Fourth visit to Berlin for Formula E
The ABB FIA Formula E Championship returns to the German capital for a fourth time, with round nine of the 2017/18 championship taking place this weekend at Tempelhof Airport
Round nine of the 2017/18 ABB FIA Formula E Championship sees the all-electric racing return to Tempelhof Airport in Berlin this weekend (19 May). Berlin is the only city on the current calendar which has hosted a race since the inauguration of the championship four years ago, with three of the four contests taking place on a bespoke track at the historic airport.
Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne leads the standings by 28 points with four E-Prix remaining, having scored a sensational home victory last time out in Paris. The TECHEETAH driver has never scored a podium in Berlin, but with three wins and a second place already to his name this year the momentum is surely with him.
Sam Bird comes to Berlin second in the standings having had a dramatic end to the Paris E-Prix, crossing the line fourth and on three wheels after last-corner clash with Andre Lotterer, who will receive a three-place grid drop this weekend for causing the collision.
Third on the points table is Felix Rosenqvist. The Mahindra driver has slipped back following low scores in the last two races, but will have fond memories of the Tempelhof track having scored his and his team’s first Formula E win here last year.
With two races run here last season, Sebastien Buemi is another driver coming back to Berlin hoping to repeat his past performance. The Swiss driver will be looking to build momentum ahead of his first home race in Zurich, Switzerland in June.
The Tempelhof circuit remains largely unchanged from last year, with ten turns over the 2.375km lap in front of the historic terminal building.
Four German drivers will be cheered on by home fans: Daniel Abt, whose Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team is also home turf; Maro Engel for Venturi; Andre Lotterer for TECHEETAH; and Nick Heidfeld who scored a popular home podium last year.
In addition to the now-familiar wheel-to-wheel electric racing on the track, there is a huge amount going on around the E-Prix this weekend.
The event falls on FIA Volunteers Weekend, celebrating the tireless work of volunteers around the world who make motor sport possible. Keep an eye on FIA and Formula E’s social media channels for special content, throughout the weekend, and share your volunteering stories using #FIAVolunteersWeekend to join the conversation. For more information and to find out how to become a volunteer, click here.
Tempelhof will also host a Dare to be Different event, which brings girls from the classroom to the racetrack to get a first-hand experience of a wide variety of motor sport activities, with the aim of inspiring them to pursue a career in racing. The initiative is supported by the FIA Sport Grant Programme and Women in Motorsport Commission.
Finally, the FIA’s #3500LIVES road safety campaign will be displayed on the ADAC stand in the E-Village, showing visuals featuring ambassadors from the world of sport, music and film, in support of the FIA’s golden rules for safer motoring.
Championship standings:
| Drivers’ Championship | Teams’ Championship | ||
Driver | Points | Team | Points | |
1 | Jean-Eric Vergne | 147 | TECHEETAH | 188 |
2 | Sam Bird | 116 | DS Virgin Racing | 133 |
3 | Felix Rosenqvist | 86 | Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler | 114 |
4 | Sebastien Buemi | 70 | Mahindra Racing | 107 |
5 | Lucas di Grassi | 58 | Panasonic Jaguar Racing | 88 |
6 | Daniel Abt | 56 | Renault e.dams | 77 |
7 | Nelson Piquet Jr | 45 | Venturi Formula E Team | 52 |
8 | Mitch Evans | 43 | NIO Formula E Team | 35 |
9 | Andre Lotterer | 41 | DRAGON | 26 |
10 | Oliver Turvey | 34 | Andretti Formula E | 20 |