Formula E

Paddock Whispers: News ticker on all the important Formula E paddock topics in Monaco

Tobias Wirtz

Tobias Wirtz

FIA Formula E

Formula E is once again racing in the Principality of Monaco this weekend. As always, you can find out what else is going on besides what's happening on the track in the latest edition of our popular "Paddock Whispers" series. Our reporter Tobi Bluhm keeps his eyes and ears open for you on site. We update this news ticker regularly throughout the weekend.

>>> Jaguar Racing with "royal" halo message

[05.05. | 13:47] Besides Porsche, Jaguar also uses the halo system on its Gen3 bolide to spread a message. Unlike the German team, however, it is a congratulatory message to the British King Charles III and his wife Camilla: Charles' coronation takes place this Saturday.

>>> Football celebrity visits Monaco E-Prix

[05.05. | 13:02] No Formula E race without celebrity guests: In Monaco, French ex-professional footballer Patrice Evra visits the electric racing series.

>>> Porsche again with new halo slogans

[05.05. | 10:03] As at every race, the Porsche works team is once again using its traditional halo slogans in Monaco. This time, "Catch me if you Cannes" is emblazoned on Pascal Wehrlein's halo. With Antonio Felix da Costa, this time it says "Let's Mona-Go!" there.

>>> Professional cyclist rides e-bike on the track

[05.05. | 08:18] On Saturday morning there was an unusual sight after FP1: the former professional cyclist Andrey Kashechkin rode two laps around the track on an e-bike. The Kazakh achieved an impressive lap time of 3:38.833 minutes, which corresponds to an average speed of 54.9 km/h. However, Kashechkin shortened his lap time. However, Kashechkin cut the harbour chicane on his lap. We therefore assume that the race stewards will unfortunately delete the lap time.

>>> E1 Series tests in Monaco

[05.05. | 21:55] This weekend, Monaco is not only hosting Formula E: the E1 World Electric Powerboat Series, the first racing series for electric motorboats, is also currently in the Principality. Test drives with the electric racing boats called "RaceBird" are taking place in the Monaco harbour. According to information from 'e-Formula.news', Alejandro Agag, CEO of both Formula E and the E1 Series, also steered one of the boats.

>>> Are the drivers already using tactics in qualifying?

[05.05. | 19:00] In other racing series, the Circuit de Monaco is not necessarily considered a high-speed circuit - but at the Formula E round in the Principality, the electric series is likely to enjoy the next slipstream battle. "I'm not hoping for it, but I think it will be interesting again with the energy saving," Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Penske) told us. And Dan Ticktum (Nio 333) even adds: "Maybe we'll start to tactic already in qualifying. The three pole position points are still an incentive to go fast. But no one really wants to drive in front." So there will probably be no disappointed faces of drivers who lose their semi-final duels.

>>> Antonio Felix da Costa with fashion accessory at the trackwalk

[05.05. | 18:01] Porsche works driver Antonio Felix da Costa took revenge for an action by Pascal Wehrlein in Hyderabad on Friday in Monaco: During the trackwalk, the Portuguese was wearing shorts with his team-mate's face printed on them.

In case anyone doesn't remember: After the pre-season test in Valencia, Porsche published a video of its two Formula E drivers giving each other Christmas presents. Both of them gifted each other shorts with the other's likeness on them.

 
 
 
 
 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Home of Porsche Motorsport (@porsche.motorsport)

>>> Trackwalk on packed streets

[05.05. | 17:26] In Monaco, the trackwalk, where the drivers and engineers walk the circuit before the race weekend, is also something special: the roads in the Principality are still open to traffic until the morning of race day. So extra caution is advised, as the Friday evening traffic in Monaco is also quite a bit heavier.

>> FIA introduces new monitoring system

[05.05. | 16:21] The FIA, the world governing body for motor racing, is introducing a new system at the Monaco E-Prix, according to a report by 'The Race'. The aim is to monitor whether cars have technology installed that prevents the rear wheels from spinning. Such a system, usually referred to as traction control, is expressly forbidden under the technical regulations of Formula E.

>> Amount of energy for Monaco E-Prix still reduced

[05.05. | 15:32] The drivers will have to be a little more careful with their energy in the race in Monaco, too: As in Berlin, the amount of energy available for the race is 38.5 kWh.

However, the battery developed by WAE Technologies (formerly Williams Advanced Engineering) can store considerably more energy: At the season opener in Mexico City, the usable capacity had been 41 kWh. Before the double-header in Diriyah, the racing series reduced the amount of energy to 40 kWh, followed by a further reduction in Berlin.

>> Norman Nato drives with Bianchi design helmet

[05.05. | 14:00] Nissan driver Norman Nato will compete in Monaco with a very specially designed helmet: The Frenchman will race with the exact design used by his compatriot Jules Bianchi at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix. Bianchi finished ninth in the technically inferior Marussia car and thus scored the only two points in his Formula 1 career.

Bianchi crashed at the Japanese Grand Prix in October 2014 and died after nine months in a coma as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Since this season, Norman Nato has been driving with Bianchi's former starting number 17, which has not been allocated - at least in Formula 1 - since his death.

>> No "strategic use" of the Gen3-LEDs in Monaco yet

[05/05 | 13:26] Fans will continue to rely on the TV graphics to figure out if a driver has activated his attack mode. A strategic use of the car LEDs this weekend, as Alberto Longo recently announced as a possibility, could not be implemented, according to information from 'e-Formula.news'. Already at the race in Hyderabad, Formula E had carried out a software update on the bolides in order to be able to actively use the LEDs in the future. However, this led to unwanted inferences, which probably also led to Porsche driver Pascal Wehrlein having a serious accident in the 1st free practice session.

>> Maserati shows GranTurismo Folgore

[05/05 | 12:47] Maserati is showing its first all-electric sports car as part of the Monaco E-Prix: the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore is on display in the principality. Together with the internal combustion engine version GranTurismo Trofeo and the Formula E racing car Maserati Tipo Folgore, a photo shoot took place in front of the palace of Monaco in the past few days.

>> Hankook surprises with colorful tires in Monaco

[05.05. | 12:21] Hankook brought colorful tires to Monaco. Although the South Korean company had originally announced that it would only run blue and orange grooves on the tread at those races where the company is the title sponsor (Mexico City, Rome, London), they are now racing in Monaco as well with the eye-catching design. The race in the principality is so special that they decided to take this measure, a spokesman for the company confirmed to 'e-Formula.news'.

>> Problems with charge flap at rookie test, new parts in Jakarta at the earliest

[05.05. | 11:07] During the rookie test in Berlin, problems apparently arose with the charge flap located at the rear of the vehicle. According to an official document from FIA technical delegate Laurent Arnaud, chassis manufacturer Spark is planning some improvements on the mechanical side and in terms of software and calibration.

Since the new parts will not arrive until early June, the cars will run only with the CCS connector cap in Monaco (and presumably also in Jakarta). The new parts will then be tested on the Formula E demo car and during private tests by the manufacturers, and will only be used at race events afterwards.

>> "ABB Driver of Progress" - Formula E introduces new award

[05/05 | 09:20] Formula E has introduced a new award ahead of the Monaco E-Prix: In the second half of the season, one driver per race will be named "ABB Driver of Progress." The positions won in the race will serve as the basis for the assessment.

Since there is also a season ranking, Formula E has already created a ranking list retroactively for the previous championship. Lost positions or retirements of a driver are not counted. Andre Lotterer therefore leads the standings with a total of 46 positions gained. Pascal Wehrlein is second with 43 positions.

>> Class photo in front of the casino

[05/05 | 08:39] The bolides of the eleven Formula E teams were positioned for a photo shoot at the famous Casino de Monaco ahead of the race. For the group photo, which was taken after dark, the LED strips on all race cars were activated.

>> Dress up!

[05.05. | 08:14] The Formula E drivers also presented themselves at the photo session in suits. While some pilots in fine threads were quite James Bond level, some other drivers reminded us of the typical outfit for the celebrations of the 1st Holy Communion.

 
 
 
 
 
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