Q&A: Edo on Aspirations and Preparations for Season 8

Q: How will Formula E’s new extra time rule impact race strategies and competition in Season 8?‍

“The extra time rule is one of the biggest changes for this season. In previous years, when we had a Full Course Yellow or Safety Car period, our amount of usable energy used to be reduced but I think adding up to 10 minutes extra to races makes more sense. As a result of this, our races are going to be longer overall and I believe that will create a better racing product for fans both in the grandstands and at home on TV. Because the race can be extended at any point, strategy will be more interesting and flexible this season and we will need to understand how it will change but overall, it shouldn’t be a massive problem.”

Q: What is your opinion on Formula E’s new qualifying format and how will this change the championship’s racing product?

“I think the new qualifying format is going to make Formula E a lot fairer and it will place much more emphasis on consist performance. From this season, the top performers in the championship won’t face the traditional disadvantage of being in Group One and I think that will create a more competitive platform because track evolution won’t play as much of a role. We only trialled the format in pre-season testing so we still have a lot to understand around the new duel system but this is something new and something that everyone should be excited about.”

Q: What are your hopes and aspirations for Season 8 and what do you personally want to achieve in your fifth season in Formula E?

“I think we are entering Season 8 in a very good position, especially after ending last season well and completing a very promising test in Valencia which is the most at ease and confident I’ve felt in any pre-season programme in Formula E so far. We have shown that we can be competitive in both qualifying and race conditions but now it’s a question of pulling everything together. Over the offseason, we have examined our strengths and weaknesses and have addressed any issues that we faced. For Season 8 I want to perform at the best of my ability and in the environment that I’m in, I feel very comfortable and confident. We will see what we can achieve and where we end up, but in the end, you cannot do better than your very best.”

Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?

“There are a lot of tracks on the calendar that I’m looking forward to visiting again. Diriyah is a track that I enjoy because it poses such a challenge in terms of driving and I’m excited to go back to Mexico City because we have performed well there in the past. Racing at Monaco again will be very special but Jakarta, Vancouver and Seoul are also great additions to the calendar. There should be some very exciting races this season and hopefully, we can be competitive.”

Q: How is it working with Lucas as your new team-mate?

“Lucas has brought a lot of knowledge to the team since he arrived and thanks to him we have already made some performance gains and improvements. He is a great talent and has established himself as one of the best drivers in Formula E. It’s been great to work with him so far. I’m looking forward to working with him further and together, I think we can have a great season and achieve great things.”