And we go green……almost!

It is nearly time for the return of the world’s most electrifying single-seater competition, Formula E. After what seemed to be a low key start to the series, last season the series took off and exceed many peoples expectations. It has gone from a series for people that cant get a Formula One race seat, to a series in which people are choosing the race, such as current Formula Two champion, Nyck De Vries.

The season kicks of in Saudi Arabia, at the Riyadh Street Circuit for the Diriyah ePrix. This first event is a double header with racing taking place on Friday 22nd November and Saturday 23rd November 2019. The street circus then takes a short break until January, returning with the Santiago ePrix on January 18th 2020, followed by the Mexico City ePrix on the 15th February 2020. As 2020 is a leap year, Formula E will mark this significant date with a the Marrakesh ePrix, on the 29th of February incase you needed to be reminded. The Sanya ePrix on the 21st March follows the race in Morocco. The series then takes a trip to Europe, with races in Rome (4th April) and Paris (18th April). The Seoul ePrix on 3rd May is followed by the first ever Jakarta ePrix, held on 6th June 2020. As the season comes to a close, a trip to Berlin on 21st June is followed by the New York ePrix, now a single race event, held on 11th July. The season ends with the return of the London ePrix, a double header, and the first partly indoor race, held on July 25th & 26th.

The 2019/20 Formula E season also sees the addition of a new team, TAG Heuer Porsche, as well as the rebranding of HWA into the Mercdedes-Benz EQ Formula E team. They will be joined by current Formula E champions, DS Techeetah, Envison Virgin Racing, NIO 333, GEOX Dragon, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, Venturi Racing, Panasonic Jaguar Racing, Nissan e.dams. BMW i Andretti and Mahindra Racing.

DS Techeetah

The current champions will be looking to retain the title this upcoming season. However, there has been a change in the driver line-up. Reigning Driver’s World Champion, Jean Eric-Gergne retains his seat, but will be partnered by former BMW i Andretti driver, António Félix da Costa. They will use DS Automobiles powertrains for the second season running, after switching from Renault powertrains in 2018. They scored 222 points last season, winning the championship, although noteably this points tally is lower than when they finished runners-up in the 2017-18 championship, scoring 262 points.

This season I predict another successful season for the team, but maybe just falling short. Keeping hold of the only two-time World Champion on the grid helps with the experience side of the team, with da Costa providing the team with some freshness, as well as being a previous race winner and being in title contention for much of last season, finishing in sixth place.

Predicted Finish: 2nd

Envision Virgin Racing

After switching to Audi powertrains for last season, the Envision Virgin Racing team will be hoping to progress further and be in title contention this time around. Keeping their 2019-19 line-up of Sam Bird and Robin Frijns, this consistency might just pay dividends for the team. Last season they finished a solid third place in the Team’s Championship, picking up 191 points, six podiums and three race wins along the way.

This season I predict a strong season for the British team. Sam Bird will be wanting his World title after winning a race in every season of Formula E so far. Frijns outscored his team-mate last season, finishing in 4th, with Bird 8th. This partnership works for the team and with both drivers having the ability to not only get onto the podium, but they both have shown they can win a race too.

Predicted Finish: 1st

NIO 333

This should be on paper another difficult year for the NIO team. This season they will be using the power train that was used by GEOX Dragon last season. This means that they will be at least a year behind on development which can only lead to the team fighting at the back-end of the grid. The NIO team only picked up seven points last season, but with a change in ownership and in the driver line-up, with Ma Qinghua returining to Formula E to race alongside Oliver Turvey.

I predict this team to really struggle this season, given that GEOX Dragon did not have a competitive power train last season, NIO will be further behind that they should be. The only way that I can see NIO manage to get solid points this season is if they manage to get into super pole and the race is massively disrupted through yellow flags and safety cars.

Predicted Finish: 12th

Mercedes-Benz EQ

Formula One’s current most dominate team are going electric and this is one team that will hope to get people talking. After a trail year with HWA racelab, the team have decided to enter full-time with a full works team. Former McLaren F1 driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, who won the fan boost award for every race last season, retains his seat. He will be joined by most of the most exciting young drivers in motorsport, current Formula Two World Champion, Nyck de Vries.

