The Notebook: São Paulo

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

After a short break in the Season 9 calendar, Formula E is back, and with recharged batteries, Maserati MSG Racing next heads to São Paulo for the sixth race of the current campaign.

São Paulo is the very definition of euphoria and is the place where passion and enthusiasm collide to create an unforgettable atmosphere unlike anywhere else on Earth.

As the third of four new venues this season, preparation is of prime importance, and a strong build-up and approach will likely yield the best results.

Maserati MSG Racing’s Racing Director, Jérémy Colançon, is an expert on all things Formula E, and has been present in the series since its very first race in 2014.

He holds four World Championship titles, and as a two-time Engineer of the Year Award winner, is a well-placed authority on all things technical in the paddock.

With insights from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Jérémy highlights every aspect of performance for the first running of the São Paulo E-Prix.

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Setup Changes: The circuit in São Paulo features a lot of long straights, big braking zones, and low-speed corners, making it very different to recent races on the calendar, especially in comparison to Cape Town. Because of this, it will be very important for us to adapt our car setup and specifically, change stability, to allow for better rotation in the corners.

High Energy Sensitivity: São Paulo is an energy intensive circuit, and it will be quite difficult for teams and drivers to meet their lap-by-lap energy targets. A lot of lifting will be required, and some energy will be recovered in the braking zones, but the long straights will also consume a lot of energy. Finding a careful balance will be critical, and with real-time data insights from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, we will be able to accurately monitor our strategy evolution during the race.

Slipstreaming: Slipstreaming has been a key factor in Formula E’s Gen3 era so far, and it will be of major importance this weekend. São Paulo’s high number of straights will enhance the strength of the slipstream – not only in terms of speed but also energy saving – and it will be vital to monitor, utilise and manage this carefully from a strategy perspective.

Overtaking: Because São Paulo features a high number of heavy braking zones, we should see a lot of overtaking during the race. The best places to pass are Turns One, Four, Seven and 10, but more and more, the battle for first is ongoing until the final lap. It will be important to be efficient throughout the race to be in a position to strike in the closing stages. Qualifying should also be less important this weekend.

Direction: The first five races of Season 9 have showed that we are heading in a good direction in terms of performance. Sadly, we haven’t seen our full potential just yet, but if we can maintain the level at which we’re operating, we can score good points which should be a good opportunity to build momentum for future races.