Formula E – 2017 Mexico ePrix preview

Renault e.dams returns to action this weekend with round 4 of the 2016/17 FIA Formula E championship, which takes place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico.
Five weeks has passed since the Buenos Aires ePrix in which Buemi scored his third successive victory from three races. The two drivers return to the Mexican track with high hopes as they delivered a double podium for the team by finishing second and third there last year. This time they hope to finish on the top spot. After three successes in Hong Kong, Marrakesh and Buenos Aires, Renault e.dams tackles this ePrix with 111 points in the Teams’ standings thanks to Buemi and Prost, who respectively have 75 and 36 points in the Drivers’ standings.
Formula E will make its second visit to the heart of the Mexican capital on a circuit which is slightly different from the others as it is a permanent track and the one used by Formula 1.

Three questions to…

Alain Prost, co-owner of Renault e.dams gives us his impressions ahead of the race:

3 wins out of 3 races for Renault e.dams. What are your expectations for this weekend?
It is a special weekend because it’s a unique race track in Formula E. Mexico is indeed a track that is not really a street circuit. It’s on a permanent circuit that takes over part of the F1 circuit. We don’t have big doubts about that but we will approach the race in a different way. Buemi also arrives early on Saturday morning so there is more stress for us as a team and he as a driver. Our expectations are the same as what we have done so far, trying to make the best possible performance and scoring big points in the championship. We know that everything is working well at the moment but we have to make it happen again and again. We also know that the competition with ABT Shaeffler Audi Sport and Techeetah will intensify so we must continue to score points with our drivers.

What do you think are the challenges of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez? Are there many possibilities to overtake?
There will be some changes to the circuit with the modification of the first chicane, it is going to be a different, more traditional turn but we have not seen it yet. There will therefore be an area of considerable overtaking. Last year, it was not easy to overtake so it will bring a real opportunity. The particularity of this circuit is the fast part associated with the Stadium which is a slower but very spectacular part for the fans and the drivers. It is a track that should suit us because we like long tracks. So we are pretty confident.

The drivers are used to drive on street circuits. How do you manage the adaptation to a permanent track in Formula E?
The drivers have done tests and simulator sessions on this kind of track, so they know the circuit. The particularity will be perhaps the first modified turn, it will be wider and more spacious. But for the rest, most is done during the preparation from the simulator sessions and the rest will be done on Saturday during Free Practice. There are three chicanes, it will be necessary to manage the entry on the chicanes. We were good last year so it should not be very different. The track is maybe a bit wider with more walls, but it’s not that different from a street circuit. We look forward to the weekend.

Track Notes
Free Practice 1 – 08.00 – 08.45
Free Practice 2 – 10.30 – 11.00
Qualifying – 12.00 – 12.36
Super Pole – 12.45 – 13.00
Race Start – 16.00

17: Number of turns
2,093 (km): Track length
45: Number of laps during the race
111: Number of points for Renault e.dams, leading the Teams’ standings
50%: Since season 1 of the FIA Formula E championship, Renault e.dams has won 50% of the races

Do you remember – 2016 Mexico ePrix
2: Sebastien Buemi finished second last year
3: Nicolas Prost offered a double podium to the team by finishing third
+0.106: Gap between Buemi and the winner of the race, Jérôme d’Ambrosio
1:04.569: Best lap set by Prost