Breaking news
Formula E
BMW upping Formula E support earlier than expected
BMW has increased its engineering involvement with the Andretti Formula E team earlier than expected to try and recover lost ground after a difficult 2016/17 season.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Oct 23, 2017, 1:50 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Andretti abandoned its ATEC-01 powertrain ahead of the 2015/16 season, and its first successful motor/gearbox/inverter package was only good enough to score points in five of the 12 races in 2016/17.
It announced a technical partnership with BMW before the start of that season, and the German manufacturer will make the FE entry a fully-fledged works programme in 2018/19.
BMW has upped its engineering support for the coming campaign, though it is still not offering powertrain assistance.
Motorsport.com understands more BMW engineers will be embedded in the race team as well, although it will still be predominantly Andretti staff.
"It was a really disappointing season last year, we can't hide that," BMW-contracted Andretti driver Antonio Felix da Costa told Motorsport.com.
"We want to get out of that position. But we have to be realistic. It wasn't an easy off-season if I'm honest, we had a few technical issues.
"There has been some big, big changes and massive help from BMW after that. I don't know why that was made but I'm really glad that happened.
"Looking at what we have now, and all the effort coming from BMW, earlier than what I was expecting, is nice."
Andretti did not begin private testing with its 2017/18 powertrain until August, after the previous season had finished.
It started 2016/17 with a double-points finish in Hong Kong, but faded as the season developed.
Da Costa said the assistance the team is receiving from BMW now would have been a significant advantage had they been testing-mid season, but it was "better to have them in late than never".
"We were nowhere near," he said. "I now know what Renault might have and what Audi is doing. I can tell you we were miles behind these guys in terms of software, driver aids, approaches to situations.
"I only know that now by speaking with new people and going testing."
Andretti has worked to try and solve da Costa's discomfort under braking that hurt him last season.
The 26-year-old believes the team will continue to make progress with BMW's help.
He said: "One of our guys looked at our braking [during testing] and said it's a mess – I said, 'I tell you it's already much, much better than what it was!'
"Making everything a lot more comfortable when you come to a city track just helps me as a driver massively – last year I felt like the fucking car wanted to put me in the wall.
"The delta to the quickest guys is probably the same but I believe we can get that reduced. It does take a lot of work, and a lot of software work, to make braking better, get more power, more efficiency, and make the car better for the driver."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Venturi picks Mortara to partner Engel in Formula E
Next article Prost: Renault was hurt by "extra pressure" from WEC clash
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Andretti Autosport
Kyle Kirkwood seals career-best IndyCar season with Laguna Seca runner-up
IndyCar
IndyCar
Laguna Seca
Kyle Kirkwood seals career-best IndyCar season with Laguna Seca runner-up
Will Power crashes hard in second IndyCar Markham practice
IndyCar
IndyCar
Markham
Will Power crashes hard in second IndyCar Markham practice
Marcus Ericsson will remain with Andretti for 2027 IndyCar season
IndyCar
IndyCar
Portland
Marcus Ericsson will remain with Andretti for 2027 IndyCar season
Latest news
Tony Stewart: violent Talladega Truck wreck "knocked the wind out of me"
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Talladega
25 min
Tony Stewart: violent Talladega Truck wreck "knocked the wind out of me"
Cleetus McFarland “pissed” after early Talladega NASCAR Truck crash
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Talladega
44 min
Cleetus McFarland “pissed” after early Talladega NASCAR Truck crash
F1 United States GP live commentary and updates - Leclerc on top in FP2
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
F1 United States GP live commentary and updates - Leclerc on top in FP2
Exploring Ferrari's 'less than a tenth' US GP update package
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Exploring Ferrari's 'less than a tenth' US GP update package
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe