Written by Vyas Ponnuri
The Formula E paddock arrive fresh in the Land of the Sun for the Mexico City E-Prix weekend. Despite just a singular race this weekend, there's plenty for the paddock to ponder over after the chaos at the season opener in São Paulo.
The big picture: Formula E all set for a Mexican samba
Unpredictable. Chaos. Frantic. Record-breaking. No amount of superlatives wouldn't have been apt to describe the events that went down on Formula E's first weekend of racing in Season 11.
It's almost aptly summed up by the race winner Mitch Evans successfully pulling off motor racing's much sought after last-to-first challenge. Maybe it was icing on the cake that Taylor Barnard became Formula E's youngest podium sitter.
After all the events and the ups and downs McLaren had been through in São Paulo, it's almost as much of a surprise to see them heading the constructors' championship. Not least after the overpower scenario that hit the quartet of Nissan-powered cars in Brazil.
While the second red flag helped McLaren find a way out, the same couldn't have been said for their powertrain suppliers Nissan. Oliver Rowland was slapped with a drive-through penalty for the same overpower conundrum.
It masked what had been a great weekend for the Japanese marque up until that point. Rowland had led for a significant portion of the São Paulo E-Prix, before the brace of red flags and the overpower scenario hurt his victory prospects.
This was the latest shock in a weekend full of them. The first, though, was the staggering pace of the Gen3 Evo Formula E car.
Qualifying times were up by a whopping margin compared to the São Paulo E-Prix earlier in March, with Wehrlein's pole-setting 1:09.851 over three seconds clear of his season ten pole time.
Furthermore, the attack mode appeared to have a much stronger effect in the season opener, with drivers often scything through the pack after taking their dose of attack mode during the race.
It puts even more emphasis on drivers managing and utiilse their attack mode going into the Mexico City E-Prix weekend.
A safety car appearing at the wrong juncture of the race could hurt the prospects of some drivers still using their attack mode, and have the potential to turn the race on its head.
Drivers will be expected to put their knowledge of the improved attack mode and the all-wheel drive (AWD) feature to the best use, in order to gain the advantage heading into Mexico City.
All in all, the major storylines from São Paulo only build hype and set the agenda for what is set to be an exciting Mexico City weekend.
In a country famous for its tacos and tortillas, it's largely been the Germans who have enjoyed success around the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Pascal Wehrlein has won twice around this venue, with Porsche having won each of the last three races, two as a works outfit, while their customers Andretti took a victory in season nine to kick off a championship-winning season.
The reigning champion comes into the weekend, bruised after his scary flip that triggered the second red flag at the São Paulo E-Prix, will be racing in the spare chassis this weekend.
Despite being concussed and suffering bruises to his lungs and chest, Wehrlein escaped largely unscathed, a feat demonstrating the sturdy build quality of today's Formula E cars.
He will still remain a firm favourite to repeat his Mexico success from season ten, given his stupendous Formula E record around the circuit.
Wehrlein has taken three pole positions, the most by any driver at this venue. His race record reads: Two victories and three podium appearances in five races. Easily the strongest overall record for any driver at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Porsche also remain the only team to have taken a 1-2 around this venue, with Wehrlein himself leading then-teammate Andre Lotterer home in season eight.
With a scene of familiar success for both driver and team, can Wehrlein find the best form of redemption after his hair-raising incident in the season opener? One can only wait and watch how things unfold.
The Mexico City E-Prix track layout
Having been on the calendar since season two in 2016, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has grown into a Formula E staple today.
Hosting its ninth Formula E race, this Mexican venue is a popular one, also hosting Formula One's Mexico City Grand Prix every year.
Although the F1 race is held on the full layout, the Mexico City E-Prix is held around a shorter version of the track layout.
Although the lap begins on the same main straight as its F1 counterpart, the 2.6 km (1.6 mi) Formula E layout takes a quick, sharp right at turn one onto a sweeping right-hander of turn two.
A slow left-hander of turn three awaits the drivers, before a quick kink right takes them to the hairpin of turn five, as the Formula E layout rejoins the F1 layout.
Unlike the F1 layout that features a straight, the Formula E layout features an additional chicane of turns 9, 10 and 11 to slow down the drivers.
The right hander of turn 12 takes drivers into the vociferous Foro Sol stadium section, perhaps the highlight of the circuit.
Attack mode will be on the outside of turn 15, midway through a series of left handers taking the drivers around the stadium section.
As the drivers exit the stadium, the long, winding parabolic right-hander of Peraltada awaits them, taking the drivers to the line for a lap of the circuit.
While this circuit may not see the usual peloton racing that Formula E's Gen3 era has been well known for, the track does allow for drivers to make overtakes.
