2017–18 Formula E Championship Explained

The 2017–18 FIA Formula E Championship (known for commercial reasons as the 2017–18 ABB FIA Formula E Championship)[1] was the fourth season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Formula E motor racing. It featured the 2017–18 ABB FIA Formula E Championship, a motor racing championship for open-wheel electric racing cars, recognised by FIA, the sport's governing body, as the highest class of competition for electrically powered vehicles. Twenty drivers representing ten teams contested twelve ePrix, which started in Hong Kong on 2 December 2017 and ended on 15 July 2018 in New York City as they competed for the Drivers' and Teams' Championships.

2017–18 was the final season that the Spark-Renault SRT 01E chassis—which debuted in the 2014–15 Formula E season—was used in competition; as a brand new chassis package was introduced for the 2018–19 season.

Lucas di Grassi entered as the defending Drivers' Champion after securing his first title at the 2017 Montreal ePrix. began the season as the defending Teams' Champion, having clinched its third consecutive accolade at the same event.

Frenchman Jean-Éric Vergne took victory in Drivers' Championship with 198 points, besting Lucas di Grassi and Sam Bird. Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler took victory in the Team's Championship, beating Techeetah by a narrow two point margin.

Teams and drivers

All teams used Spark chassis.

TeamPowertrainDriver nameRaces
Audi Sport ABT SchaefflerAudi e-tron FE04[2] 1 Lucas di GrassiAll
66 Daniel AbtAll
DS Virgin RacingDS Virgin DSV-032 Sam Bird[3] All
36 Alex LynnAll
Panasonic Jaguar RacingJaguar I-Type 23 Nelson Piquet Jr.[4] All
20 Mitch EvansAll
Venturi Formula E TeamVenturi VM200-FE-034 Edoardo Mortara[5] 1–8, 10
Tom Dillmann[6] 9, 11–12
5 Maro EngelAll
Dragon RacingPenske EV-26 Neel Jani[7] 1–2
José María López[8] 3–12
7 Jérôme d'Ambrosio[9] All
Renault Renault Z.E. 178 Nicolas Prost[10] All
9 Sébastien BuemiAll
Nio Formula E Team[11] NextEV Nio Sport 00316 Oliver Turvey[12] 1–11
Ma Qinghua[13] 12
68 Luca Filippi1–7, 9–12
Ma Qinghua[14] 8
TecheetahRenault Z.E. 1718 André Lotterer[15] All
25 Jean-Éric VergneAll
Mahindra RacingMahindra M4Electro19 Felix Rosenqvist[16] All
23 Nick HeidfeldAll
MS&AD Andretti Formula EAndretti ATEC-03[17] 27 Kamui Kobayashi[18] 1–2
Tom Blomqvist3–8
Stéphane Sarrazin[19] 9–12
28 António Félix da Costa[20] All
Source:[21]

Team changes

Name changes

The official entry list for the 2017–18 season contained a number of name changes for the teams. These were:[21]

Driver changes

Joining Formula E

Changing teams

Mid-season changes

After just one weekend in Hong Kong, Dragon Racing driver Neel Jani left the team in order to focus on his upcoming World Endurance Championship campaign. He was replaced by former DS Virgin Racing driver José María López.[8]

For the first weekend in Hong Kong, Kamui Kobayashi was brought by MS&AD Andretti to satisfy sponsors.[24] Tom Blomqvist however, took over that car after and raced it until the Paris round, where he left the team to focus on World Endurance Championship commitments with BMW, he was replaced by Stéphane Sarrazin.

Edoardo Mortara missed Berlin and the finale in New York due to DTM commitments with Mercedes. Mortara was replaced by Tom Dillmann on both occasions.[6]

Ma Qinghua subbed in for Luca Filippi at Nio Formula E Team for the Paris ePrix, to fulfill a contract obligation.

