173 replies to this topic

[thegamer23]

 

WHEN:  2 night Races this weekend, on Friday and Saturday! 
WHERE:  Ad Diriyah, Riyadh
WHY: First Double Header of the season on the most unforgiving and challenging street track of the season!

 

 

 

Just after a week break, Formula E is back for more racing and more action!
This time around, we're going to Saudi Arabia, in the streets of Riyadh for the first Double Header of the season in one of Formula E's thoughest tracks!

Racing on Friday and Saturday, it's gonna be 2 days long battle in the desert, under the floodlights!

 

 

 

 

 

Remember last season's races in Diriyah?
Spoiler: Wehrlein was FAST!

 

 

 

 

 

A VERY CLEAN START OF THE SEASON IN MEXICO....MAYBE TOO CLEAN?

 

We're coming fresh from a very, VERY clean start of the Formula E Season 10!

 

In the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the first race of the season took place in front of a spectacular 40K crowd in the Foro Do Sol.
Pole Position was taken by Pascal Wherlein of Porsche in front of the green Envision of FE veteran, Seb Buemi. 
The first 10 laps of the race were pretty frantic, with lots of moves expecially in the midfield, and a crash involving Robin Frijns of Envision, who lost control of the car at the Foro Do Sol's exit and smashed into the wall.

After a brief Safety Car period, the race kinda plateau-ed, with no more change of positions in the Top 10 positions.
Not a lot of lift & coast was needed in Mexico for the number of laps given and the total energy allocation, so it was very difficult to pull off decisive moves.

 

 

 

 

Pascal Wehrlein managed to control the race at the front: he won in dominant fashion, and it's another brilliant start of the season for the Porsche driver.

Behind him, Sebastien Buemi of Envision managed to hold off Jaguar's new sign, Mitch Evans, who was fast right away with the new car.

It wasn't a very good race for Andretti and reigning champ Jake Dennis, who qualified outside of Top ten and only managed to finish P9 in the race.
The champion now needs to bounce back already in the upcoming Diriyah Double Header.

So, all in all, a very clean race, pretty intense in the first few laps, but than....kind boring!  

Pretty sure it's going to be a different story this weekend.
We're going to Ad Diriyah, in Riyadh, for a spectacular Double Header weekend under the floodlights in the hardest street track of the season.

 

Let's dive right into it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

AD-DIRIYAH, THE CLOSEST THING TO MACAU IN FORMULA E 

Sand, minimal grip, close walls, pretty fast layout, literally no room for errors.
Is this Macau? Nope, it's Ad-Diriyah, wich is kind of Formula E's mini-Macau, really.

A very unforgiving street circuit in the desert, at the periphery of Riyadh, in the Ad-Diriyah district. (the old town)

The track is 2.495 km long, with 21 corners. 

Sector 1 is super technical: going up on the hills over the old town, than going downhill in a iconic sequence of esses, between the walls.

Absolute zero margin for errors there.

 

 

 

 

The track than widens up a bit before reaching Turn 17, a difficult right hander flick (that could be slightly tigher this year) that leads in the main straight.
Having a great exit is crucial there to carry on the speed towards the long straight.

 

 

 

At the end of the main straight there's the T18-19 chicane (Also, slightly reprofiled this season), the best spot to overtake in this track. We've seen dozens of passes and battles there in the last few years, and will be the case again this season!
Also, Attack Mode activation zone is placed here on the outside.

After the chicane, a brief acceleration before a tight 90° degrees corner, that leads to the finish line! 



 

 

Quali Lap Record: 1'06''835 (Nyck De Vries 2022) 

Race Lap Record: 1'08''723 (Sam Bird, 2022)

 

 

 

THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ONE ROUND!

 

 

 

 

 

DIRIYAH e-PRIX, WHERE AND WHEN TO WATCH? 

 

 

Action starts on Thursday with the First Free Practice session, so early start this week!   

 

 

 

THURSDAY 

 

FP1: 15.00  

 

 

FRIDAY 

 

FP2: 10.00   (live on Youtube)
QP: 12.40 
RACE: 17.00 

 

 

SATURDAY 

 

FP3: 10.30   (live on Youtube)
QP: 12.40 
RACE: 17.00 

 

(UK times)
 

 

 

 

Global Race Start time

 

 

 

 

Countries broadcasts info

Not in one of those? Select your country here

 

 

 

UK: Practices live on YT, quali and race live on TNT Sports & Discovery Plus
 

Austria: Qualifying and race live on Servus TV and ServusON digital

 

Germany: Free to air on DF1
Qualifying and race live on Servus TV and ServusON digital, with the race also live on Eurosport 2, with highlights to follow. All sessions on discovery+

