Returning to Mexico City this weekend, Formula E is hosting the third race of the last Gen2 season. In the current issue of our “Paddock Whispers” series, you can find out what else keeps the paddock at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez busy, in addition to the major sporting issues.
>>> Surprising side note in a press release: When confirming the new replacement driver David Beckmann, Andretti revealed that there should also be a rookie test for young drivers in the 2022 season. Here the young German is supposed to sit in the car for the first time. Berlin is being discussed as a possible venue. The route on the former airport site in Tempelhof is also an option because postponing the dismantling of the route by one day would not affect any immediate residents.
>>> Full house despite Omikron: Formula E expects 40,000 spectators at the Mexico City E-Prix. This should fill the former baseball stadium “Foro Sol” completely again. In the past few days, many drivers have already expressed euphoria about the special atmosphere every time they drive through the stadium passage. Formula E takes another step back towards normality.
>>> DS Automobiles has unveiled a new all-electric concept car. The carbon DS E-Tense Performance is powered by two Formula E engines – one per axle – and has a maximum output of 600 kW. The front of the vehicle in particular gives a glimpse of the future design language of the DS brand, according to the company.
What if Formula E hits the road?
Designed, developed and created jointly with DS Performance – its competition division – DS Automobiles reveals DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE.? DLP Paris#DSautomobiles #100in2secs #DSETENSEPERFORMANCE pic.twitter.com/HQVhLkW8mF
— DS Automobiles (@DS_Official) February 7, 2022
>>> Before the Mexico race, Formula E announced a collaboration with Kimoa: the clothing brand founded by two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso now has two sustainably produced sunglasses in the Formula E design in its range. The announcement was made in an Instagram Live post by Alonso with Formula E Chief Championship Officer Alberto Longo.
>>> The Formula E world champion team has also announced a partnership: Mercedes will be working with Kroll from the race in Mexico. The US company, which claims to offer data, technology and expertise in the areas of risk, control and growth, advertises with its logo on the cars and driver’s overalls.
>>> The world automobile association FIA has its “Electric and New Energy Championship Commission” (ENEC) reorganized. Permanent members include Mahindra team boss Dilbagh Gill and former Audi Formula E team boss Allan McNish, who represents the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer on the commission.
>>> Tom Blomqvist is back in the paddock. The Briton, who was a regular driver for Nio 333 last season, will take on the position of reserve driver for Envision at the Mexico race.
It’s great to have @tom_blomqvist with us at the Mexico City E-Prix ??
The Rolex 24 at Daytona winner is our reserve driver for this weekend @FIAFormulaE pic.twitter.com/GjBcK40tyn
— Envision Racing (@Envision_Racing) February 10, 2022
>>> Jaya Konstrucsi has won the tender to build the Formula E track for the Jakarta E-Prix. After the first tender failed, the Indonesian company, which was founded in 1982 and has many years of experience in the construction sector, prevailed against its competitors in a second round of tenders. The route must be completed by June 4th.
>>> With more and more motorsport teams collaborating with companies in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, some racing drivers have now started marketing their own NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). NFTs are certificates of ownership (but not copyright) of mostly artistic image files residing within the blockchain. Since every blockchain transaction is associated with high computing effort and power consumption, NFTs are considered environmentally harmful because the electricity is mainly produced from fossil fuels. An announcement by Jean-Eric Vergne to bring an NFT onto the market therefore resulted in a veritable shitstorm. Lucas di Grassi commented on the subject in his typically clear way.
The #NFT market is like the art market.
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98% bulls#itProve me wrong ?
– Lucas di Grassi (@LucasdiGrassi) February 8, 2022
>>> Interesting remark in “Bulletin No.1”: The race stewards advise the drivers that according to the International Sporting Code, Appendix L, wearing jewelry is prohibited. This prohibits drivers from wearing metal necklaces and body piercings. The reason for the notification is not known. However, it is likely that a driver forgot to take off his jewelry at the season opener in Diriyah.
>>> Immediately before the Mexico City E-Prix, Formula E announced several new contracts with TV partners: In Mexico, Fox Sports will broadcast the races in the coming years. The Eclat Media Group will broadcast the electric series’ races in 15 different countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, on channels SPOTV and SPOTV2. Bell Media, on the other hand, signed an agreement that gives the company exclusive rights to broadcast Formula E in English in Canada for several years.
