After a month on recharge, Formula E returns this weekend in Mexico, and if the first round is anything to go by, another race where predicting the victor could be nigh-on impossible.
Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans will arrive there firmly in place as an early title-contender after becoming the first driver in FE history to complete a last-to-first victory in Sao Paulo.
The Kiwi cut a quiet figure in the off-season, having once again come so close to title success and see the crown slip through his fingers at the very last.
Many gossip-mongers have concluded his friendship with childhood friend and team-mate Nick Cassidy suffered as a result, but regardless of the off-track rumours, both men looked in fine fettle on it in Brazil, and will expect to be in the championship hunt once more.
Pascal Wehrlein will be looking to kick-start his title defence after crashing out of round one in horrifying style, being sent halo-first into the barriers after a tussle with Cassidy, but after seeing team-mate Antonio Felix da Costa take second place, the German will also be fancying himself to be in the mix.
Da Costa is looking for something of a point to prove this season, in what could be a make-or-break scenario in terms of whether he will stay with the Porsche squad into Season 12, but the old hand looked his calm and calculating best in Sao Paulo.
Nissan had ultimately a torrid opening weekend, with Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato victim of their cars overpowering, resulting in drive-through penalties that ruined their races, with Rowland looking set for at least a podium place.
Motorsport Week understands that the Japanese squad has been working hard back in Viry to rectify the problem, which also hindered the NEOM McLaren cars [who utilised the red flags to overcome the deficit it caused], in order to give Rowland the best possible chance of leaving Mexico with some much-needed points in the bag.
The circuit
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit is utilised in a different layout than that of its F1 counterpart, using the NASCAR oval as a base layout, but it encompasses 19 turns in just over one-and-a-half miles.
The cars will enter the large Foro Sol stadium complex, where, at turn 15, Attack Mode is located. Instead of the slower Mansell corner at the end of an F1 lap, FE cars will navigate the whole of the older Peraltada to complete the lap.
Last year’s Pole Position time set by Wehrlein was 1:13.298, and the drivers will surely be keen, with the new all-wheel drive feature, to get close to the 1:10.000s.
Last time out
Mexico was the location of the opening round of Season 10, and it was Wehrlein who started as he eventually went on, completing a stunning lights-to-flag victory ahead of Envision’s Sebastien Buemi, with Cassidy third.
Max Günther was fourth for Maserati, with Evans fifth and Jean-Eric Vergne sixth for DS Penske.
Prior to the race, fans were treated to a demo run in the GEN3 car by Jamaican Olympic sprinting legend Usain Bolt.
When and where to watch
FP1 one takes place at 17:00 local time [23:00 GMT] on Friday 10th.
Saturday 11th sees all the further action. FP2 takes place at 07.30 [13:30], followed by qualifying at 09:40 [15:40], with the race getting underway at 14:05 [20:05].
UK viewers will be able to watch the race on TNT Sports or on ITV’s streaming service ITVX.
Weather
Peak temperatures will reach around 22 degrees on both Friday and Saturday, with rain forecast in the hours leading-up to FP1. Saturday is expected to be dry.
