Formula E is heading back to where it all began: China. The country hosted the very first championship race back in 2014, and ten years later we are returning ready for a double-header event in Shanghai. Here are the stories you can expect to see from this weekend.
A new venue for Formula E
The all-electric championship is heading to another permanent circuit, as the calendar begins its final few locations of Season 10. The Shanghai International Circuit was conceived by renowned designer Hermann Tilke, who has been responsible for some of the most famous race tracks in motorsport. From above, the unique layout resembles the Chinese character “上” (shang), meaning ‘up above’.
HISTORY: A decade of Formula E from idea on a napkin to the world's leading electric race series
Designed for top-tier motorsport global events, the circuit features a challenging combination of high-speed straights and tight corners. The clockwise, 3.051km layout will be a shortened version of the traditional Grand Prix circuit, with the positioning of the ATTACK MODE on the outside of the long right-hander of Turn 2.
Being a staple on other international motorsport calendars, like Formula 1, several members of our grid have driven here before. Drivers like Sebastien Buemi (Envision Racing), Lucas di Grassi (ABT CUPRA) and Stoffel Vandoorne (DS PENSKE) are just some of the names that have visited this special circuit in the past.
Bird is back
After breaking his hand during an incident over the 2024 Monaco E-Prix weekend, NEOM McLaren have confirmed that Sam Bird will be returning to racing in Shanghai. It’ll be a first time racing at the Shanghai International Circuit for the Brit, but nevertheless he’s ready to get back behind the wheel.
INTERVIEW: Barnard on his maiden points in Formula E
The crash saw Bird lock up and hit the wall in the run-off area at Turn 1 during the first Free Practice session in Monaco. The team confirmed the injury in a statement after the session, once Bird had been examined and sent to hospital for further checks, and he returned back to the paddock later that day – albeit supporting a bandage.
Once he returned to the UK, he underwent a successful operation and has been resting and recovering since them. He was on-site in both Monaco and Berlin to support and advise rookie Taylor Barnard who took his place, but is now well enough to take back the reins to his papaya GEN3 machine.
Could Porsche power come out on top?
The Shanghai International Circuit is certainly expected to produce some wild racing this weekend. It’s not only a very wide track, but the long start-finish straight should produce a lot of overtaking opportunities. Based on what we have seen so far this season, these ‘energy management-style’ tracks have produced a particular style of racing, like we have seen in locations like Misano and Berlin.
One manufacturer that has a package which is very competitive at these kinds of circuits is the TAG Heuer Porsche. We’ve seen them finish both races in first place in Misano – although Antonio Felix da Costa’s win was disqualified after the chequered flag. The Season 6 champ got his redemption though, winning for Porsche at their home race in Germany last time out.
“Energy management will also play a key role in the double-header event,” Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E said about the weekend. “We already underlined in Misano that we have a competitive package for such race tracks.”
With Andretti also getting on top of their qualifying woes in Berlin Round 10, they’re also a hot pick for success in Shanghai.
Other notable favourites include both Nissan powertrains. We saw NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird secure a stunning last-lap victory in São Paulo, another race big on energy management, and Nissan’s Oliver Rowland has been an unstoppable force this year with podium after podium. He was also there to pick up Da Costa’s disqualified win in Misano, and almost made it a double the following day until a technical issue brought his race to an end on the final lap.
INTERVIEW: Championship leader Cassidy on his 'roller coaster' Season 10 so far
Of course, Jaguar TCS Racing is a solid pick too. Nick Cassidy leads the Drivers’ World Championship and managed to pull an unbelievably impressive win out of the bag in Berlin. Despite being down in 21st at one point, the 29-year-old managed to play the strategy game to absolute perfection to claim his second E-Prix victory of Season 10.
Home race for ERT
It’s set to be a special weekend for Chinese outfit, ERT Formula E Team who celebrate their home race in Shanghai for Rounds 11 and 12. The team has been a part of the championship since Season 1, undergoing several name changes in that time!
Home to the pairing of Dan Ticktum and Sergio Sette Camara for Season 10, the team currently sit ninth in the standings on 23 points. The Misano E-Prix gave them their best finish in six years, thanks to Dan Ticktum’s amazing fourth-place finish, and the duo will be looking to impress on their team’s home soil.
Eight different winners in ten races
Last time out, Antonio Felix da Costa got his first official win of Season 10 and did it at the German giant’s home race. In doing so, he became the eighth different winner so far this year and added to our already impressive list of victors.
HANKOOK DEBRIEF: Seven things we learned in Berlin
Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy also stood on the top step for Round 9, making him only the second driver so far this season to have won more than one E-Prix. His success came off the back of his teammate Mitch Evans winning in Monaco.
Evans thanked his teammate Nick Cassidy for his help in securing the first place finish and became our seventh different winner in the first eight races so far this season.
Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein achieved his second win of the season in Misano, with Oliver Rowland securing his first win after rejoining Nissan in a rather untraditional way on the Saturday for Round 6 in Italy. The Yorkshireman inherited the first place after a post-race disqualification for the Porsche of Antonio Felix da Costa.
ANALYSIS: Karun explain's the Misano Da Costa disqualification
Before that was Tokyo, where Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther made it five from five as he was crowned winner in the Japanese capital. NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird had an emotional win in São Paulo for Round 4, and Cassidy stood on the top step for Round 3 in Diriyah. Dennis locked in a victory in Round 2 in Saudi Arabia over the double-header, with Wehrlein victorious at the first race of the season in Mexico City.
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2024 Shanghai E-Prix Rounds 11 & 12
The 2024 Shanghai E-Prix Round 11 gets underway on Friday 24 May with Free Practice 1 at 17:00 local time.
WATCH: How to watch every race of Formula E Season 10
Track action for the first day of the double-header starts on Saturday 25 May with Free Practice 2 at 08:00 local. Qualifying follows at 10:20 local time with lights out for Round 11 scheduled at 15:00 local.
Following this, Sunday’s action starts with Free Practice 3 at 08:00, followed by Round 12 qualifying and the race at 10:20 and 15:00 local time respectively.
Follow the race LIVE and listen to full race commentary on web and in the Formula E app!
Follow all the action on-track as it happens in the Race Centre.
Keep across Live Timing – which includes a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow your favourite driver during every session of every E-Prix – plus highlights, detailed session reports, exclusive interviews, all the standings and results as well as data, insight and reaction from trackside.