 

France: Races available on L’Equipe’s La Chaine on delay, with quali and the race live on L’Equipe’s digital platforms

 

Italy: Race live on Channel 20 with all sessions on Mediaset Sports’ digital platforms. Also live on Eurosport

 

Spain: The race is available on Eurosport 2 with all sessions available on Eurosport’s digital platforms

 

Netherlands: All sessions are available on discovery+, with the race airing on Eurosport 2

 

Belgium: The race is available on Eurosport 2 with all sessions available on Eurosport’s digital platforms

 

USA: Formula E's will air via longstanding partner CBS Sports and now Roku - America's #1 TV streaming platform - joins the fold

 

Mexico: TV Azteca partners with Formula E, with Channel A Mas showing the race, as well as Azteca Deportes

 

Brazil: Band Sports and Play are showing Mexico live

 

Japan: Live racing on J Sports

 

 

 

Edited by thegamer23, 26 January 2024 - 11:55.

[sportyskells]

Depends if I eating in my room or downstairs and this is good practise for the two f1 weekends that lands on a Saturday European wise

[thegamer23]

Action starts tomorrow already with the First Practice session!

 

 

 

 

Edited by thegamer23, 24 January 2024 - 08:11.

[RSRally]

From: https://twitter.com/...zKPUWpANAA&s=19

Race 1 of the Diriyah E-Prix will be 37 laps, and Race 2 will be 36 laps.

Drivers will have 8 minutes of Attack Mode, which has to be used in 2 activations.

Laps will be added once 3 minutes is spent under Safety Car/Full Course Yellow conditions.

[thegamer23]

From: https://twitter.com/...zKPUWpANAA&s=19

Race 1 of the Diriyah E-Prix will be 37 laps, and Race 2 will be 36 laps.

Drivers will have 8 minutes of Attack Mode, which has to be used in 2 activations.

Laps will be added once 3 minutes is spent under Safety Car/Full Course Yellow conditions.

 

 

Curious.

Last year's races were 39 laps long (Race 1) and 40 laps long (Race 2)

Wonder why they're going with shorter races this year.

 

 

 

Edited by thegamer23, 25 January 2024 - 09:02.

[Ben1445]

38.5 kWh energy allowance for the races this year.

In the early part of the season last year (including Diriyah) they had 40kWh, which gradually reduced down to 36-37kWh towards the end of the season (special cases like London aside).

Possibly aiming to even out the stress on the battery and keep a more even 38.5kWh throughout the season?

[RSRally]

Even taking into account the energy reduction, that is a little more generous this year.

I think Dodds has made noises that he wasn't keen on the peloton style of racing.. the problem with that is that until we have better tyres it was the main way to create overtaking. Hopefully the Diryah track will be better for this than Mexico anyway.

Edited by RSRally, 25 January 2024 - 09:20.

[Ben1445]

Sounds like the loops holes which Porsche were suspected of using for a 'launch control' sort of effect in Mexico City (and investigated over for hours post-race) have been closed. 

 

https://www.the-race...-control-probe/

 

Sounds like Porsche were confident that what they were doing was legal and the stewards were eventually satisfied of this also. Laudenbach (Porsche) defended accusations of gaining an advantage as he has no idea what other teams were doing with their software. Other team principals sound satisfied with the closing of the loophole, even if acting what you might describe as 'professionally miffed'. 

 

Y'know. Classic motorsport stuff. 

Edited by Ben1445, 25 January 2024 - 10:40.

[thegamer23]

Here we are!

All set in Diriyah for the First Free Practice Session!

 

First occasion for the drivers to test the track conditions and the layout tweaks (chicane and T17 should be slightly different in profile)

 

 

 

Edited by thegamer23, 25 January 2024 - 14:37.

[thegamer23]

Green flag!

[Ben1445]

I think I preferred Porsche’s Mexico lavender coloured livery

[thegamer23]

Dario Franchitti back in the commentary booth! 

Absolutely zero grip on track, cars looks like they're sailing out there!
 

Edited by thegamer23, 25 January 2024 - 15:12.

[Ben1445]

Does look like T17 is a little bit tighter, with the curb placed a little further towards the middle of the track

[thegamer23]

Buemi comes to an halt in his Envision.

Red Flag!

 

Pretty amazing how dusty the track is, they're more than 10s slower than the normal pace.

Edited by thegamer23, 25 January 2024 - 15:26.

[thegamer23]

An action-packed FP1 comes to a close!

All the drivers were on track pushing every lap, as the track got better run after run.

Still pretty dusty, pace is around 5 sec slower than normal.

