Duval targets early points before year-two tech catches up

Duval will partner Jerome D'Ambrosio once again in the Jay Penske-fronted team, which claimed the runner-up position in last year's teams' standings.

"The main thing will be to score some big points because we are confident we have as reliable a package as anyone who is running new technology," Duval told Motorsport.com.

"Maybe some other guys have more performance but not quite the reliability yet, so we know we have to score big points as early as possible.

"I haven't had a lot of laps with 200kW because I joined halfway through last year and each weekend then you only did two laps with that power," continued the Frenchman.

"It has hard to describe just how different the car behaves with this power. The braking is different; you have to adjust a lot of things, so it is a struggle to catch up when you come in.

"You know, we did a massive improvement for the last race in London, really a big step on set-up and balance of the car.

"We have found a lot and it didn't really show at Donington because it is a road track and nothing like we use in the championship."

Duval, who only started his Formula E campaign at the fifth round in Miami last season, will be experiencing the Beijing track for the first time this weekend, but is unconcerned about his lack of experience there.

"I've had a full day of Sim work in the UK and the track is modified, not that it will make much difference to me as I was not there in 2014, but this does not concern me too much because I have always been quick in learning new tracks. It actually looks like one of the easier tracks to learn."

New qualifying format not popular

Duval echoed the thoughts and concerns of Sebastien Buemi in relation to the new season two qualifying procedure in Formula E.

The new qualifying procedure will give drivers only one lap in the group sessions, as opposed to the two for which they had the energy previously.

"It will be tricky; I think the new regulation for qualifying does not come from us for sure! We all agree that it is not enough especially the map you use and the map you only have for one lap," said Duval.

"The traffic and any incidents will be tough. You need two laps available from a driver's perspective. Qualifying on a street track if very important, it is never easy.

"So to have just a single lap, well, it's not ideal and all the drivers I have spoken to say the same and are not happy with it. It will not be popular for us."