Image: Sam Bloxham, courtesy of Formula E
After a long break, Formula E fans can rejoice as race week has finally arrived! Action returns to São Paulo after an unexpected six-week hiatus due to the cancellation of the Hyderabad E-Prix. All eyes will be on Jaguar TCS Racing, which had an impressive start to the 2024 season with three podiums, including a spectacular win in Saudi Arabia. Team star driver Nick Cassidy will seek to maintain his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. However, with fierce competition, there are several teams eager to shake up the title fight.
THE TRACK
São Paulo hosts Formula E for the second time, following its debut on the calendar last year. The Anhembi Sambadrome circuit, a variation of the former IndyCar layout, is 2.933km long and features 11 turns. The track is known for its thrilling sequences of chicanes, intertwined with three long straights that require strategic energy-saving maneuvers. Turn three is where drivers can activate Attack Mode.
SCHEDULE
Action kicks off on Friday with FP1, followed by FP2, qualifying, and the race on Saturday. Please note that all times mentioned below are in GMT.
03/15:
FP1: 19:25-20:15
03/16:
FP2: 10:25-11:15
Qualifying: 12:40-14:03
Race: 17:03-18:00
WEATHER
São Paulo is known for its unpredictable weather conditions, but initial forecasts suggest that race weekend will be slightly cloudy but dry. Temperatures are expected to reach around 33 degrees.
LAST YEAR
The previous race in São Paulo provided an intense finale, with Jaguar dominating the podium. Mitch Evans secured the victory, with Sam Bird, his teammate, securing third place and setting the fastest lap in the process. Nick Cassidy, currently part of Evans’ team, finished in second place, with the three drivers separated by just half a second.
NOTABLE NEWS
CHARLES’ MOVE TO PENSKE CONFIRMED
DS Penske officially announced the hiring of Phil Charles, formerly of Jaguar, as their Deputy Team Principal and Team President. Charles, a highly respected technical manager in Formula E, reunites with his former Toro Rosso F1 partner, Jean-Eric Vergne. This addition further strengthens Jay Penske’s team, which has already had a surprisingly competitive start to the season.
FE ENTERS THE GAMING WORLD
Formula E is venturing into the gaming world with its integration into the popular video game Asphalt 8: Airborne. From March 12 to 25, players will have access to a Gen2 FE car with a neutral “asphalt” livery and the São Paulo circuit. This collaboration marks the first of three Formula E events in the game, with circuits from the Berlin and Shanghai stages of the World Championship also available.
