PREDICTOR: Who to watch out for in Diriyah

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PREDICTOR: Who to watch out for in Diriyah

PREDICTOR: Who to watch out for in Diriyah

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship kicks off with two races in Diriyah, that also means the return of Formula E Predictor. With even bigger prizes up for grabs, including a full VIP experience, here's a selection of key drivers to keep an eye on in Diriyah.

The Diriyah double-header sees 24 world class all-electric stars racing under the lights for the first time in Formula E's history, but what drivers are going to shine under the spotlights for the first two rounds of Formula E Predictor?

From Formula E's first three races in Diriyah, two of the wins came from Julius Baer Pole Position, with both of those victories in the hands of BMW-powered drivers - something to consider when making your selections for the winner of the E-Prix and who will grab pole.

Let's look back at the last three races from the historic Arabian city, and see the past winners, the pole-sitters, the quickest drivers and some wildcard choices.

 

Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing)

After flying to the Julius Baer Pole Position award in both races last season (we'll expand on that further later) Alexander Sims was victorious at the second time of asking in the BMW i Andretti Motorsport machine, taking his maiden victory in process.

The Brit led from the start and was unchallenged, crossing the line at the end of the race with a comfortable lead of nearly three seconds.

Sims joined Mahindra Racing ahead of 2020/21, bringing his analytical race craft to Dilbagh Gill's racing family. The Indian manufacturer has had podium success in Diriyah with Jerome D'Ambrosio's third-place finish for the team in 2018.

Sam Bird (Jaguar Racing)

Sam Bird is the only driver on the grid who can say he has won a race in every season of the Formula E.

Bird kick-started his winning ways back in the inaugural season at Putrajaya in Malaysia and his latest came at the opening round in Diriyah in 2019, stealing the headlines in his Audi-powered Envision Virgin Racing machine, when all eyes were on the arrival of Mercedes-EQ and Porsche to the series.

All of the Brit's nine Formula E victories have come in the cockpit of a Virgin all-electric racer, now Bird finds himself part of a thoroughbred factory outfit after joining Jaguar Racing at the conclusion of Season 6. In the opening rounds last season, the Jaguar looked like one of the strongest packages on the grid; can Bird continue his winning credentials with the iconic British team?

Antonio Felix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH)

Antonio Felix da Costa narrowly clung on to victory in the first Diriyah E-Prix, the Portuguese driver fended off a fast-charging Jean-Eric Vergne in the closing laps to deliver BMW their maiden win in Formula E.

Da Costa looked comfortable out in the lead back in Season 5 and after an unassuming race in Diriyah in 2019, he picked up this form again with DS TECHEETAH with his dominant wins that season. 

Now the defending champions, Da Costa and DS TECHEETAH head into Formula E 2020/21's opening rounds looking strong and confident with the same race-winning package that took them to Drivers' and Teams' titles.

 

Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing)

Last time out in Diriyah, Alexander Sims stormed to both Julius Baer Pole Positions in the opening rounds. The Brit became the first driver in Formula E's history to claim three consecutive poles, after taking the front row spot in the final race of Season 5 in New York City.

Quiet off the track, as soon as the visor comes down Sims is often a totally different character, ruthlessly blitzing the 21 turns that make up the 2.495km street circuit in dramatic fashion, even a memorable slide coming out of the final turn didn't slow him down

Antonio Felix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH)

Antonio Felix da Costa immediately showed the strength of the BMW powertrain by firmly planting the blue and white roundel at the head of the pack in Formula E's first visit to Diriyah. Da Costa may have struggled somewhat in his first races with DS TECHEETAH last season, but the reigning champ topped the qualifying groups to get himself into Super Pole in 2019.

As highlighted by both the Portuguese and Sims' wins here, history shows that if a driver can get a clean jump from pole there is a good chance they will be the first to take the chequered flag at the end of 45 minutes plus one lap.

Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ)

As the aforementioned drivers are the only two to take P1 in qualifying here, Stoffel Vandoorne is included as one to watch in Diriyah. The Belgian was second on the grid in the opening round of 2019/20 and went on to take Mercedes-EQ's maiden podium in their first outing.

It is Vandoorne's performance from the final round in Berlin that is also worthy of note. Demonstrating a command that Mercedes has shown in other motorsport series, the Belgian ace took pole and stormed off the line to take a comfortable debut win, and sending a clear message to his rivals as the pack head towards Formula E's first-ever FIA World Championship season.

 

Antonio Felix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH)

A win, a pole and the fastest lap, the reigning champ really does go well around Diriyah. Da Costa's fastest lap around the Diriyah street circuit came in the second race of last season's double-header.

Despite not lighting up the standings at the conclusion of the opening two rounds, this fastest lap nod gave just a small hint of what was to follow, and what would eventually lead the Portuguese driver to his first Formula E title.

Andre Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team)

Andre Lotterer took the fastest lap bonus point on his way to fifth position in Formula E's first visit to the historic streets of Diriyah in 2018.

The circuit is a favourite of the German's, not only did he clock the quickest lap in the inaugural Diriyah E-Prix, in the first round of Season 6 he immediately opened TAG Heuer Porsche's podium account in Formula E with an impressive second place finish in their very first race.

Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing)

Mitch Evans' fastest lap point may have come from just breaking into tenth place in the opening race last season, but the Jaguar Racing man came through the field from 16th in qualifying and was one of only three drivers to drop into a 1:13s lap around the tricky sandy conditions that beset the fresh asphalt.

It was points on the board, but more importantly Evans demonstrated the pace in the I-TYPE 4's powertrain. Jaguar may have dropped away from the early race form they showed in Season 6, but the Kiwi's drive to victory in Mexico City and his run through the pack from the back of the grid in Marrakesh shows what they are capable of.

 

Maximilian Guenther (BMW i Andretti Motorsport)

As demonstrated by two former BMW pilots, the blue and white machines perform well around the Diriyah street circuit, with two wins from three at this historic locale. Formula E's youngest race winner, Maximilian Guenther, will be hoping for a similar fortune this week.

Guenther comes into the 2021 Diriyah E-Prix with a score to settle after the German was denied second-place after passing under the BMW i Safety Car last season.

Still one of the youngest drivers of the grid, the 23-year-old will be a strong contender in Diriyah. Looking back at his results from last season all of his point scoring finishes came from podium places, if he can match that with some consistency, Guenther will be a force to be reckoned with.

Rene Rast (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler)

A thinker's pick for the new Predictor category of Highest Grid Climber, Rene Rast immediately impressed when called up as a substitute driver for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in the six-race season finale in Berlin.

The DTM legend was quick to make an impression on his more experienced competitors. The German was unafraid to get his elbows out, putting in some strong passes, including roughing up Andre Lotterer - Formula E's usual go-to hard man - to take his debut podium after just five races in the Audi.

Nick Cassidy (Envision Virgin Racing)

Rookie Nick Cassidy comes into all-electric racing under the radar, but with the promise of plenty of pace. The new Envision Virgin Racing recruit is likely the most famous driver you've never heard of, though the more hardcore motorsport fans will be aware of his title success in both Super Formula and Super GT in Japan.

The Kiwi driver is definitely one to consider in Diriyah, he broke the Formula E lap record around the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan in the Marrakesh Rookie Test, but also as he's never raced in the championship before he will benefit from a grippy circuit by going out in the final qualifying group.

With some big shoes to fill at Virgin, there's more than a hint that Cassidy is the right man for the job.