The 2019/20 Formula E season got off to a brilliant start, with a double header around the Riyadh Street Circuit. For the first time ever, all four of the major German manufacturers were on the same grid, helping making the most competitive grid in Motorsport, even more competitive.

Practise for race one was dominated by Envision Virgin Racing, with Practise One being topped by Robin Frijns, followed by GEOX Dragon driver, Nico Müller, then the second Envision Virgin Racing driver, Sam Bird. Practise Two was topped by Envision Virgin Racing driver, Sam Bird, followed by new DS Techeetah driver, Antonio Felix da Costa, and completing the top three was ROKiT Venturi driver, Edoardo Mortara.

The Envision Virgin Racing domination continued into qualifying with Sam Bird topping the group qualification. The Mercedes-Benz EQ drivers, Nyck De Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne completed the group qualification top three. After the grouped qualification, it was time for Super Pole, a one-lap shoot-out for pole postion being contested by the top six from grouped qualification.

BMW i Andretti driver, Alexander Sims claimed pole position, followed by the two Mercedes-Benz EQ drivers, in a different order this time, Stoffel Vandoorne then Nyck De Vries. Edoardo Mortara finished fourth in the ROKiT Venturi, Envision Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird fifth and Jerome D’Ambrosio in the Mahindra, in sixth.

In the actual ePrix itself, Envision Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird was the star of the show, completing many overtakes on his way to victory, and to add to his record of being the only driver to have one a race in every season of Formula E. The podium had a rather refreshing feel, and it was not from the structure itself. TAG Heuer Porsche driver, Andre Lotterer finished in second place, followed by Mercedes-Benz EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne in third.

Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams), Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing), Nyck De Vries (Mercedes-Benz EQ), Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi), Alexander Sims (BMW i Andretti) Jerome D’Ambrosio (Mahindra Racing) and Mitch Evans (Panasonic Jaguar) completed the top ten.

The point for the fastest lap was won by Daniel Abt (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler), but as he did not finish inside the top ten, retiring on lap 29 after crashing, the point for the fastest lap went to Mitch Evans (Panasonic Jaguar).

After the opening race of the season the standings were:

Drivers: Bird (26pts), Lotterer (18pts), Vandoorne (15pts).

Teams: Envision Virgin (36pts), Mercedes-Benz EQ (23pts), TAG Heuer Porsche (18pts).

Race Two had a completly different feel, with the track having alot more grip than it did the previous day. The single practise session for race two was topped by DS Techeetah’s Antonio Felix da Costa, followed by Sam Bird, Envision Virgin Racing and race one pole sitter, Alexander Sims, driving for BMW i Andretti.

Grouped qualifying was topped by Practise winner, Antonio Felix da Cost, DS Techeetah, followed by Nissan e.dams’ Sebastian Buemi, with Mahindra’s Jerome D’Ambrosio finishing in third. It was then the time for the Super Pole shoot-out.

Superpole was won by Race One pole sitter, Alexander Sims (BMW i Andretti) with Sebastian Buemi (Nissan e.dams) completing the front row. The second row was headed up by Lucas Di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler) alongside Jerome D’Ambrosio (Mahindra Racing). The third row consisted of group qualifying winner Antonio Felix da Cost (DS Techeetah), with Mitch Evans (Panasonic Jaguar) rounding out the Super Pole runners.

Race Two was won by another British driver, this time BMW i Andretti’s Alexander Sims, who lead from lights to flag. The final race result changed many times in the aftermath of the race. At the checkered flag, Max Guenther (BMW i Andretti) and Lucas Di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler) made up the podium alongside Sims. But in the final classification, it was Lucas Di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler) moved up to second and Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-Benz EQ) making up the podium. Max Guenther was handed a penalty for overtaking under safety car conditions, along with Mercedes-Benz EQ’s Nyck De Vries.

Mortara (ROKiT Venturi), Rowland (Nissan e.dams), Abt (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler), Calado (Panasonic Jaguar), Vergne (DS Techeetah), Hartley (GEOX Dragon) and da Costa (DS Techeetah) made up the remaing top ten positions.

The fastest lap point was won by tenth place, Antonio Felix da Costa (DS Techeetah) who was only promoted into the points due to the various penalties and disqualification that occurred.

After two races into the Formula E season the standings are as follows:

Drivers: Sims (36pts), Vandoorne (30pts), Bird (26pts).

Teams: Mercedes-Benz EQ (38pts), Envision Virgin Racing (36pts), BMW i Andretti (35pts).