The Formula E Express is taking us to Marrakesh. Yes you can still smell the Cranberry sauce on the drivers breath but come 2pm GMT on Saturday 12th of Jan it's game time in Formula E with Gen 2 car getting it's second outing. I think it's debut was viewed as pretty good even if attack mode did look a tad odd. Of course BMW will be ecstatic with getting a win in their very first race as a manufacturer. Even if they are not the quickest car in the field it's still secures bragging rights over Audi.
After his win in round one Felix Da Costa will be eying a title run. As good as he is, having not watched DTM, I've only seen him in two title fights; GP3 where he got bested by both Mitch Evans and Danny Abt - and WSR where he got bested by Magnusen and Vandoorne. This doesn't bode well really as far as withstanding pressure goes. BMW is not the fastest car out there but, as we've seen in Formula E, the fastest car out there really depends on where in the world the sport is and which way the wind is blowing. So the best way to mount a title challenge is to be consistently in that top 4 - which is exactly what Vergne did last year. This time last year in Marrakesh the race was won by Rosenqvist and Mahindra.
Speaking of Mahindra - I was as surprised as anyone to see Felix Rosenqvist in their car last time out but it appears it was a last min thing. Merc suddenly realised that Wehrlein's contract with them didn't run out until 31st of Dec and didn't let him race. He is in now though and after the result his team mate D'ambrosio got last time out he'll expect to be up near the front. However he should be cautious. Firstly D'ambrosio is no slouch when he hits form and he could have just played a blinder last race. Secondly we've seen time and time again that however talented a driver is jumping into a Formula E car is not that easy as their are a lot of new things you have to learn to manage in a race before you can use your natural driver talent to its full extent and sometimes debuts can be a nightmare. For instance Andre Lotterer's Formula E debut was the worst debut I've seen from any driver in any catogry. If you'd told me he'd be a front runner just a year later I'd have laughed at you.
Which brings us on neatly to Teechetah. In 2018 they were the little customer team who punched above their weight. In 2019 they are the factory team who seem to be the class of the field. They have the best driver line up in Vergne and Lotterer (shades of Senna/Berger at McLaren Honda) and their car was far quicker than anyone elses us in Saudi Arabia. But for the power penalties it would have been a one two for sure. Which perversely brings me to believe the team should be unhappy as the name of the game in Formula E is to take the opportunity you are given. It remains to be seen as to whether Teechetah runs as well in Marrakesh. if they don't then they could be upset they didn't take all they could the round before.
A team that is already upset is Audi. After crawling their way back from a disastrous start last season they have gone straight back to having a disaster this year. With the practice session being wiped out by the rain they didn't shape up their car correct for the race and ended up with power penalties and at the back. The really worrying thing is that neither they or their customer team Virgin powered their way back through the field with Di Grassi saying the car had 'no pace'. That doesn't sound good but hopefully a bit of fine tuning will bring them into play. Di Grassi, Abt, Bird and Frinjs all have Audi power units this year and it would be a real shame to see drivers of that calibre not able to make an impact at the front.
The other teams to watch for are Nissan and Jag. Both sitting in the exact same zone as last year where a good day for them (and bad for others) could score a win. Mitch Evans got his usual 4th place last time out and Buemi challenged at the front before slipping back. Not mentioned much was what they are calling Oli Rowlands debut (the whole world seems to have forgotten he did one race in 2015) as he clawed himself up the field to be just behind Buemi. I'm a big fan of Rowland and I really want to see him push Buemi this year.
So that's what to look out for at Marrakesh. Hoping for a great race. My predictions are never brilliant but I'm going to tip D'ambrosio for surprise win. The start of the season was a little tainted for me by the political controversy of the venue so glad the sport is now in North Africa where there is no controversy at all......oh....errmmmm. Well at least the race after is safe - I mean there has never been any dodgy politics in Chile.
