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The halfway stage of the 2016/17 Formula E season has been reached and this occasion is being marked with the first double header of the campaign.
Having two races held on successive days has the potential to make a significant change to the title fight in the drivers’ and teams’ championship.
There have been two double headers before – both at the London ePrix season finales at Battersea. Here is what we have learnt from that experience:
London Calling
The first ever Formula E double header took place in London at the end of Season 1 in 2015. Changeable weather during qualifying makes like-for-like comparison tricky, but of the 20 drivers, one (Jerome D’Ambrosio) started both races from the same spot, while a further five started the second race from within three places of their position for the former.
In the race, along with D’Ambrosio, Oliver Turvey also finished in the same position for both events, while again five drivers had finishing positions within three places of each other in both races.
The second double header concluded Season 2 and was again held in Battersea. This time there was no shower in either qualifying session to muddle the figures and Daniel Abt qualified sixth for both races. In addition 11 of the 18 drivers started the second race within three positions of where they started the first.
The second race was an eventful affair and there only 12 finishers. That meant aside from Nico Prost – who won both races – only Ma Qing Hua who was 11th in race one and 12th in race two, none of the other drivers had similar results from one race to the next.
Rolling records
Buemi’s win in Paris raised his record tally to 11, he also increased his record number of poles to eight and carried on his amazing run of races in which he has scored points to 21.
Di Grassi’s first DNF of the season means that only Buemi and his team-mate Nico Prost have scored points in every race this season.
Renault e.dams has not only scored points in every race this season, it has scored points in every race ever. The only other team to have scored points in every race this season is NextEV NIO.
Paris landmarks
Buemi’s advantage of just 0.006s over Jean-Eric Vergne in qualifying was the closest in Formula E history.
At 59m41s, the Qatar Paris ePrix was the longest ever Formula E race, surpassing the record set during race two at Battersea in Season 2.
Jose Maria Lopez scored his first podium finish in Paris. He is the 18th different driver to stand on a Formula E podium.
Formula E podium finishers
1. Lucas di Grassi – 17
2. Sebastien Buemi – 16
3. Sam Bird – 7
4= Jerome D’Ambrosio – 6
4= Jean-Eric Vergne – 6
6= Nelson Piquet Jr – 5
6= Nico Prost – 5
6= Nick Heidfeld – 5
9. Daniel Abt – 4
10. Loic Duval – 2
11= Franck Montagny – 1
11= Antonio Felix da Costa – 1
11= Scott Speed – 1
11= Robin Frijns – 1
11= Stephane Sarrazin – 1
11= Bruno Senna – 1
11= Felix Rosenqvist – 1
11= Jose Maria Lopez – 1
Tom Dillmann made his Formula E debut and scored four points for eighth place. He’s the 11th different driver to score on his debut (excluding all the drivers who scored in the inaugural race).
Esteban Gutierrez made Super Pole for the first time in his Formula E career, starting from a new best of fourth on the grid.
Berlin bests
The first Berlin ePrix was the scene of the Trulli team’s – and Jarno Trulli’s – first and only pole position.
The second Trulli driver – Vitantonio Liuzzi – equaled his career best starting position (11th) and scored his best race finish (ninth).
The race marked Charles Pic’s last appearance in Formula E.
After Lucas di Grassi’s disqualification, Jerome D’Ambrosio scored his and Dragon Racing first Formula E win. It was also the first top-three finish for his team-mate Loic Duval.
At the second Berlin ePrix, Rene Rast made his first – and so far only – Formula E start.
Daniel Abt scored his best Formula E result to date (second).
Mike Conway recorded his best Formula E finish in eighth.
Simona de Silvestro equaled her career best finish with ninth.