The Notebook: Monaco

Get the inside line on Monaco with insights powered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Monaco requires no introduction. For almost 100 years it has thrilled and enticed, and this weekend, Maserati MSG Racing returns to its roots to race at home once again.

The Monaco E-Prix is Formula E’s crown jewel event, and always boasts close competition. The racing is intense and the action captivating, and this makes for the perfect weekend of racing.

Jérémy Colançon, our Racing Director, has been present on the grid since Season 1, and is a leading light in the fully-electric single seater series’ paddock.

Alongside his four World Championship titles, Jérémy has experienced two wins on the streets of Monaco. The two-time Engineer of the Year Award winner knows the circuit well.

With insights powered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Jérémy looks ahead to Formula E’s return to the Principality and defines the inside line for our home race.

‍

Energy Sensitivity: Monaco is a less energy sensitive circuit than São Paulo and Berlin, but despite this, it will still be incredibly important for us to run with an intelligent, efficient strategy. Because of this, slipstreaming will likely be less present during the race, but it will still likely play a role in energy saving.

Track Position: In recent races we have seen first-hand the energy disadvantage that drivers can gain when leading, but given Monaco’s lower energy sensitivity, it is difficult to say if we will see a similar style of racing in comparison to Berlin and São Paulo. Holding a good position in the lead group of cars, however, will be vital when trying to achieve a good result, especially since it is more difficult to overtake.

Qualifying: In Formula E’s most recent race, we saw Max gain 15 positions but despite this, it is important not to underestimate the value of qualifying well. Starting from the back of the grid only increases the chance of a crash, and starting higher up means that we will have fewer cars to overtake to take home points.

Overtaking: It is easier to overtake at Monaco in Formula E than it is in Formula One, but energy management is extremely important in this scenario. Having an energy advantage over competitors will open overtaking possibilities, and building this gap will be a key part of our job this weekend. With real-time insights from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, we will be able to evolve our strategy to effectively extract our maximum pace while saving as much energy as possible.

Momentum: In Berlin we achieved a much-deserved podium to show the level of pace and performance we’ve had since the Hyderabad E-Prix. This result came from having a clean weekend, and the result has added to everyone’s morale. We want to maintain this momentum for Monaco and beyond, with the intention of securing better results which we know we’re capable of.