Live on Red Button on BBC and available on catch up on iPlayer. Also on Eurosport and BT sports.
After his win in round one Felix Da Costa will be eying a title run. As good as he is, having not watched DTM, I've only seen him in two title fights; GP3 where he got bested by both Mitch Evans and Danny Abt - and WSR where he got bested by Magnusen and Vandoorne. This doesn't bode well really as far as withstanding pressure goes. BMW is not the fastest car out there but, as we've seen in Formula E, the fastest car out there really depends on where in the world the sport is and which way the wind is blowing. So the best way to mount a title challenge is to be consistently in that top 4 - which is exactly what Vergne did last year. This time last year in Marrakesh the race was won by Rosenqvist and Mahindra.
Speaking of Mahindra - I was as surprised as anyone to see Felix Rosenqvist in their car last time out but it appears it was a last min thing. Merc suddenly realised that Wehrlein's contract with them didn't run out until 31st of Dec and didn't let him race. He is in now though and after the result his team mate D'ambrosio got last time out he'll expect to be up near the front. However he should be cautious. Firstly D'ambrosio is no slouch when he hits form and he could have just played a blinder last race. Secondly we've seen time and time again that however talented a driver is jumping into a Formula E car is not that easy as their are a lot of new things you have to learn to manage in a race before you can use your natural driver talent to its full extent and sometimes debuts can be a nightmare. For instance Andre Lotterer's Formula E debut was the worst debut I've seen from any driver in any catogry. If you'd told me he'd be a front runner just a year later I'd have laughed at you.
Which brings us on neatly to Teechetah. In 2018 they were the little customer team who punched above their weight. In 2019 they are the factory team who seem to be the class of the field. They have the best driver line up in Vergne and Lotterer (shades of Senna/Berger at McLaren Honda) and their car was far quicker than anyone elses us in Saudi Arabia. But for the power penalties it would have been a one two for sure. Which perversely brings me to believe the team should be unhappy as the name of the game in Formula E is to take the opportunity you are given. It remains to be seen as to whether Teechetah runs as well in Marrakesh. if they don't then they could be upset they didn't take all they could the round before.
A team that is already upset is Audi. After crawling their way back from a disastrous start last season they have gone straight back to having a disaster this year. With the practice session being wiped out by the rain they didn't shape up their car correct for the race and ended up with power penalties and at the back. The really worrying thing is that neither they or their customer team Virgin powered their way back through the field with Di Grassi saying the car had 'no pace'. That doesn't sound good but hopefully a bit of fine tuning will bring them into play. Di Grassi, Abt, Bird and Frinjs all have Audi power units this year and it would be a real shame to see drivers of that calibre not able to make an impact at the front.
The other teams to watch for are Nissan and Jag. Both sitting in the exact same zone as last year where a good day for them (and bad for others) could score a win. Mitch Evans got his usual 4th place last time out and Buemi challenged at the front before slipping back. Not mentioned much was what they are calling Oli Rowlands debut (the whole world seems to have forgotten he did one race in 2015) as he clawed himself up the field to be just behind Buemi. I'm a big fan of Rowland and I really want to see him push Buemi this year.
So that's what to look out for at Marrakesh. Hoping for a great race. My predictions are never brilliant but I'm going to tip D'ambrosio for surprise win. The start of the season was a little tainted for me by the political controversy of the venue so glad the sport is now in North Africa where there is no controversy at all......oh....errmmmm. Well at least the race after is safe - I mean there has never been any dodgy politics in Chile.
Live on Red Button on BBC and available on catch up on iPlayer. Also on Eurosport and BT sports.
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Seriously though, what you wrote helps if you've never watched Formula E before and I did only ever watch part of the first ever race.
. massively helped out by the huge BMW cock up which I agree with Dario, I think it 50/50 between the both of them, why was sims trying such a risky move on your teammate of all people & why was da costa not letting him go he was in front & could he locked both wheels up. instead costed them both
