The racing in São Paulo at the Anhembi Sambadrome Circuit is characterised by three long straights into tricky chicanes, with series of complex sweeping corners and tight turns making up the rest of the layout.
There were seven lead changes during last year’s São Paulo race, with Mitch Evans making a pass for the win with four laps to go. It's a circuit where we'll see slipstreaming aplenty as the drivers look to their rivals to do all the work down the longest straight on the Formula E calendar - nobody wants to be the driver punching a hole in the air for the rest to follow along more efficiently. Keeping in the tow is key to holding on to enough usable energy to push for points, as DS PENSKE's Phil Charles explains.
"With the peloton, we’ve all started to understand how to go about this style of racing – we’ve evolved a lot since last year," says Charles. "As a group, the pack will probably slow the race down to start with so that the energy target goes up – that makes it more difficult to overtake. Drivers are saying ‘I’m at the front, and don’t really want to lead, but if I am out front, I’m slowing you down’. That way, they’re more likely to be able to hold on to their position and score big points.
"With things evolving, people are more likely to play that game, and what that means is that a large chunk of the race will have a higher energy target – and will be closer to flat out. That may have consequences on the tires, and powertrain with the battery and temperatures – particularly with the high ambient temperatures here in São Paulo.
"With all of those things, we’re going to have to really watch and be careful of. For the fans watching, it’ll be a really exciting race but for us trying to make the best of it on-track, it will be a really challenging one."
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2024 São Paulo E-Prix Round 4
On to race day on Saturday 16 March; lights out on Round 4 follows at 14:00 local/17:00 UTC.
WATCH: How to watch or stream Formula E's Sao Paulo E-Prix where you are
View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.