Rule changes

Calendar

In May 2017, a provisional calendar for the 2017–18 season was circulated.[26] In September, the full calendar was announced. This calendar included new races in Santiago, São Paulo, Rome and Zürich, the latter of which will mark the first time since 1955 a motorsports circuit race will be held in Switzerland.[27] The Buenos Aires round was discontinued, whilst the Monaco round will not be held due to the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco taking place in 2018. Later that year, on 30 November, it was announced that the São Paulo race would be postponed until 2019, with a race elsewhere to replace it in the schedule.[28] It was later announced that Punta del Este in Uruguay, which had been on the schedule for seasons 1 and 2, would be returning in place of São Paulo.[29] On 18 December 2017, the Montreal ePrix was cancelled due to the Mayor of Montreal citing rising costs to the taxpayer.[30] On 18 January 2018, it was announced the ePrix would not be replaced, thus decreasing the calendar to twelve rounds.[31]

RoundePrixCountryTrackDate
12 December 2017
2
3Marrakesh ePrix13 January 2018
4Santiago ePrixSantiago Street Circuit3 February 2018
5Mexico City ePrix3 March 2018
6Punta del Este ePrixPunta del Este Street Circuit17 March 2018
7Rome ePrixCircuito Cittadino dell'EUR14 April 2018
8Paris ePrix FranceParis Street Circuit28 April 2018
9Berlin ePrixTempelhof Airport Street Circuit19 May 2018
10Zürich ePrixZürich Street Circuit10 June 2018
11Brooklyn Street Circuit14 July 2018
12New York City ePrix Race 215 July 2018
Source:[32]

Results and standings

ePrix

RoundRacePole positionWinning driverWinning team
1 Hong Kong[33] Sam Bird DS Virgin RacingReport
2 Felix Rosenqvist Lucas di Grassi[34] Felix Rosenqvist[35] Mahindra Racing
3 Marrakesh Sébastien Buemi Nelson Piquet Jr. Felix Rosenqvist Mahindra RacingReport
4 Santiago Jean-Éric Vergne Sam Bird TecheetahReport
5 Mexico City Felix Rosenqvist Lucas di Grassi Daniel AbtReport
6 Jean-Éric Vergne José María López Jean-Éric Vergne TecheetahReport
7 Rome Felix Rosenqvist Daniel Abt Sam Bird DS Virgin RacingReport
8 Paris Jean-Éric Vergne Lucas di Grassi Jean-Éric Vergne TecheetahReport
9 Berlin Daniel Abt Daniel Abt Daniel Abt Audi Sport Abt SchaefflerReport
10 Zürich Mitch Evans André Lotterer Lucas di Grassi Audi Sport Abt SchaefflerReport
11 New York City Sebastien Buemi Felix Rosenqvist[36] Lucas di Grassi Audi Sport Abt SchaefflerReport
12 Sebastien Buemi Daniel Abt Jean-Éric Vergne Techeetah
Source:[37]

Drivers' Championship standings

Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers in every race, the pole position starter, and the driver who set the fastest lap, using the following structure:

Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th Pole
Points25181512108642131
DriverHKG
MRK
SCL
MEX
PDE
RME
PAR
BER
ZUR
NYC
valign=middle
1 Jean-Éric Vergne245151513105*1*198
2 Lucas di Grassi1714RetRet9*22*2*21*12144
3 Sam Bird15351731372910143
4 Sébastien Buemi11102*3*3*Ret*65*4*5*3*4*125
5 Daniel Abt5*DSQ*10*Ret*114*4*7*1*13*2*3*120
6 Felix Rosenqvist14114Ret*5*Ret811*1514596
7 Mitch Evans1231176491567Ret668
8 André LottererDSQ13Ret2131236947964
9 Nelson Piquet Jr.412464RetRetRet12RetRet751
10 Oliver Turvey166Ret142712959WD46
11 Nick Heidfeld3167RetRetRet16111066842
12 Maro Engel13712Ret1610848118Ret31
13 Edoardo Mortara7217†138171013Ret29
14 Jérôme d'AmbrosioRet1515811971219313Ret27
15 António Félix da Costa61114971111Ret158111520
16 Alex Lynn899Ret106Ret141616Ret1417
17 José María López6Ret*12817†101812RetRet14
18 Tom Dillmann134Ret12
19 Nicolas Prost981310Ret15141614Ret10118
20 Tom Blomqvist811151615Ret4
21 Luca Filippi10*Ret*1612141313*17Ret15Ret1
22 Stéphane Sarrazin201412120
23 Ma Qinghua17130
24 Kamui Kobayashi15*17*0
25 Neel Jani18180
valign=middlevalign=middleDriverHKG
MRK
SCL
MEX
PDE
RME
PAR
BER
ZUR
NYC
valign=middle
Source:[38]
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
* – FanBoost

† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Teams' Championship standings

TeamHKG
MRK
SCL
MEX
PDE
RME
PAR
BER
ZUR
NYC
valign=middle
1 Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler11714RetRet92222112264
665DSQ10Ret1144711323
2 Techeetah18DSQ13Ret21312369479262
252451515131051
3 DS Virgin Racing21535Ret31372910160
36899Ret106Ret141616Ret14
4 Mahindra Racing1914114Ret5Ret81115145138
233167RetRetRet161110668
5 8981310Ret15141614Ret1011133
91110233Ret654534
6 Panasonic Jaguar Racing3412464RetRetRet12RetRet7119
201231176491267Ret6
7 Venturi Formula E Team47217†13817101313Ret4Ret72
513712Ret1610848118Ret
8 Nio Formula E Team16166Ret142712959WD1347
6810Ret16121413131717Ret15Ret
9 Dragon Racing618186Ret12817†101812RetRet41
7Ret1515811971219313Ret
10 MS&AD Andretti Formula E271517811151615Ret2014121224
2861114971111Ret1581115
TeamHKG
MRK
SCL
MEX
PDE
RME
PAR
BER
ZUR
NYC
valign=middle
Source:[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Formula E adds series title sponsor for 2017-18 season . Autoweek . 9 January 2018 . 12 January 2018.
  2. Web site: Audi unveils e-tron FE04. 27 September 2017. 27 September 2017.
  3. Web site: Alex Lynn steps up to full-time Formula E race seat with DS Virgin Racing. DS Virgin Racing. 5 September 2017. 5 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170905231504/https://www.ds-virginracing.com/news/alex-lynn-steps-full-time-formula-e-race-seat-ds-virgin-racing/. 5 September 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: Nelson Piquet Jr joins Jaguar for season four. 21 September 2017. 21 September 2017. fiaformulae.com.
  5. News: Mitchell. Scott. Venturi picks Mortara to partner Engel in Formula E. 20 October 2017. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 20 October 2017.
  6. Web site: Dillmann to replace Mortara for Berlin ePrix. 2020-12-02. www.motorsport.com. en. 20 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221020211056/https://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/dillmann-to-replace-mortara-for-berlin-1031454/3068629/. dead.
  7. Web site: Faraday Future Dragon Racing announces Jani for season four. Smith. Topher. e-racing.net. 25 August 2017. 14 June 2017.
  8. Web site: Jose Maria Lopez replaces Neel Jani at Dragon. fiaformulae.com. 5 January 2018. 5 January 2018.
  9. Web site: D'Ambrosio to stay at Dragon for fourth season. 8 June 2017. 14 June 2017.
  10. Web site: Sebastien Buemi, Nico Prost extend Formula E deals. 9 June 2017. 11 June 2017.
  11. Web site: Formula E: Teams & Drivers. FIA Formula E. 25 October 2017.
  12. Web site: Filippi joins Turvey at NIO. Smith. Topher. e-racing.net. 2 October 2017. 4 October 2017.
  13. News: Klein . Jamie . Ma replaces injured Turvey for second New York race . 14 July 2018 . . . 14 July 2018 . 20 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221020211050/https://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/ma-replaces-injured-turvey-for-second-new-york-race-1060032/ . dead .
  14. Web site: Ma Qing Hua replaces Filippi at NIO for Paris. Smith. Sam. April 17, 2018. April 17, 2018. e-racing365.com. John Dagys Media, LLC.
  15. Web site: Lotterer and Vergne complete TECHEETAH line-up – Formula E. www.fiaformulae.com. en. 2018-03-20.
