The Notebook: Rome

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

All roads lead to Rome, and as the Maserati brand prepares to return to its roots, the culmination of Formula E’s ninth season is edging ever-closer.

As one of the series’ most iconic events, the Rome E-Prix entices and exhilarates alike to stage a celebration of pure speed as the streets of the Italian capital transform from road to racetrack.

With high-speed sections, uncompromising undulation, and some of the most technical corners on the calendar, only the best teams on drivers are able to conquer the gladiatorial arena.

Our Racing Director, Jérémy Colançon, is at the head of the Maserati MSG Racing technical team, and with four World Championship titles, has tasted success that few paddock figures are able to match.

Now, with his eyes set on the penultimate race weekend of the season and using insights powered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, the two-time Engineer of the Year award winner defines the inside line in Rome.

Distance: Rome is the longest circuit on the Season 9 calendar but will not impact teams heavily in terms of energy management and consumption. In comparison to Portland, the track has a lower energy sensitivity, and with an abundance of recovery zones, it will be much easier to conserve energy. With this in mind, I expect to see a similar style of racing to what we saw in Gen2.

Race Extensions: Rome is the most technical and challenging track that Formula E has raced on since Monaco in May, and because we’re returning to a traditional street circuit, there will be a higher chance of Safety Cars and Full Course Yellow periods. With real-time data insights from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, we will be able to evolve our strategy while taking extensions into account to run an efficient race.

Elevation & Surface Changes: Alongside Rome’s dramatic elevation changes, the circuit is extremely bumpy, which can make it quite difficult to overtake. It will be important to take such surface changes into account during the race.

Attack Mode: Over the past few races, Formula E has increased its Attack Mode time from four minutes to eight, which has opened more strategy options. Previously, each activation was used defensively in an attempt to lose as little track position as possible, but with more time at higher power, it is easier to overtake. Timing each activation well throughout the weekend will be crucial.

Momentum: Although Rome is the penultimate race of Season 9, it presents a good opportunity for the team to maintain its current performance level. Since the Berlin E-Prix, we have consistently fought at the front, and building on our performance for the remainder of 2023 will be crucial to having an even stronger performance in Season 10.