The ABB FIA Formula E Championship is soon to embark on its tenth year and the excitement levels are off the charts. The second season of the GEN3 car promises to be a fascinating battle across the grid, with 22 of motorsport’s best drivers ready to be crowned the next World Champion.
Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo was once again host to Formula E’s official pre-season testing. Over the days all 22 drivers and 11 teams had a chance to tally up miles in their GEN3 machinery, making for a combined total of 4,960 laps and a distance of 16,745km. But what lessons can we learn from testing for Mexico City. Here are just a few...
Who are the teams to beat? All eyes are on Jaguar TCS Racing
Once the days of testing had concluded, there was one team who found themselves leading one-two: Jaguar TCS Racing. The British squad, made up of new driver pairing Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy, looked very strong after the test. Evans, who has been a part of the Jaguar team since they made their debut in Season 3, was the fastest of the test clocking in a lap time of 1m24.474s. However, his experienced teammate, Cassidy, was not far behind, setting a lap time of 1m24.617s as he got familiar with his new machinery.
The duo of Evans and Cassidy at Jaguar, both born in New Zealand, have got people very invested in how their year will play out. Cassidy finished last season second in the Drivers’ World Championship when representing Envision Racing, with Evans just two points behind in third. There’s no denying that this team is packed with potential, and it will be fascinating to see how things kick off in Mexico City with two of the best drivers Formula E has ever seen as teammates.
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Across the 22 driver grid, there was less than a second separating all of them at the pre-season test. From Evans who was quickest to ERT’s Dan Ticktum who finished the test in 22nd with a time of 1m25.355s, there’s not much separating the group at all. Last season we saw seven different winners representing six different teams, with only TAG Heuer Porsche able count both their drivers as winners in Season 9.
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During 2023, 11 drivers also made it to the podium with 19 drivers leading a lap! If the timesheets from testing show us anything, it’s that we can expect similar levels of competition as we go into the tenth season of the all-electric championship. We can’t wait!
What did we learn from the simulated race at testing?
Over the last few years at pre-season testing, all the grid have taken part in a simulated race. There are no points or prizes on offer, but it is a unique look into how we might see the season unfold. For this season's addition, the 27-lap race simulation gave teams and drivers the ability to test a full race program including the first run-throughs for fast-charging pitstops, as well as caution and Safety Car periods.
Envision’s latest signing Robin Frijns, who rejoins the team after a year with ABT CUPRA, led the pack over the finish line. The two-time Formula E race winner overtook Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa in the final few laps. Evans also passed Season 6 champ da Costa to finish in second.
Occurring on the Friday morning, Evans started from the front of the group with reigning champion Jake Dennis (Andretti) making his way into first once racing got underway. Norman Nato, who has signed with the American Andretti squad for the new season, also managed to push his way into second behind Dennis before both drivers made costly errors when taking their ATTACK MODE later on in the simulation.
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However, it was Frijns, who was one of the last to make their mandatory stop, that ended up crossing the chequered flag first.
Our first look at the Season 10 driver line-ups: Who moved teams and who stayed put
Ahead of the first race in Mexico City, most of the teams on the grid have different driver line-ups. The only teams to keep their same pairings as they had in Season 9 are Porsche, DS PENSKE and ERT Formula E who were formally NIO. Everywhere else things have had a big shake up.
Testing was the first chance for us to get a glimpse of the new driver duos, as some of the pilots were settling into their new teams. Cassidy was the best of the rest, slotting into second with Jaguar with Edoardo Mortara putting his Mahindra Racing into sixth. Frijns looked comfortable in his Envision, finishing the test in seventh as well as picking up the victory in the simulated race.
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Norman Nato managed to set a quicker time than Season 9 champion Dennis in his new Andretti, with Oliver Rowland also looking rapid for his return to Nissan. Sam Bird’s time at NEOM McLaren is another story which will be followed closely, with the Brit ending pre-season testing 14th with a time of 1m24.946s. Maserati MSG Racing also is the only team on the grid to have a rookie, welcoming Jehan Daruvala to the Formula E family. The Indian driver finished testing with an impressive time of 1m24.992s.
However, one of the biggest talking points going into Mexico City is the return of Nyck de Vries. The Season 8 champ departed the all-electric championship for some time in Formula 1, but is now making a return to the series he called home for so long. Since his time in Formula E, a lot has changed including a whole new car! The third generation – known as GEN3 – is the most efficient formula racing car ever, as well as being faster and lighter than its predecessors.
De Vries will have had time to familiarise himself with the car, both at pre-season testing and some private tests. However, there will always be more to learn. During the Valencia test, in which Nyck had limited running, he was able to set a time of 1m25.118s and put himself 18th on the board. Last season, Mahindra achieved a shock Julius Baer Pole Position in Mexico City with Lucas di Grassi as well as their only podium finish of the season. Can their successes be repeated this time around? Best tune in and see!