The HWA team finished third last season, however the pace of the car was competitive at times and many mechanical issues caused both cars to finish the race only six times, with a podium in Rome being the highlight. I predict that the Mercedes team will be strong, but not title winning material just yet, they will need time to settle in.

Predicted Finish: 3rd

GEOX Dragon

A brand new driver line-up featuring former F1 driver & two-time World Endurance Champion, Brendon Hartley, and 2019 DTM runner-up, Nico Müller, will hope to provide the GEOX Dragon team with a fresh start. This new partnership is exciting for the team, but it may cause a few problems, particularly with neither of them having taken part in a Formula E race before.

I predict a better season for the GEOX Dragon team, although with new entrants it will be hard for them to be fighting at the sharp-end of the grid. I do however expect them to do well in qualifying and pick up at least one pole position, but their race pace might be an issue.

Predicted Finish: 9th

Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler

Audi continue with the same driver line-up that they have had since the inaugural season of Formula E. Lucas Di Grassi and Daniel Abt will be hoping that they can put together a title fight, and with the Audi power train that is quite possible.

This season I predict Audi to be competitive, but with Mercedes entering and other teams looking strong in testing, this could be a challenging season for the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team. I do expect them to be standing on not only the podium, but the top step of it on a few occasions but with temperamental drivers, this may cause an issue.

Predicted Finish: 4th

TAG Heuer Porsche

An new entrant into the series for 2019/20, they will be hoping to start things off in a positive manner. Part of last season’s title winning DS Techeetah team, André Lotterer, has joined the new set up alongside, Neel Jani, 2016 24 hours of Le Mans winner, who has competed in two Formula E races before, back in 2014 for Faraday Future Dragon Racing.

There isn’t much that my prediction can be based on, but I do believe that Porsche will have a strong car for this season, they would not have entered without knowing the level they should be at.

Predicted Finish: 7th

ROKiT Venturi Racing

An exciting line-up that has been retained for tbe upcoming season. F1 legend Felipe Massa and Edoardo Mortara along with Team Principal, Susie Wolff, provide what is an excellent team, with just the car lacking.

I expect better things from Venturi this season, after finishing 8th last season. However, I do believe that they will finish lower than that this season due to the other teams entering the series. I do expect them to do well in Qualifying and in some races, but they didnt have the Wow factor last season as I expected them to and I predict they will struggle this season.

Predicted Finish: 11th

Panasonic Jaguar Racing

There has been one change in the driver line-up for Panasonic Jaguar this season, James Calado will join Mitch Evans. Calado raced in the 2019 34 Hours of Le Mans, winning the LMGTE Pro Class, while Evans finished 5th last season in Formula E.

I believe that this season might be a struggle for the Panasonic Jaguar team. Mitch Evans is a very talented driver and will win the odd race. I do believe that James Calado will take time to adapt, and with the car not being super competitive over the previous seasons, and with other teams entering, I think that this team may struggle.

Predicted Finish: 10th

Nissan e.dams

Another retained line-up for next season, this time for the Nissan e.dams team. Sebastian Buemi and Oliver Rowland will be hoping to be more competitive this season after what can only be described as an error prone campaign for the team last time around.

I predict that the Nissan e.dams team will be in title contention, but due to their being such a strong field, they will struggle to maintain a spot at the top of the standings. Last season also highlighted strategic errors something that may occur again this season.

Predicted Finish: 6th

BMW i Andretti Motorsport

The surprise package last season, retained driver. Alexander Sims, alongside former GEOX Dragon racer, Maxi Güenther, will be hoping to start the season of in the form the team did last time around, winning the opening race.

I expect this team to be strong this season, Sims is an experience driver, while Güenther has experience in Formula E and will be wanting to impress. I do expect them to be winning races, but with other teams expected to make progress, I do not know how far this team can develop.

Predicted Finish: 5th

Mahindra Racing

The sport’s most flamboyant team, Mahindra Racing with their line-up of Jérôme d’Ambrosio and Pascal Wehrlein, will be hoping to light-up the front end of the grid this season.

Despite the strong retained driver line-up, I do predict them to struggle. The car did not look overly competitive last season, and with the laid back appearance from the team, this season might just be the wake up call that they need.

Predicted Finish: 8th