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10. Size matters
The German capital measures approximately 23 miles from north to south and 28 miles from east to west, making it the largest city in Germany and, at over 3.5 million, it has the European Union’s second largest population, after London.
9. Feeling green
Considered by many to be Germany's greenest city due to its vast number of parks, woodland, canals and lakes, Berlin has a large system of waterways covering over 100 navigable miles and has more bridges than Venice. In fact, Berlin is exceptionally green, and it's a real leader in sustainability. Some 30% of the city comprises green space, parks and woodland for an idyllic big city feel.
The city’s senate has invested more than 30 million euro in its cycling infrastructure in 2020 alone, quadrupling its outlay from 2016, making it easier than ever to transit the city on a bike – a contributor to Berlin’s ‘good’ air quality index rating.
Berlin's energy consumption per year in its built space has almost halved in the last 20 years, reducing from 150kWh to 80kWh per square metre in 2020. It’s also ranked as the most energy efficient city in Europe in terms of its residential building infrastructure.
8. Culture capital
Known for its architecture, the arts and sciences, Berlin is recognized as a world city of culture and creative industries. Germany’s capital is home to three world-class Opera Houses, the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, a plethora of theatres and museums, Europe’s most visited zoo and remains Germany’s primary centre of science and research.
7. Sightseeing
Berlin is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites, Germany’s tallest structure, the Fernsehturm (television tower), and one of the country’s most famous landmarks, the Brandenburg Gate, which once represented German division but is now a symbol of peace and unity.
Nico Rosberg went for a sightseeing trip of his own around the city to help launch the Gen2 car to the public back in 2018.
6. Familiar territory
No city has staged as many E-Prix as Berlin, which will host its 13th and 14th Formula E races on August 14 & 15 and remains the only place that has played host to an E-Prix in every season since the start of the all-electric series in 2014.
WATCH: Formula E's best moments in Berlin
That nine-day six-race Season 6 finale helps bolster Berlin's numbers but the city, and Tempelhof, have long been favourites of fans, teams and drivers alike; the historic airfield never fails to deliver. The last visit saw an incredible three different circuit configurations used, too.
5. Iconic surroundings
Tempelhof Airport, which stopped operations in 2008, plays a very special role in the history of Berlin. The site is seen as a symbol of freedom after its role in the famous airlift of 1948/49 when allied forces wholly supplied people in the city by air for nearly a year after the Soviet Union entirely blockaded the western parts of Germany’s capital.
Tempelhof Airport's main terminal building was once among the twenty largest buildings on earth, but it also formerly contained the world's smallest duty-free shop! It's still the biggest building by area in Europe today.
In 2019, dignitaries from around the world gathered in Berlin to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the airlift.
4. Playing Host
Alongside Formula E, Berlin has staged numerous major international sporting events. Most notably, it was the host city for the 1936 Summer Olympics and was also the venue for the 2006 FIFA World Cup final and the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.
3. Tempelhof Circuit
The 10 turn 2.355 km track is sited on the giant apron of the terminal building. With its unique concrete surface, the Tempelhof Circuit is a difficult track to master - let BMW i Andretti Motorsport's race winner in Berlin Maximilian Guenther explain.
The track surface is made up of unforgiving concrete slabs that test not only the drivers’ skills in energy conservation, but tyre management is also thrown into the mix so expect a little more wear and tear than usual.
WATCH: The full story of an unprecedented motorsport event; 9 Days in Berlin
Last season, Berlin gave the field a completely new challenge in facing three different track configurations at the same location over six races and there'll be a flavour of this format with Formula E's first double-header taking place across two layouts.
On Saturday, it will be the traditional anti-clockwise Tempelhof that we all know well, but the next day will see the circuit flipped and reversed with the return of the NILREB layout.
2. Making history
History will be made at Tempelhof come the end of Round 15 and Season 7 as we will have seen our first ABB FIA Formula E World Champion crowned, after the series earned its prestigious FIA World Championship stripes pre-season - the first electric racing championship to do so.
Additionally, Berlin will mark the final appearances for BMW and Audi in Formula E, for now, with the manufacturers' long stints with the championship drawing to a close on home soil when that final chequered flag of Season 7 is flown.
PREVIEW: Everything you need to know ahead of the Berlin E-Prix
Both teams are in with a shout of Teams' and Drivers' titles with Lucas di Grassi having been there before for the four rings in 2016/17.
BMW i Andretti Motorsport's rookie Jake Dennis has two wins to his name in his maiden Formula E season, a record high outside the all-electric championship's inaugural campaign. He's best placed of the BMW-Audi quartet as it stands; just 14 points back from the summit with more than 50 points still to race for.
Will there be a fairytale ending for either of the German giants?
Audi has made history there before, thanks to Daniel Abt. His breakthrough victory came in 2018 when he signed off a career-defining perfect race weekend with a commanding lights-to-flag win on home soil in Berlin at the BMW i Berlin E-Prix, having also claimed pole position and the fastest lap – a then-unique feat in Formula E, though reigning champion Antonio Felix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH) achieved the same feat in Berlin on his way to the title in 2020.
1. For the record
Jaguar Racing's Mitch Evans is the fastest to ever get around the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit in race trim. His 1m08.350s at last year's Season 6 finale is the benchmark around the German race track.