Popular overtaking zones include turns one and three, as well as the hairpin of five. Other passing spots include the chicane consisting of turns 9, 10 and 11, and the ensuing right hander of turn 12.
Races at Mexico City have been thrilling in the past, and expect the attack mode and the AWD on the Gen3 Evo cars to make it an even closer affair this time around.
Timings for the Mexico City E-Prix weekend - Local time (in GMT)
These are the timings for the Mexico City E-Prix. With only one race all weekend, it's a quick outing, with the main race getting underway on Saturday.
Friday, 10th January, 2024
Free Practice 1: 17:00 - 17:40 (23:00 - 23:40 GMT)
Saturday, 11th January, 2024
Free Practice 2: 07:30 - 08:10 (13:30 - 14:10 GMT)
Qualifying: 09:40 - 11:03 (15:40 - 17:03 GMT)
Race (35 Laps): 14:05 - 15:00 (20:05 - 21:00)
Important notes for the race weekend:
With plenty of development around Formula E's much talked-about Pit Boost feature, another shakedown will take place at Mexico City on Friday, 10th January, commencing at 14:30 track time (20:30 GMT)
Pascal Wehrlein will be racing in the spare Porsche chassis this weekend, after his frightening crash in São Paulo meant the chassis had to be sent back to Porsche's base in Weissach, Germany for repairs.
On the topic of the reigning world champion, he can become the most successful driver on Mexican soil if he takes victory on Saturday. He would move to four victories in Mexico, surpassing Lucas Di Grassi's tally of three.
Drivers to watch out for at the Mexico City E-Prix
As reiterated earlier, Pascal Wehrlein's unenviable record in Mexico makes him a firm favourite. Despite his São Paulo nightmare, the German has had over a month to rest and recover. While nothing is to be set in stone in Formula E, Wehrlein's past record around the venue places him as a favourite for victory.
A last-to-first drive gave Mitch Evans and Jaguar some much-needed confidence. While Evans has usually started seasons slower, his Brazilian triumph could inspire some new found drive for the Kiwi, and he will be looking to back up his win with a big result in Mexico.
Evans' charge for a second-successive victory will not be without competition, though, with teammate Nick Cassidy looking for instant redemption on the other side of the garage. Having been involved in two race-ending incidents at São Paulo, Cassidy will be looking to bounce back, and with aplomb, as the grid hits Mexico City.
Another major contender will be Nissan's Oliver Rowland. Having led off the line from the front row on both standing starts, Nissan's struggles with overpower meant Rowland lost his shot at victory, exiting São Paulo scoreless. The Briton, a star campaigner in season 10, will be looking to carry his impressive form into season 11.
One of the feel-good stories in the season opener, Taylor Barnard became Formula E's youngest podium sitter, aged just 20 years and 189 days old. Only four races into his Formula E career, Barnard experienced his moment in the sun, and a big result in Mexico City will go a long way towards establishing even more confidence.
Mahindra Racing's duo of Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara netted 18 valuable points at São Paulo, courtesy of fifth and sixth for Mortara and de Vries respectively. Having ended season ten strong with points in London, and started season 11 strong, the duo will be looking to carry on the Indian manufacturer's form into Mexico City.
Five storylines for the Mexico City E-Prix
Can Pascal Wehrlein become most successful Formula E driver in Mexico? - With two wins, three podium finishes and three poles in five Mexico City E-Prix, the German has a chance to take the outright record for the most successful driver on Mexican soil in all three aspects.
Will Jaguar make it back-to-back wins in Season eleven? - Evans pulled off an unbelievable last-to-first drive at São Paulo, and Jaguar will be eyeing two in a row for the first time since the Monaco and Berlin E Prix weekends from season ten.
How will Nissan bounce back from São Paulo overpower conundrum? - According to team principal Tommaso Volpe, a control systems issue hit Rowland during the race starts, costing the Briton victory, and 25 points to kick off his campaign. The Mexico City E-Prix will tell us if Nissan have found a solution to this frustrating issue.
How will the new Gen3 Evo cars fare around Mexico City? - The Gen3 Evo cars were a full three seconds quicker in qualifying and the race at São Paulo. With similar lap times to the Brazilian round last year, the Mexico City weekend could see higher speeds and quicker lap times compared to season ten.
Can newcomers Lola Yamaha ABT open their account in Mexico City? - It was a scoreless weekend for Lola Yamaha ABT in Brazil, however, a positive first outing for debutant Zane Maloney saw him finish 11th, just outside the points. Will the Boy from Barbados, or teammate Di Grassi take ABT's first points of the season at Mexico City?
How to watch the Mexico City E-Prix?
Here's how you can watch the Mexico City E-Prix, depending on your country of residence:
It's set to be an enthralling race in Mexico City, one you do not want to miss. Who is your best bet for victory? Do let us know in the comments.
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