Image: Formula E
Tag Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein is gearing up for the first Shanghai E-Prix this weekend, sitting just 16 points behind the leader in the Drivers’ standings. With three double-header race weekends left in the calendar, there are still plenty of opportunities to earn points.
Season 10 has been a season of progress for Wehrlein. In Season 9, he struggled with the one-lap pace of the Porsche car in qualifying, but those issues have been resolved this year. The team has become one of the most consistent and strongest on the Formula E grid. Porsche recently announced their commitment to Formula E until the end of the GEN4 era, which has brought great motivation and excitement to Wehrlein and the team.
“The whole team is thrilled with this news,” he says. “It’s a big boost for everyone involved in the project.”
The topic on everyone’s lips in Formula E during the European rounds of the calendar has been ‘peloton’ racing. This style of racing has divided opinions among drivers, teams, and fans. Both the upcoming Shanghai E-Prix and the following race in Portland are expected to feature more peloton racing due to the nature of the circuits. Wehrlein and his teammate Antonio Felix da Costa have had success in these races, but Wehrlein emphasizes that other teams have also performed well in these conditions.
“It’s always interesting to hear assumptions,” he says with a smile. “We’ve seen many other teams win peloton races, so it’s a chaotic and unpredictable style of racing. It’s challenging to avoid trouble and keep the car intact, especially when going four cars wide into a corner. It’s a waiting game to find the right moment to move to the front and stay in the lead. Cassidy and Rowland have taken more risks and it has paid off. We have a strong package, but other teams are also excelling in peloton races. We’re getting better at it.”
After the Berlin race, da Costa and Jake Dennis praised the skill of Formula E drivers in handling peloton races. This raises the question of whether a Formula E Drivers’ Association would be beneficial for discussing race styles and ensuring both drivers and fans are satisfied with the show. Wehrlein believes that communication between drivers is already happening, but he personally feels that there is an imbalance towards more peloton races.
“Discussions are already ongoing, but it feels like 80 percent of the races this year are peloton races,” he explains. “There should be a better mix of tracks, with some being difficult to overtake and others featuring peloton racing. Having a majority of normal races with a few exceptions would be very interesting. Right now, most races are just about surviving and progressing to the front at the right time. We need a better balance.”
Wehrlein shares the concern of many drivers that peloton racing diminishes the importance of qualifying. He points to Cassidy’s victory in Berlin as an example of how starting at the back and conserving energy can lead to success. He agrees with da Costa that a balanced mixture of different circuit styles, proportioned correctly, could be the solution.
“I still believe that qualifying should be important,” he says. “Right now, it feels like we don’t even need to do qualifying because you can start at the back, save energy, and move to the front later. We need a better mix of race styles, and hopefully, there will be good solutions in the future. If there’s a good mix, everyone will be satisfied.”
Looking ahead to the Shanghai E-Prix, Wehrlein is optimistic about his chances of regaining the championship lead. He is excited for the return of Formula E in China after a five-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Hopefully, we are in for a promising weekend; I believe there are many possibilities for success in the upcoming races.
“I have confidence in our car and our strategic team, so we have all the necessary elements to achieve our goals.
“Our focus should be on maximizing our potential and ensuring that we leave no stone unturned. It is crucial that we give our all on race day and at the track, so that we can look back and say that we did everything we could. This mindset will greatly contribute to a successful weekend.
“Additionally, I hope that our return to China is met with great enthusiasm. We are aware of the immense support we have from our Chinese fans, and we anticipate their continued interest in the races here in Shanghai.”
Lastly, numerous fans and experts have expressed their admiration for Wehrlein’s exceptional performance in Season 10. Wehrlein, a highly skilled individual, carefully considers whether this is indeed the peak of his career thus far.
“It is always challenging to make such a judgment. I do believe that compared to last season, I have made progress.
“Together with the team, we have focused on improving various aspects of our overall performance. This includes enhancing the car setup, refining operational systems, and honing my skills as a driver. The collective effort has undoubtedly contributed to my growth as a driver this year.
“It is difficult to definitively label this as my best year in Formula E or claim that a particular race was my finest. Sometimes, I push myself to the limit during qualifying and feel like I couldn’t have done any better, resulting in a P10 finish. Other times, I may feel that there is still room for improvement during a lap, but end up securing pole position. So, it becomes a question of whether being in pole position makes me happy or if I believe it wasn’t my best lap ever.
“Answering this question is quite complex, but one thing is certain: I have improved this year compared to the previous one because I have never stopped learning and continuously strive to better myself.”