Formula E June Update
08 June 2021
Formula E Round 7
Following the arrival of the electric-powered Mercedes EQ Formula E car to the Museum, we have been following the Mercedes‐EQ Formula E Team and BMTV contributor Sam Bird of the Jaguar Racing Team as they compete in the 2021 Formula E world championship.
Round 7 saw the teams racing on the full Monaco Circuit for the first time in Formula E history. Formula 1 fans will know that the circuit, whilst iconic, can be processional as drivers struggle to overtake on the principality’s narrow street circuit. For the Formula E drivers, this was just another street circuit and with near-instant acceleration and cornering capability, the cars were soon three a‐breast into Beau Rivage and overtaking in places never seen before. All this made it an exciting race for spectators, but frustrating for Mercedes EQ. Both drivers qualified low on the grid. Stoffel Vandoorne said “I started out from P15 on the grid and was unlucky on the very first lap in Turn 6 where some cars collided blocking the track. I was forced to wait behind them and dropped back to the rear of the field as a result.”
After Team‐mate Nyck de Vries qualified at the back of the grid the team decided to change some parts and serve a penalty and he too failed to score any points.
Meanwhile, Sam Bird managed to work his way up to seventh from a low starting position behind team‐mate Evans who finish second after losing the lead in a dramatic overtake by Antonio Da Costa out of the tunnel on the final lap. De Vries is second overall in the championship with Bird fifth and Vandoorne sixth. In the team Championships, Mercedes EQ retains their lead by just two points ahead of Jaguar.
See all the action from Mexico for round eight and nine live or catch up on BBC iPlayer on 19 and 20 June 2021.
Go to www.formulae.com to watch the highlights of Rounds 1‐8.