Preview
Formula E Mexico ePrix
Renault e.dams preview for the inaugural Mexico ePrix
With Round 5 of the FIA Formula E Championship taking place this weekend (March 9) with the inaugural Mexico ePrix, Sebastien Buemi and Nico Prost talks about Formula E.
Edited: Mar 11, 2016, 6:18 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
What is the most difficult aspect of driving a Formula E car?
Sebastien: “Racing on a street circuit at high speeds with walls everywhere, and trying to overtake at the same time, is really tricky. Unlike a normal circuit that has been purpose-built, there is not a lot of grip on everyday roads so we must adapt. Plus every track in Formula E is completely new given that it is such a new championship.”
Nico: “Learning the street circuits is definitely a challenge although I honestly thought it would be much more difficult. Something that is quite unique to Formula E is the format of race day. In other series, you have much more time to adapt and react to any issues but, with practice, qualifying and the race in one day, you don’t have that time.”
What would be your dream circuit?
Sebastien: “Going back to Monaco and doing the full Formula 1 circuit would be awesome. Last season we got to do part of it but it would be great to go back.”
Nico: “I think racing around Times Square in New York would be pretty cool. Make it happen, Formula E!”
How important is the constant communication with your engineers during the race?
Sebastien: “Energy management is obviously one of the biggest challenges in Formula E so it is vital that we have that communication. Energy consumption and regeneration numbers are not transmitted via telemetry during sessions so we need to relay this information to the engineers. Then they can help us manage our strategy; how much battery we have, any loss of power regeneration towards the end of the race and temperature levels, especially given the high temperatures of the locations we go to with Formula E.”
Nico: “Information from our engineers means that we can adapt our driving style to the conditions and situation on track. It’s a constant balancing act for us as drivers between driving aggressively to win the race and driving conservatively to regen more energy.”
Mexico is a brand new track for you guys, so how do you prepare?
Nico: “The team and the guys at Renault will spend a lot of time working with us to perfect the car set-up before each race. The cars are always en route to the next location and testing is limited, so it’s important that we have that dialogue to keep on improving our performance. And of course we will spend a lot of time trying to learn the track.”
Sebastien: “Absolutely, and from our side we’re able to practice on the simulator and study the track layout that the FIA give us. It’s not quite the same as being on the track, of course, but gives us the opportunity to learn it.”
Mexico ePrix power facts
Track length: 2.092km
Number of corners: 18
Did you know? Mexico City’s Green Plan, introduced in 2007, emphasises local action, in particular, through initiatives such as the Hoy No Circula (Today Don't Drive) and Muevete en Bici (Get on your Bike) programmes.
Did you know? Alain Prost, our Renault e.dams Senior Team Manager, is one of only three drivers who have won the Mexican Grand Prix twice in Formula 1’s history at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Did you know? The city has a habit of setting unusual world records, including the most people kissing simultaneously (39,879), the most people dancing to Michael Jackson's “Thriller” at the same time (13,597) and the world's biggest enchilada (weighing nearly 1.5 tons).
Renault e.dams
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 Analysis: What will Formula E look like in 2018?
Next article Lucas di Grassi focus on podium sequence
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Sébastien Buemi
Sebastien Buemi questions WEC race control’s VSC/FCY calls
WEC
WEC
Fuji
Sebastien Buemi questions WEC race control’s VSC/FCY calls
Sebastien Buemi not ruling out Formula E comeback: “I don’t want to close any doors”
Formula E
Formula E
Sebastien Buemi not ruling out Formula E comeback: “I don’t want to close any doors”
More from
DAMS
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
Correa: F2 podium return “surreal” on Hubert anniversary
FIA F2
FIA F2
Barcelona
Correa: F2 podium return “surreal” on Hubert anniversary
Crawford joins DAMS for 2024 F2 season after Red Bull split
FIA F2
FIA F2
Abu Dhabi
Crawford joins DAMS for 2024 F2 season after Red Bull split
Latest news
MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez wins sprint to seize points lead, Jorge Martin crashes
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
7 min
MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez wins sprint to seize points lead, Jorge Martin crashes
NASCAR Truck Series championship down to two with two to go
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck 2 h
NASCAR Truck Series championship down to two with two to go
MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez recovers from crash to take pole at wet Phillip Island
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
3 h
MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez recovers from crash to take pole at wet Phillip Island
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