Round 4 of Formula E is a special one on the calendar for many reasons. One of those reason is that it's Formula E's one and only trip to a purpose built race track which creates a whole new dynamic. Another reason is that the Mexican fans go mental for any motorsport and the atmosphere for this race is usually electric with the podium presentation being one of the best anywhere. With a great season already taking shape I'm hoping this one is a grandstand event.
4 races in and Jean-Eric Vergne is acting like a true reigning champion. Yes that's right he is complaining about the rules in the press a lot. His latest grumble is qualifying. For those of you who don't know the cars are split into 4 groups and then the fastest 5 go to superpole session. The top 5 in the championship go in the first group and this is what JEV has spat his dummy out about. Last time out in Chilie the track was dirty which meant the first group out were at disadvantage. They promptly all qualified near the back of the grid and spent the race banging wheels and crashing out in a big old Mardy. JEV suggests that he is being handicapped for being successful and that this is stupid and would never happened in F1. The organisers gave him a smile and shrugged their shoulders. JEV seems to have missed the point that the whole system was put in place in order that the leaders don't dominate and we get mixed up grids. All of this leads to great racing - so shhhhh JEV.
Last time out Lucas Di Grassi was on pole by half a second before being relegated to the back of the grid after Audi received their annual stupidity penalty. That combined with that historically the Audi car seems to run better on circuits than streets makes him my tip for the race. It would be tempting to put my money on Formula E's very own Stirling Moss in the shape of Sam Bird. It's true he was supreme last time out and this could be the start of a true title challenge but I've said this so many times in the last 4 years I'm starting to not believe it. Hope I'm wrong.
I saw an article declaring Pascal Whrelein the new superstar of Formula E after his second place last time out. I think it's a bit too early to declare that (Pascal has always had friends in the press) but it is certainly looking good. Things can change very quickly in Formula E though and Whrelein just needs to watch for that. His team mate by the way still leads the championship (just) which is not something anyone expected given the early pace of the BMW's and the Tacheetah. Those guys have been to busy hitting things to take advantage and I feel the rest of the pack has now caught them
In a driver swap news Maximilian Gunther's 3 race contract with Dragon has ended and, faster than you can say Banco De Brazil, Felipe Nasr has filled the seat. I like Nasr but I think he'll just drop straight into that Formula midfield populated by drivers who could probably do well if the situation was right. Probably in the same piece of tarmac as Felipe Massa!
Race is live on BBC Red Button at 10pm this Saturday (16th) but will also air on Eurosport, BT Sports and stream live on the Formula E website.
4 races in and Jean-Eric Vergne is acting like a true reigning champion. Yes that's right he is complaining about the rules in the press a lot. His latest grumble is qualifying. For those of you who don't know the cars are split into 4 groups and then the fastest 5 go to superpole session. The top 5 in the championship go in the first group and this is what JEV has spat his dummy out about. Last time out in Chilie the track was dirty which meant the first group out were at disadvantage. They promptly all qualified near the back of the grid and spent the race banging wheels and crashing out in a big old Mardy. JEV suggests that he is being handicapped for being successful and that this is stupid and would never happened in F1. The organisers gave him a smile and shrugged their shoulders. JEV seems to have missed the point that the whole system was put in place in order that the leaders don't dominate and we get mixed up grids. All of this leads to great racing - so shhhhh JEV.
Last time out Lucas Di Grassi was on pole by half a second before being relegated to the back of the grid after Audi received their annual stupidity penalty. That combined with that historically the Audi car seems to run better on circuits than streets makes him my tip for the race. It would be tempting to put my money on Formula E's very own Stirling Moss in the shape of Sam Bird. It's true he was supreme last time out and this could be the start of a true title challenge but I've said this so many times in the last 4 years I'm starting to not believe it. Hope I'm wrong.
I saw an article declaring Pascal Whrelein the new superstar of Formula E after his second place last time out. I think it's a bit too early to declare that (Pascal has always had friends in the press) but it is certainly looking good. Things can change very quickly in Formula E though and Whrelein just needs to watch for that. His team mate by the way still leads the championship (just) which is not something anyone expected given the early pace of the BMW's and the Tacheetah. Those guys have been to busy hitting things to take advantage and I feel the rest of the pack has now caught them
In a driver swap news Maximilian Gunther's 3 race contract with Dragon has ended and, faster than you can say Banco De Brazil, Felipe Nasr has filled the seat. I like Nasr but I think he'll just drop straight into that Formula midfield populated by drivers who could probably do well if the situation was right. Probably in the same piece of tarmac as Felipe Massa!
Race is live on BBC Red Button at 10pm this Saturday (16th) but will also air on Eurosport, BT Sports and stream live on the Formula E website.