Formula E 2021 season preview

Last time around for Audi and BMW

Admittedly, world championship status appears to mean little to Audi and BMW, who within days of each other announced during December that season seven will be the last for their works teams. That was a shock given the previously interminable rise of the all-electric single-seater series, and is proof that even Formula E can find itself dangerously exposed to the natural whims of car makers and their capricious attitude to motorsport.

Still, both German giants line up determined to leave Formula E on a high. At Abt-run Audi, former champion Lucas di Grassi lines up alongside triple DTM champion René Rast, who made a strong impression and scored a podium when he joined the team for the six-race Berlin finale to season six last summer. “Clearly, you go into every season wanting to be successful, but there’s an extra focus when you already know that it’s your farewell season,” says Audi team principal Allan McNish. “No doubt we have extra energy because of that. You’ve only got one final run at it.”

Over at BMW, the team run by Michael Andretti’s squad has given Britain’s Jake Dennis his big break, the 25-year-old lining up beside race-winning 23-year-old Maximilian Guenther. It’s just a shame for Dennis that he has only this season to prove what he’s made of at this level. The pressure is on – but when a world title’s at stake, he knew that already.

Who can topple DS Techeetah?

Three successive drivers’ championships and two teams’ titles make DS Techeetah the dominant force everyone must aim for in Formula E. But before rivals get a look-in, there’s plenty to fight for internally at this team too. Double champ Jean-Éric Vergne will want his crown back after Antonio Felix Da Costa deposed him so convincingly last year in his first season at DS following his switch from BMW.

What price a Mercedes or Porsche driver being the one to tear DS’s grip from the first Formula E world title this time around? Ex-McLaren F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne and the highly rated Nyck de Vries line up once again for the Silver Arrows, while ex-Sauber F1 driver Pascal Wehrlein switches from Mahindra to Porsche to join former Le Mans hero André Lotterer. The German makes boast just one win between them (Vandoorne in the Berlin finale) after their first seasons in Formula E – which is a surprise. Expectations to deliver more, within both teams, will be high heading into the world championship era.

Two Brits at Mahindra

The Banbury-based Mahindra team endured a disappointing season six, but the Indian EV specialist has every reason to be optimistic for a bounce-back this year with its all-British driver pairing of Alexander Sims – formerly a race winner with BMW – and ex-Williams development driver Alex Lynn.

For the latter, the Mahindra chance follows a promising stint with the team at the six-race Berlin residency last year. The 27-year-old didn’t find his spark in Formula E during his spells at DS Virgin and Jaguar, but this Le Mans GTE Pro class winner has much more to offer. “It does feel like a fresh start,” says Alex, son of seasoned historic racer and Goodwood regular Shaun Lynn. “The team is expanding in a big way, [team boss] Dilbagh [Gill] has a lot of big plans. We have a brand new powertrain with a new partner in ZF and they are putting a lot of effort into making this a really good partnership. There’s a lot riding on this new car for the team. And for myself as well. I want to prove myself in this category. It’s a good marriage because we both feel like we have a lot to prove.”

Given his family background and deep roots in motorsport, Lynn is well placed to understand the diehards’ cynicism about Formula E and offers some insight into just how Formula E cars compare to conventionally powered single-seaters. “It is different, but the same rules still apply,” he says. “You need to brake as late as possible, carry as much speed through the corner and get on the gas as quick as you can. The elements of driving haven’t changed and you set up a Formula E in much the same way you would a conventional racing car. The only difference is in the race, with the energy saving. In qualifying it’s business as usual, then in the race it is totally different because of the tactics that go around saving energy. That’s the biggest difference. Someone described it as a really fast game of chess, and in a way that’s right.”

More Brits on the grid

The British interest in Formula E has never been higher, with three more familiar faces also preparing to contend for the new world title. Topper-most has to be Sam Bird, who has started every Formula E race run so far. But this year the 33-year-old has switched from Envision Virgin to become a factory Jaguar Racing driver. The famous marque has so far under-performed in Formula E, even if Kiwi Mitch Evans looked like a title contender early in season six before his campaign wilted in Berlin. Bird’s vast experience and the pedigree of his nine race victories should be a factor in raising Jaguar’s game.

At Nissan e-DAMS, Olivier Rowland continues alongside former champion Sébastien Buemi and should have everything in his arsenal to mount a title challenge, while Oliver Turvey continues with the Nio team, with whom he has raced since the 2014/15 season. The Cambridge University graduate is convinced his engineering background can help the team rise up the grid. More than six months after season six ended, he finally has his chance to prove it.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.