 

Rowland comes out on top with a maiden final lap in his Nissan!

 

 

 

 

Great to see Dario back!

 

 

Edited by thegamer23, 25 January 2024 - 16:02.

[jonpollak]

Here for Franchitti thoughts....

Nice to see him back...

Jp

[thegamer23]

Tomorrow's action timetable!
 

 

FP2: 10.00   (live on Youtube)
QP: 12.40 
RACE: 17.00 

 

 

Uk times

 

[thegamer23]

Diriyah Track walk!

 

Just a little over one hour for the first day of Racing to begin, with FP2!

 

 

[eab]

Even taking into account the energy reduction, that is a little more generous this year.

I think Dodds has made noises that he wasn't keen on the peloton style of racing.. the problem with that is that until we have better tyres it was the main way to create overtaking. Hopefully the Diryah track will be better for this than Mexico anyway.

Indeed, it's more generous. And superfluous I'd add if the reason for the cut was to come down on that style of racing, since Diriyah isn't even a peloton style circuit.

 

However, if it was to lessen the advantages of the Porsche and Jag powertrains, it might have a bit of an impact.

[thegamer23]

Free Practice 2 LIVE from Diriyah!

Last chance to set up the car before the super important qualifying. Starting position is crucial in this street track!
We'll be interesting to see the track evolution compared to yesterday, they should have cleaned the track a bit overnight.
 

 

[thegamer23]

Green Flag for FP2

[RSRally]

They need to improve the sound balance on the broadcasts, i can barely hear the commentators over the tyre squeal.

[thegamer23]

Nato tops FP2!
 

 

[RSRally]

DS powertrain seems to be in the mix here too, qualy should be good!

[sladealonso]

Does anyone have a breakdown of the groups?

[thegamer23]

Does anyone have a breakdown of the groups?

[Pete_f1]

What time does race. One Start in UK?

[jonpollak]

Program starts at 4pm on TNT1
Jp

[Ben1445]

Shortly after 5pm race time, right?

[Ben1445]

I’m liking Andre Lotterer as a pundit

[thegamer23]

GREEN FLAG FOR QUALI!
 

Should be a fun one, with low grip and drivers going full attack between the walls

Edited by thegamer23, 26 January 2024 - 12:28.

[thegamer23]

Group 1 results

The big contenders from this group are all qualified!
Drivers are really fighting the cars out there, quite a show!
 

[Pete_f1]

Ok thanks

[thegamer23]

Incredibly close Group 2!

Sette Camara manages to push his ERT to the Duels!  Great performance so far.

Good stuff by JEV and DS Penske, leading the group too

Edited by thegamer23, 26 January 2024 - 12:54.

[jonpollak]

Beresford looking calm and relaxed….
Jp

[amerikalei]

Good stuff.  Thanks for posting all the info, I've got the live feed on.

[thegamer23]

Beresford looking calm and relaxed….
Jp

 

 

 

 

Qualifying duels coming next

Edited by thegamer23, 26 January 2024 - 13:01.

[Ben1445]

Very interesting set of duels

Cassidy vs Evans

Wehrlein vs Dennis

[thegamer23]

Wehrlein VS Dennis

 

Evans VS Cassidy

 

Gunther VS Camara

 

Nato VS Vergne

 

 

Who's gonna be on pole?

[eab]

Classidy, of course.

[Ben1445]

Getting Andreti Season 1 vibes from their livery this year

[thegamer23]

Evans outqualifies teammate Cassidy by half a second!

[Ben1445]

I was expecting the jag battle to be a little closer than that

[thegamer23]

Brilliant lap by Sette Camara!   

ERT In semifinal!!

[thegamer23]

And JEV beats Nato and sets the best time of the semifinals so far.

Looking good for DS Penske
 

 

Camara VS JEV

Evans VS Dennis

Poleman for Race 1 will come out of these duels

Edited by thegamer23, 26 January 2024 - 13:17.

[jonpollak]

Front row start ….Nice.
Jp

[Ben1445]

Evans vs Verge

I like it

[thegamer23]

Quite a monumental final duel incoming

VERGNE (DS Penske)   VS   EVANS (Jaguar)

 

Dennis will start P3, Camara P4

Edited by thegamer23, 26 January 2024 - 13:33.

[amerikalei]

This looks like a really good track for these cars.  It almost makes me think of the old 1.5L F1, little or no aero, where photos showed the skinny tire camber effects. 

 

I agree the commentator sound could be a bit higher though.  And stop that one camera guy from trying to pan-zoom when the car is moving away.

[Ben1445]

Fantastic final duel. Mystery right to the line.

Evans is my man but fabulous by JEV