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Formula E is heading to Hyderabad this weekend as Pascal Wehrlein and Jake Dennis lead the title race with Porsche powertrains.
The Porsche powertrain has so far proved to be the strongest. But as the teams head to Hyderabad, no one knows how this new track will react to the Gen3 cars.
Mahindra are hopeful of a podium after Lucas Di Grassi started the season on pole in Mexico. They will be facing tough competition as Pascal Wehrlein and Jake Dennis displayed a dominant racing masterclass in the first three rounds.
Meanwhile, there is also McLaren’s Jake Hughes who has rocked the grid. In Diriyah, the Brit earned pole in Round 3 and is just a few seconds away from making it to the podium. Being one of the most inexperienced drivers on the grid compared to other drivers who’ve been in Formula E longer, he is proving to be one of the best.
Mahindra’s first home race
Indian outlet Mahindra will be making Formula E history with their inaugural home race. Lucas Di Grassi heads to India with nine podiums in Asia and seeks to make it 10. So far this season, he already put Mahindra on the podium in Mexico when he finished third.
The Brazilian emphasises on the importance of earning points this weekend, especially at home. He said: “It is important for us to have a good race in India – not only for the fans but for the championship as well. It’s a new track for us, as it is for everyone up and down the grid. It needs to be a good weekend for us.
“We are going to try very hard and push to the limit to get the best out of the car. We can’t wait to see all the Indian fans out in force to support us and we want to give them a good show.”
After a difficult double-round weekend in Diriyah, Oliver Rowland would love to show better performances and earn a good amount of points. The Brit has yet to earn a point this season and hopes to give the Indian fans something to celebrate on Saturday.
He said: “Heading into Hyderabad we know where we need to improve following a difficult weekend in Diriyah. Having the home fans behind us will add to the motivation we have racing on the team’s home ground. We know they will be fully behind us and supporting us, which will give us the extra push to perform well.”
Porsche lead the championship
Porsche started the season on a massive high thanks to Pascal Wehrlein. The German finished second in Mexico and then went on to win both races in Diriyah. One can call it a “perfect start” to the season, but will it go on in Hyderabad?
Wehrlein said: “First of all, it was crucial for us to put in a similarly strong performance on two completely different tracks. We’ve already done quite well in Mexico in the past, and the fact that we were able to confirm this in Diriyah is a huge relief for the team.
“That makes us optimistic for the future. Of course, we still have to find the optimum setup on every track, but the fact that our car ran so well in the first few races is sensational. I’m really looking forward to Hyderabad. I’ve never been to India. We’ll work hard to be successful there, as well.”
Just like every other team, Porsche is going into the unknown in India. While Wehrlein is leading the championship with 68 points, his teammate Antonio Felix da Costa is down in twelfth with six points.
The Formula E World Champion will be racing his 100th race this weekend, joining other legends such as Di Grassi, Sebastian Buemi, Jean-Eric Vergne and Sam Bird. The Portuguese is working “very hard” with his engineers “to understand what steps we need to take next to ensure success in Hyderabad.”
He added: “India is a new country for me. I don’t think we should limit ourselves to just getting people excited about motor racing. We should also be raising awareness for sustainability and values like inclusion and diversity among the people who come to the racetrack.”
This will be a special weekend for Da Costa, as he said: “100 races in Formula E – that’s really crazy. They were very exciting years with a total of seven victories, sixteen podium finishes, eight poles and one championship title. That fills me with pride.
“I love Formula E and was there at the very first race. Last year we raced in Jakarta for the first time and I started from the front row. Maybe that’s a good omen. Either way, Hyderabad will be a very special weekend for me.”
Rookie Jake Hughes rocking the grid
The rookie is sitting fifth in the Drivers’ Standings as he took Formula E by storm. He has been showing great signs for McLaren’s maiden season in the all-electric series. The 28-year-old secured his first pole in Round 3 in Diriyah and has exceeded the expectations of many across the grid.
He admitted that the Gen3 cars proved to be a real challenge with the strength of the new powertrains. Hughes explained: “It’s extremely challenging and there’s a lot that – considering I was a reserve the last two, three years – that I’m only just discovering now, even though I’ve tried to be a sponge and listen as much as possible and learn as much as possible last few years.
“But, once you’re in your own race car and left to your own devices in the race, and it’s you racing against these guys, there’s a lot to take in.
“It’s extremely challenging and there’s a lot that – considering I was a reserve the last two, three years – that I’m only just discovering now, even though I’ve tried to be a sponge and listen as much as possible and learn as much as possible last few years.
“But, once you’re in your own race car and left to your own devices in the race, and it’s you racing against these guys, there’s a lot to take in.”
The 28-year-old is now fully focused on India as Formula E makes its debut there. He said: “I’ve never been to India before so I’m really excited. First of all, to learn the culture and experience that.
“I think the Indian culture is very fanatic about sport – obviously cricket is their national sport and how well they support that. I think when Formula One was in India, it was supported quite well.
“And I think it will be just great to take Formula E to a new place and hopefully bring the excitement to them and they can see how cool and exciting Formula E is. I think the track itself – I’ve driven it on the sim and it feels very good and fun to drive.”
Session times
Here are the timings for when to watch this weekend’s sessions:
- Free Practice 1 – Friday, February 10 at 11am
- Free Practice 2 – Saturday, February 11 at 2.40am
- Qualifying – Saturday, February 11 at 5.10am
- Round 4 Race – Saturday February 11 at 9.30am.
You can watch the race on Channel 4, catch up via All4 and you can also access the channel through the Channel 4 Sport YouTube.
Eurosport.com will be showing all the sessions while Eurosport 2 will cover qualifying and race. You can view the practice sessions on Formula E’s YouTube channel.
Featured Image Credit: Porsche Press Services