Formula E - A mid-season review

Lucas Di Grassi during practice in Beijing

You lot may all be wondering why on earth I haven't yet done an article on Formula E, and there is a very good reason for that...the season had started way before I decided to even set up a blog. So, now I'm all up and running and the season is at (roughly) the mid-way stage, lets have a look at where we are at. But before all that, here is a spotter guide to the teams and drivers, as well as the tracks for this season, just in case you aren't quite familiar with them. This is the grid as of the last round at Long Beach, so it should be quite accurate for the next race in Monaco. 

There have been quite a few driver changes along the way, compare the current line up to what it was just before the start of the season...

As you can see, plenty of changes. A bit confusing eh? Right then, now you've familiarized yourself with the current grid line up, and my blog is all up and running, lets take stock of where we are at with the series so far...

The start of race one in Beijing

Formula E roared (not engine sound wise) into life at Beijing last September with a frenetic and action packed race. Nicolas Prost, son of 4 time F1 world champion Alain, took pole position for e-Dams Renault and lead the race throughout, hounded by the Abt Audi cars of Daniel Abt and Lucas Di Grassi, until the late stages when Venturi and former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld fought him hard for the lead. 

Nick Heidfeld for Venturi in Beijing

The race ended dramatically for both drivers, Heidfeld and Prost tangling at the final corner of the last lap as Heidfeld went for the lead, both cars out and Heidfeld being launched over a kerb into the air, allowing Lucas Dis Grassi to win and take the lead in the championship. A lot of the critics had already been silenced as the race produced some great racing on a not very inspiring track. Everyone eagerly anticipated the second round in Malaysia to see if the trend would continue.

Sam Bird leads Nicolas Prost and Daniel Abt in Putrajaya

The second round at Putrajaya, in Malaysia, was completely dominated by Virgin Racings Sam Bird. Bird had been runner up in GP2 in 2013 for Russian Time, and clearly had some great talent and he showed just how good he was in Malaysia, leading almost every lap of the race and putting in a great drive. 

Podium finishers Sam Bird, Lucas Dis Grassi and Sebastian Buemi congratulate each other after the race in Putrajaya

Equally impressive drives were put in by Sebastian Buemi for eDams and Di Grassi, who charged to 2nd and 3rd respectively after starting at or near the back of the grid. The series was showing it had great potential, with great racing and some big name drivers. The fan boost was working well to. Three drivers are voted by fans of the sport to have the boost, and they are allowed to activate that boost once per car in the race (two cars are required due to battery life, the drivers switching at the pit stop). Essentially, it is like IndyCars push to pass, unleashing more power, although only twice in the race, unlike the ten available in IndyCar.

Vergne on his way to pole position in Punta Del Este

Punta Del Este in Uruguay served up yet another great race, but qualifying as well was equally brilliant. Jean- Eric Vergne, recently dumped by the Toro Rosso F1 team, took over one of the Andretti seats and took pole position for his first ever race in the series, ahead of an equally stunning effort for China Racings Nelson Piquet Jr. It was an impressive effort from Vergne, who had only started to drive and learn how to drive the Spark chassis in Free Practice for the race.

Piquet takes the lead at the start of the race in Punta Del Este

By all rights the race should have been Vergnes. Piquet got the lead at the start but he managed to find a way past just before his first pit stop. Unfortunately for him, a crash for Sam Bird brought out the safety car, meaning he dropped behind Buemi but maintained 2nd place. After more frenetic action down the field and another safety car, the green flag was waved again with two laps to go, but just as it looked like Vergne would take the lead again, his rear suspension failed, a cruel end to one hell of an impressive weekend, allowing Buemi to take the win.

Buemi on his way to the race win in Uruguay 

The weekend though effectively sealed a deal that will keep Vergne with Andretti at least until the end of the current season, and maybe into next season? Who knows. Vergne was obviously disappointed but he could take a lot of satisfaction away from the weekend. 

Buemi leads the charge into turn 1 in Buenos Aires

Next up was Buenos Aires and Argentina, and it was pole for Buemi this time. The race was a bit quiet for the first few laps but as it went on, the excitement started. First, Karun Chandok went off at the quick chicane before the finish line. Then, Buemi went off, handing Di Grassi the lead and unbelievably after that, Di Grassi hit the way as well thanks to suspension failure! All of this handed the lead to Nick Heidfeld but he was being hounded by a fast Sam Bird, who was aiming to be the first repeat winner of the series.

Sam Bird, Jaime Alguersuari, Nick Heidfeld and Antonio Felix Da Costa dice it out in Argentina

Bad luck though struck Bird to, as he was given a drive through penalty for driving out of the pits when a red light was on. It looked like Heidfeld would finally get some bad luck (his season had been awful up til now) and take his first win in the series, but no! Heidfeld was given a drive through for speeding in the pitlane, and all this mean that Antonio Felix Da Costa took his and Amlin Aguri's first win in the series! After a crazy scrap behind him, Nicolas Prost and Piquet Jr came home 2nd and 3rd to complete the podium with Da Costa.

Vergne leads the field into turn 1 in Miami

Next up was Miami, and Vergne took another fantastic pole position, two poles in the last three races! Bad luck hit him again though, he finished way down the order thanks to an overheating issue. The real star was his team mate for the weekend Scott Speed, who qualified lower down but fought his way up to 2nd place and took the fight to Nicolas Prost as the race reached its climax.

Scott Speed races on in Miami, a sensational debut in Formula E for the American

It initially looked like Sam Bird would be the one taking victory after taking the lead just before the pit stop, but a bad call strategy wise meant he had to crawl in on his in lap due to having virtually now power. That paved the way for the Prost vs Speed duel out front, Prost taking the win ahead of Speed and Daniel Abt.

Nelson Piquet Jr gets ready to take the lead from Daniel Abt at the start of the race in Long Beach

The last race before the upcoming Monaco ePrix in a weeks time was at Long Beach, and Nelson Piquet Jr took a commanding win, after jumping from 3rd on the grid to 1st at the first corner. Speed, who had stayed with Andretti but crashed into the wall at the turn 1/2 chicane early on, but there was joy for Andretti as Vergne finally had some good luck and took a fine 2nd place, behind Piquet and ahead of Di Grassi.

Nelson Piquet Jr races on to a dominant victory in Long Beach

After 6 of the 10 rounds, this how the championship looks;

Formula E has won over its critics with some great racing and a very close championship. Anyone in the top five could take it, and who knows what will happen in the final four races? Lets not forget as well, the finale, the British ePrix at Battersea Park, is a double header...who knows what will happen in Formula E's inaugural season. A season of drama and excitement. Roll on Monaco next week. Until next time folks. Ciao.

Jaime Alguersuari races on in Long Beach

All pictures in this article copyright of the FIA Formula E Championship