustainable mobility technologies.
One of Formula E’s founding teams – and the only Indian manufacturer – Mahindra Racing has so far claimed four E-Prix victories, 18 podiums, and 690 championship points. Mahindra Racing was also the first Formula E team to be awarded the FIA Environmental Accreditation Three-Star rating, demonstrating excellence in sustainability practices.
Gen3 marks a new era of performance and efficiency benefits including more powerful, lighter cars, fast charging and cost controls, all with the aim of increasing the intense and unpredictable racing Formula E has become known for. The work that FIA and Formula E have done together to shape the Gen3 era focuses on delivering a new generation of progress, reaffirming Formula E’s position as the pinnacle of electric racing while increasing road relevance for manufacturers even further.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is currently testing in Valencia ahead of its Season Seven debut in Santiago, Chile in January with two races each staged at 19:00 CET (15:00 local time) on January 16 and 17.
Jean Todt, FIA President, said: “Ahead of another important technical milestone for the FIA Formula E World Championship, I salute Mahindra Racing as the first manufacturer to commit to the next era of the discipline. The Gen3 race car will indeed further establish the principles that have made the championship successful. It is positive to see a founding team continue with us on a shared mission to develop electric vehicle technology and promote sustainable mobility.”
Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, said: “We see Mahindra Group as a key player in the future of mass-market electric vehicles. It’s a testament to the shared purpose of Formula E and its partners that we have one of our founding teams, Mahindra Racing, already committing to Gen3 in anticipation of the 2022/23 season. Gen3 brings with it an unparalleled opportunity for innovation from a sporting perspective on the track and technological advancement on our roads. We’re thrilled to have Mahindra Racing joining us on that journey.”
Dilbagh Gill, CEO and Team Principal of Mahindra Racing, said: “By committing early to Gen3 Mahindra Racing is continuing its journey, which it started by becoming the first OEM to sign up to the championship back in 2013. As the greenest team in motorsport, Formula E is the perfect home for us; a place where we can demonstrate our performance and sustainability credentials both on and off the track. Our future focus is on race winning performances that we can all be proud of and some exciting new projects in the engineering services space. In short, we’re here for the long run; we are not building something for today, we’re building something for tomorrow.”
