The race for Formula E's first-ever FIA World Championship titles is heating up and the temperature is expected to rise as the all-electric series heads to Mexico for Rounds 8 and 9 of the 2020/21 season.
Mexico always delivers thrills, spills and spectacular action, and as Formula E gets set for it's sixth visit to this vibrant country the teams and drivers will face a new challenge as the series shifts from its usual surrounds in Mexico City to Puebla's Autodromo Miguel E.Abed.
READ MORE: What the drivers are expecting in Puebla
Here are some of the in-form runners from this season, to give help give you a head start with your line-up for the double-header this weekend.
For the win
The Autodromo Miguel E.Abed is unfamiliar territory for the field. The circuit will throw some new challenges for the drivers, amongst the 15 turns is an ATTACK MODE activation zone that resembles an extended "Joker Lap", and a banked oval before the run to the finish line.
One man who will be unfazed by a new track is Antonio Felix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH). The reigning champion will be riding on a high after claiming victory last time out in Formula E's first race around the full Monaco circuit, taking the legendary Monegasque streets in his stride. The Portuguese driver was also in the hunt for the win at the last race around a permanent circuit, coming close to victory at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.
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In the last visit to Mexico, Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) stunned the fans in the packed Foro Sol grandstand at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Rounds 8 & 9 see a return of fans, and the New Zealander will want to channel their energy to put on another commanding performance in Puebla.
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler has enjoyed a lot of success in Mexico. The German marque has three wins from Formula E's five visits to the country, with Lucas di Grassi picking up two of those. His last win was a demonstration of determination, taking the win in the run to the finish line.
IMAGE ID: /mexico-photo-finish-high-re IMAGE CAPTION: /Lucas di Grassi getting sideways in his Audi as he dashes to the finish line at the 2019 Mexico City E-Prix
Three to watch for the win in Puebla
Top qualifiers
Championship leader, Robin Frijns has picked up a solid batch of points just from qualifying alone this season. So far, the Envision Virgin Racing driver has topped the timesheets in two group sessions and has one Julius Baer Pole Position to this name. The flying Dutchman has no plans to relinquish his lead in the standings so expect more fast laps.
READ MORE: Frijns: 'We're leading now, but we need to be there at the end'
Da Costa is the only driver to pick up two pole starts in Season 7, mastering the tricky conditions in Round 5 at Valencia and then last time out in Monaco. The Portuguese driver looks to be picking up on that form that took him to his debut title last season.
Permanent race tracks appear to favour the BMW i Andretti Motorsport machine after a string of top times in pre-season testing at Valencia. At Round 6, Jake Dennis converted this to a blistering in-season performance by motoring to a debut pole in the dry at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Will the top rookie be the one to beat as Formula E gets set for more laps around a permanent circuit - though this is one that more closely resembles a street track, with close walls and a bumpy, uneven surface.
Three for the Julius Baer Pole Position
Fast laps
With the ultra competitive nature of Season 7 could very well see the title decided by a handful of points and each fastest lap will play its part in that final result.
With seven races completed there have been seven drivers to have claimed the TAG Heuer Fastest lap: Rene Rast, Nyck De Vries, Mitch Evans, Stoffel Vandoorne, Robin Frijns, Alex Lynn and Jean-Eric Vergne. Of these seven drivers, six of them feature in top eight of the Drivers' standings.
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With the highly competitive nature of Formula E, every single point this season will be vital. Mercedes-EQ's De Vries has had a season of ups and downs, and will be looking to pick up the pace to retake the lead from compatriot Frijns.
Heading into another double-header at a permanent track, it was Frijns and Lynn who blitzed the lap times in the race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Three potential picks for the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap
WILDCARDS
The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team have yet to score that elusive first win in Formula E. Both Pascal Wehrlein and Andre Lotterer have had rostrum finishes this season, but could Puebla be their best chance to stand on the top step?
One thing that works in favour for the German squad is that Puebla is brand new for every team and driver. There is no data advantage, and other than some familiarisation laps in the sim, Free Practice 1 will be the drivers first true sampling of the Mexican circuit.
In an unpredictable season, Jake Dennis' victory at Round 6 in Valencia ranks as one of the stand-out performances as well as one of the big surprises in 2020/21. The British rookie was cool and collected, heading off from pole to take a mature victory. Leading lights-to-flag for a win that nobody really thought was possible around Valencia.
Like Dennis, Mahindra Racing's Alex Lynn was another driver who impressed in the unfamiliar race territory the drivers faced in Valencia. The British driver was stalking the rear diffuser of his compatriot and if not for a shunt he could have taken more than a debut rostrum finish in Spain.
With all the drivers facing uncharted territory with a fresh track on the Season 7 calendar, unpredictability will rule supreme in Mexico.
Three outside bets to consider in Puebla