It’s time for the second double header of the 2023-2024 Formula E season. But what are the expectations of the drivers ahead of the Italian round held for the first time at Misano? Let’s hear directly from the main characters of the event:
Pascal Wehrlein
The Porsche driver gained the championship lead with two consecutive top 5 finishes in a row in Sao Paulo and Tokyo, which followed his Mexican victory.
Wehrlein is excited to have a double event right now in order to try and capitalise on the very strong pace he had shown in Japan:
“The pace was good throughout the weekend in Tokyo. We have to build on that in Misano. The track has fewer bumps and faster corners than a street circuit. I’ve raced there before in the DTM but it’ll be a completely different story in a Formula E car.”
Among the few drivers to have had already the chance of racing at the Italian track usually home to MotoGP, the German was also cautious as there is still a long way to go before the final championship rounds in set in London:
“This will be an important weekend because there are two races and thus double the points up for grabs. The fact that I’m leading the drivers’ standings shows that we’re doing a good job as a team. But we’re aware that the season is still long.””
Nick Cassidy
After being always on the podium in the first three races with his new team, Cassidy managed to score only four points in the last two rounds, which led him to surrender the provisional championship P1 to Wehrlein.
The Jaguar driver is determined to make the most out of his challenger in Misano, with the chance to reclaim his previous top spot only 2 points away
“I’m looking forward to Formula E’s inaugural race in Misano. Racing on more traditional tracks presents its own unique elements compared to the street circuits we’re usually on and, as always, strategy will be key. I’m looking forward to taking to track in Italy again in front of the incredible Italian fans.”
Oliver Rowland
Third in the championship standings, the Nissan driver missed out on his first win of the season at his team’s home round last time out by a small margin. He still was able to add another podium to his seasonal tally of three, even if he wasn’t left completely satisfied with his day.
Rowland warns that the following rounds, held on a permanent track rather than the street circuits Formula E has visited in 2024 so far, will pose a threat to the Japanese team’s good form as of lately:
“This weekend presents a different type of challenge compared to what we’ve faced so far this season. It’s been a great few weeks for us with three podiums in as many races, which was beyond our expectations as a team. We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground and maintain this momentum.”
“ We’ve been very strong recently, especially in qualifying, but we need to keep taking it race by race and staying focused on the task at hand. We also have to optimize our car on several different types of circuits, which will be tough but important if we want to keep fighting at the front.”
