Home race hero Sebastien Buemi is 'confident' of ending his 29-race victory drought while the 'hardcore street circuit' leaves 'no room for error' as the drivers count down the hours until the 2019 Julius Baer Swiss E-Prix kicks off in Bern. Here's all you need to know ahead of the final race in Europe.
Buemi 'confident' despite victory drought
29 rounds of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship have passed since Nissan e.dams driver Sebastien Buemi last stood on top of the podium. But despite the drought, the former champ is still confident of a victory here in his home race in Bern.
"I'm feeling good - very confident. We had a good result in Berlin so hopefully, we can build on that," said the Swiss driver.
"We are just behind Envision Virgin Racing in the Championship, so it would be nice to put a few more points on them."
With the most wins out of all the drivers - 12 in total - Buemi is still the most successful driver in the series' history but, since his last win in Paris in 2017, the 30-year old's luck has all but dried up. Scoring his first podium finish of the 2018/19 season in Berlin was a welcome break from a significant spell of bad luck, but the Nissan driver has high hopes for his home race here in Bern.
"I hope this is the race we can make it to the top step of the podium - but it's going to be a challenge."
'Hardcore street circuit' is going to be a 'rollercoaster'
"It's mad - I think it's great!" says Envision Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird after the first time viewing the track here in Bern. "We saw a bit of up and down in Rome and Montreal but this is a lot more - the incline is very steep here.
With five year's experience in Formula E, Bird has competed in every race to date, encountering some of the closest, most competitive circuits in motorsport history.
"But it's not just the incline that's crazy - it's the change in tarmac, the camber of the road - stuff that you normally don't encounter in any other race series. It's crazy, it's fun - it's going to be a cool challenge."
Measuring in at 2.750km, the 14-turn track starts on Laubeggstrasse in the heart of Bern, before the drivers race anti-clockwise past the idyllic Rosengarten park, down to the world-famous Baerengraben. With a spectacular view of the river Aare and the World Unesco Heritage site of the old city centre of Bern, the track in Switzerland's capital city promises to be one of the most challenging circuits in Formula E history.
"With lots of character, surface and elevation changes, it's a real, hardcore street circuit," says Panasonic Jaguar Racing's Mitch Evans.
"The downhill section into Turn 3 and 4 is going to be tough. You come in with a lot of speed, so there's no room for error."
After securing his first victory in Formula E in Rome this season, the Jaguar frontman has shown he's more than capable of keeping pace with the front runners. Coming to the end of his third season in Formula E, the Kiwi driver could challenge for the Championship title in the near future.
"Most braking zones look quite difficult - that's going to be the scariest for us with the most consequences - I think it's going to be a complete rollercoaster but I'm looking forward to it."
Make or break in Bern ahead of Formula E finale
After the inaugural round in the ancient ruins of Rome, through to Paris, Monaco and Berlin – tomorrow, the voestalpine European races will come to a head in Bern in the for 2019 Julius Baer Swiss E-Prix on June 22. With 10 drivers in with a chance of lifting the hotly contested trophy, it's make or break in Bern as all 22 drivers look to built the maximum number of points ahead of the Championship decider in New York City (25 & 26 July). Will DS Techeetah's Jean-Eric Vergne manage his second consecutive title or will Formula E master Lucas di Grassi make history to become the most successful driver in the series'. It's all to play for in Bern.