FAREWELL TO A GAMECHANGER

Entering its final act, the Gen2 Formula E car has served its time and has one more season before being put out to pasture as the faster, lighter Gen3 machinery awaits its turn. For its swansong year, the Gen2 cars will be given an extra 20kw to shift the base maximum power to 220kw, with the higher 250kw mode employed for fanboost and attack mode.

Compared to the original Gen1 Formula E car, where the aesthetics led to it drawing unfavourable comparisons to Formula 1, the second-generation model was a unique design that helped cement the all-electric championship’s identity amid the world of motorsport. It was also a formula that proved very successful for the DS Techeetah package in the first two years, helping Jean-eric Vergne secure his second title and Antonio Felix da Costa winning out in 2019-20 before Mercedes’ de Vries proved triumphant in its third year.

In addition, Gen2 has moved Formula E on from a technological standpoint. With almost double the battery capacity of the old car, the in-race car swaps were made redundant and the higher power levels gave the championship enough confidence to run the full Monaco circuit last season, in lieu of the neutered version previously employed.

In short, the technology within each car and the overall design has done a lot to shape the perception of Formula E. The third-generation car will have a lot to live up to when it enters the fray for Formula E’s ninth season.

Given that Venturi hasn’t exactly been the most high-profile of teams alongside the manufacturer entities in Formula E, Edoardo Mortara’s second-place finish in the drivers’ championship was certainly unexpected last year. Since ditching its own powertrains to become a Mercedes customer, Venturi has made a step forward in terms of pace but hasn’t necessarily enjoyed the consistency required to replicate that in the teams’ standings.

But that perception can change, with Venturi having now recruited Lucas di Grassi from the departing Audi team. In the Brazilian, it has a Formula E champion with the nous to fight at the front of the pack, although di Grassi may have to contend with fewer resources than he’s used to with a manufacturer squad.

He and Mortara looked competitive in testing, even if clues from the week at Valencia were scarce. The team also has Jerome d’ambrosio as team principal as Susie Wolff moves into a directorial role, ensuring that Venturi has veteran drivers in and out of the cockpit.

Can either Venturi driver realistically challenge for the title, and potentially beat the works Mercedes team in its last year? On the basis of Mortara’s 2021 heroics, di Grassi’s ability and on testing form, it truly could.