Analysing and Previewing the Monaco E – Prix as Formula E returns to Monaco for racing on its full circuit! Attack Mode, Track Surface, Circuit Layout, strategies, opportunities and more…!
Formula E is back in Monaco and in the words of the Formula E Paddock, It is back in Monaco, BABBYYYY! And it is racing the full circuit exactly as used by the other open – wheel racing series like F1 and F2. Formula E took the decision to race the full circuit in 2021, and this year continues with the same with the Nouvelle Chicane, after the tunnel, returning to its normal design, meaning that it will have the square design with a narrower exit than in 2021. The streets of Monaco will have 20 cars running for two Free Practice sessions, during Group Qualifying and the Race and also have 2 drivers putting in 3 more qualifying laps of their own as they take part in the duels till the Final.
THE TRACK
In 2021, the race lasted 26 Laps with about 2 and a half laps not at full speed with the deployment of the Safety Car. The racing in 2022 should also last about the same number of laps, and upto about a couple of more laps with new added time rule in which time is added to the race time of 45 minutes to compensate for time lost behind Safety Car. The placement of the Attack Mode stays such that there isn’t a big disadvantage, but it is significant enough with it being place just off the preferred racing line but is from the entry to about half of Turn 4 which opens up. A gap of about 2 seconds is needed to ensure not losing a place to the driver behind when activating Attack Mode, with the first chance to properly utilize that extra power allowance (only 15Kw more than than the normal allowance) not till about the tunnel section, which is 3 turns later in which also comes the Hairpin. Drivers also need to be careful with their approach, as carrying even a bit of extra speed can land them into the barriers which although may not end their race but can lead to them achieving less higher speeds due to damage, or having more difficulty maneuvering the car on such a track.
The Nouvelle Chicane being retained in its general form instead of the modified form that Formula E used last year means that the left – right – left chicane’s exit becomes a bit tighter and does not allow for a car to be on the inside and cut to the right a bit more to avoid contact and still keep position. The rest of the track stays the same and continues to allow for very close racing. In 2021, overall the racing was a bit surprisingly pretty clean except the contact and damage at the hairpin on Lap 1 and one other incident. The first lap may again be chaotic but hopefully, the drivers will have a better understanding of navigating the hairpin with learnings from the previous year and use it to stay in the race and make positions up in the long run.
Changes in track surface have taken place, which should not affect the Michelin tyres much but quality of work and time duration of rest since resurfacing might mean certain sections could offer varying levels of grip.
QUALIFYING
The drivers will have atleast 2 chances in Group Qualifying, unless they crash out, to deliver the lap they want and those who progress through the Duel Stages, especially the ones competing for pole position will have to ensure they deliver 4 proper perfect no – error laps and not hit the wrong button on the steering wheel unlike Nyck De Vries in 2021.
The qualifying groups are now such that many teams have both their drivers in the same group. Meaning, that either they will play team games or even otherwise will see atleast one of their drivers probably not reachig the Top 8 fastest and qualify for the Duels. This problem although is not faced by those who have been ruling the Group Qualifying – DS Techeetah and Mercedes EQ. Tis makes it further complicated a bit for some teams such as Mahindra Racing who have lost out on margins every Qualifying in Season 8, and now see even reduced chances of a good starting position. For these teams, they also cant use leaning from their one driver in Group A and use it for the other driver in Group B.
THE RACE
The race should again be filled with overtaking, but might also suffer just a tad bit from the Attack Mode not being as extra powerful as compared to the previous seasons. General overtaking should still be very high and with the these cars completely developed, understood and analysed by the teams and drivers and the Nouvelle Chicane being used in its original design, position retention should also be high.
Although, energy consumption strategies may not play out in the manner they have done in Rounds 3, 4 and 5, efficiency and regen are key. Jaguar seem to be delivering good efficiency when they understand the track requirements well whereas Mahindra might be looking for some key regen benefits with them generally having a good regeneration system. With both Mercedes cars probably in the Top 10 at the start in the E – Prix, their management and attack strategy could also be more refined and NIO333 also have a good chance on what is a track where crashes are not very rare. Dan Ticktum could be key with his aggressive style probably now being accommodated by the Monaco streets as they are wide enough by Formula E standards and he has gotten used to that narrow style much better.
All in all, the streets of Monaco once again are ready for those who can read its mood well! It is time for some intense racing on a quite an accommodating layout and circuit!
|TIME FOR FIERY ELECTRIFYING RACING ON THE STREETS OF MONACO… BABY!!!|
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