Formula E: Monaco ePrix Preview

May 9, 2019 May 9, 2019

After a chaotic Paris ePrix two weeks ago with the first ever wet Formula E race, the series returns to action at one of motorsports most iconic venues, Monte Carlo.

This will be the third running of the Monte Carlo e-Prix after the race’s debut in 2015. Unlike Formula 1, Formula E only turns up to the principality every two years, so each appearance has a bit more of a special feel to it. That said, even with the nature of Formula E races, Monte Carlo will still provide a stern challenge to create overtaking opportunities for drivers trying to fight their way back up the field.

With 5 races remaining in season 5 we are still awaiting a breakaway group to form in the hunt for the Championship. With the usual race winning contenders all shuffling their way up standings, we could finally be in a position to see the top guys getting more chances to big points.

Buemi Stand-Out Favourite

If you had told me at the start of season 5 that after 8 races, we would have 8 different winners but Sebastian Buemi wasn’t one of them, I would have laughed in your face. However, that is exactly what has happened so far this season.

Now Buemi isn’t totally at fault for this as he has been in race winning positions on more than one occasion this season only to be scuppered by an unreliable car. You only have to cast your mind back to Paris to remember that he was leading before a fault with his Nissan saw him slow and relinquish the lead to Robert Frijns.

Another car issue in the Santiago e-Prix put him into the wall while leading from Envision Racing’s Sam Bird and ultimately out of the race. These issues combined with a seeming lack of race pace from the car means the former Champion sits only 13^th in the Championship, behind teammate Oliver Rowland.

But the Monte Carlo e-Prix presents his best opportunity yet to right the wrongs of this torrid season.

In the two previous running’s of the race, the Swiss man has won both times from Pole Position, both times holding off the Audi of Lucas Di Grassi.

This time he has a substantial advantage over all his main rivals because of his Championship position. Buemi will run in Group 3 of qualifying on a track that should be considerably more rubbered in than it will be for the top guys in the standings who will run in Groups 1 & 2. Even without this advantage you would fancy Sebastian to pop his Nissan on pole given his past successes.

Should his car avoid any little niggles or failures, or simply stay away from the Envision Virgin cars, then we could very well see a 9^th different winner from 9 races.

Can Massa Finally deliver in Venturi’s Home Race?

There was a large amount of hype surrounding Felipe Massa, arguably the biggest named driver to ever join Formula E, when it was announced that the Brazilian would be racing for the Venturi outfit in season 5. 8 races in however and we have been left a little underwhelmed.

The Venturi car has pace. It’s not maybe on terms with the quickest cars out on the grid but it’s right up behind them. Eduardo Mortara has registered a win this season in Hong Kong which, controversial or not, was a fantastic achievement for the team who had never previously won a Formula E race. And we regularly see the blue and silver cars pestering the podium positions during a race but more often then not they drop off when the pace picks up.

Credit: Steven Tee / LAT Images / FIA Formula E

Massa in particular has been guilty of dropping of massively towards the end of races either through lack of pace or by making unnecessary mistakes. His best result this season being a P5 in Hong Kong.

However, this weekend offers Massa a great chance to use his 14 years of Formula 1 experience to the absolute max. He should know the Monte Carlo track (shorter version or not) better than any of his rivals. Having raced around Monaco in each of his years of Formula 1, Massa has no excuses this weekend should he fail to deliver a strong result for the Venturi team. He also has the lovely advantage of being in Group 3 of qualifying alongside Sebastian Buemi.

Will We Finally See a Repeat Winner?

This is a question that may get repeated right up until the end of the season.

We have had 8 different winners in 8 races this season. Let that sink in for just a moment. Not long ago I was writing about how phenomenal it was that we had 7 from 7 and now we are faced with the very real prospect of 9 from 9 this weekend.

Bar potentially Mortara’s win in Hong Kong, it is hard to argue that the guys who have crossed the line to take the chequered flag at each of the first 8 races have not deserved it. Antonio Felix Da Costa, Jerome d’Ambrosio, Sam Bird, Lucas Di Grassi, Jean-Eric Vergne, Mitch Evans and Robert Frijns all looked lightning quick on their day. Yes all of them have benefitted from this years qualifying format but the likes of Vergne, Di Grassi, Da Costa and Bird have had chances to take multiple victories this season but have been thwarted by a rival.

That said the championship does seem to be simmering the slower guys down to the bottom of the standings and it’s hard to see a NIO or a HWA on the top-step of the podium this season even with an advantage in qualifying.

So, does this mean we could finally be looking at the chance of our first repeat winner? If so, who will it be?