  16. News: Douglas. Scott. MAHINDRA STICK WITH ROSENQVIST AND HEIDFELD. 20 September 2017. thecheckeredflag.co.uk. The Checkered Flag. 20 September 2017.
  17. Web site: Alexander Sims set for Andretti Formula E 2017/18 development role. Mitchell. Scott. Autosport. 23 May 2017. 23 May 2017.
  18. News: Mitchell. Scott. Kobayashi to make Formula E debut in Hong Kong. 15 November 2017. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 15 November 2017.
  19. Web site: Sarrazin makes surprise return to Formula E. Smith. Topher. e-racing.net. 7 May 2018. 7 May 2018.
  20. Web site: da Costa confirmed at MS&AD Andretti. Smith. Topher. e-racing.net. 2 October 2017. 4 October 2017.
  21. Web site: 10kW power hike for Season 4. fiaformulae.com. 31 August 2017. 31 August 2017.
  22. Web site: Announcing MS&AD Andretti – the re-branded MS Amlin Formula E team - MS Amlin plc. www.msamlin.com. 8 November 2017.
  23. Web site: Alex Lynn steps Up to Full-time Formula E race seat with DS Virgin Racing. DS Virgin Racing. 5 September 2017. 5 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170905231504/https://www.ds-virginracing.com/news/alex-lynn-steps-full-time-formula-e-race-seat-ds-virgin-racing/. 5 September 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  24. Web site: Ex-F1 racer Kamui Kobayashi to make Formula E debut in Hong Kong. Scott. Mitchell. November 15, 2017. February 13, 2018. Autosport.com. Motorsport Network.
  25. Web site: Formula E raises race power for Season 4. fiaformulae.com. 10 January 2017.
  26. Web site: No London return but Chile on 2017/18 Formula E calendar. Smith. Sam. Autosport. 23 May 2017. 23 May 2017.
  27. http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2017/september/formula-e-brings-racing-return-to-switzerland/ Formula E brings racing return to Switzerland
  28. Web site: Sao Paulo Formula E race postponed until season five . Smith . Luke . 30 November 2017 . MotorSportsTalk . en-US . 4 December 2017.
  29. Web site: Formula E returns to Punta del Este – Formula E . www.fiaformulae.com . en . 6 December 2017.
  30. Web site: Mayor Plante: No return to Montreal "Under these conditions" . Grzelak. Antonia. 18 December 2017. www.e-racing.net . en . 18 December 2017.
  31. Web site: Formula E won't replace scrapped Montreal finale. Mitchell. Scott. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 18 January 2018. 18 January 2018.
  32. Web site: Calendar . FIA Formula E . 1 December 2017 . 10 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181210035614/http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/calendar/ . dead .
  33. Point for Fastest Lap awarded to Daniel Abt as d'Ambrosio did not finish inside the top 10.
  34. Point for Fastest Lap awarded to Felix Rosenqvist as di Grassi did not finish inside the top 10.
  35. Daniel Abt and Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler were the initial winners but were disqualified for technical infingement.
  36. Point for Fastest Lap awarded to Daniel Abt as Rosenqvist did not finish inside the top 10.
  37. Web site: Formula E Results 2017. Motorsport Stats. 13 August 2022.
  38. Web site: Driver Standings. FIA Formula E. 13 August 2022.
  39. Web site: Team Standings. FIA Formula E. 13 August 2022.