Monaco this weekend has a lot to live up to. Last year’s E-Prix was – to my mind – undoubtedly the best Formula E race of all time. Of course, ‘of all time’ in what is still a relatively new World Championship constitutes seven years, but I’d wager that it was also one of the best races the Principality has ever hosted.
I’ll admit to not being around for the F1 races where in 1950, almost the entire field was wiped out on the opening lap by an accident at Tabac, or Graham Hill’s dominance in the 1960s, or the 1982 race that seemingly no one wanted to win, or the nose to tail Senna v Mansell fight of 1992, or Olivier Panis’ remarkable victory in 1996, but the fact that I can name so many great occasions off the top of my head illustrates how illustrious Monaco’s history is.
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As a motor race, the 2021 Monaco E-Prix topped the lot. Dry conditions, no Safety Car periods, yet a strategically fascinating race that kept us all guessing until the very last lap who would win. If you watched it, you know who won, if you didn’t, check out the highlights here.
Vergne in the box seat
So what of this season? Well there are some great ingredients prepped. None of the top three in the championship have won a race this season, although all have finished second at a race. The top five in the standings are separated by just eleven points.
READ MORE: Vergne wants more despite taking standings lead in Rome
Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) leads the way, and won fairly convincingly in Formula E’s visit to Monaco in Season 5, but despite being at the top of the table, it’s been more than a year since the Parisian’s last victory. He turned 32 on Monday, and has celebrated by inviting some of his biggest fans to the race, and I imagine there’d be quite the party were he to be in the Royal Box come Saturday evening.
Frijns' chances
Robin Frijns (Envision Racing) is one of the most interesting drivers on the grid this season. He and Andre Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) are the only two drivers that have made it into the qualifying Duels in every race this season, and he is the only driver to have stood on the podium on three occasions.
There’s little to suggest that he has the fastest car in the field underneath him, but he’s always there, always getting solid results, without really looking like he will win. I am also fairly confident he won't read my musings, so I’m not too worried about the repercussions of writing that!
Stoff's Saturday?
Stoffel Vandoorne, though, is surely in the fastest car over one lap on the grid. The Mercedes-EQ has comfortably the strongest average qualifying performance in the field, with the team having taken three poles in five races, two of which came for Vandoorne. Mercedes’ problem, though, seems to be race pace.
Curiously, Vandoorne was happier with his pace on the Sunday in Rome when he finished fifth, than the Saturday when he finished third. It feels inevitable that he will win a race or two this season.
Formula E shows how racing's done around Monaco
Many were surprised about just how good the race last season was, but it’s actually quite logical. Formula E cars have very similar characteristics to the machines that originally raced round the historic harbour.
READ MORE: Street racing at its finest: Formula E in Monaco
Clearly, they are almost 100 years more technologically advanced, in principle the differentiating factors between the cars are motor efficiency, energy consumption, and mechanical grip, whether that’s from an electric power train or an internal combustion one. That’s what motor racing was until the late 1960s, before the introduction of aerodynamics, so it’s no surprise at all that these small, powerful EVs work on Monaco’s iconic bends the same way that small, powerful internal combustion engine vehicles did in the early 20th century.
IMAGE ID: /c447bc2723094312944429cdd2308881 We're going to ge a first look at Gen3 on Thursday
But enough about the past. Although in some ways Monaco is all about the past, with Formula E we must focus on the future, and the fight for the 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship titles - as well as the launch of the next technological leap for the series with the Gen3 unveil on Thursday.
There’s just one race this weekend, with everything all in one day, so hitting the ground running is going to be vitally important. Any ground won or lost here wont define the championship – in the way that Evans’ double win in Rome could – but the prestige of winning at the most iconic motor racing circuit in the world is a big enough prize to fight for.