Motorsport Week previews rounds two and three of the 2024 FIA Formula E World Championship, where Pascal Wehrlein is looking to continue from where he left off in Mexico City.
The dust has only just settled from the recent season-opener in the Mexican capital, with Diriyah set to play host to the first double-header of Season 10 this Friday and Saturday. Wehrlein is targeting to not only claim his second win of 2024 but to also replicate his Diriyah dominance from 12 months ago, where he won both races in the desert.
Reigning World Champion Jake Dennis will be trying to stop him in Saudi Arabia, after his title defence got off to a disappointing start in Mexico City.
The venue
The two races in Diriyah around the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site are traditionally a sight to behold, with the 2.495km circuit being lit up by a staggering number of LEDs. Situated just on the north-western outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, both races at the Diriyah Street Circuit will be conducted at night, in what is the only night race on the Formula E calendar.
It’s a circuit the drivers love, with 10 of the 21 corners coming at them incredibly fast. The track has an iconic downhill section which is reminiscent of a bobsled run, with it always catching out a number of drivers.
Maximilian Günther was the driver who found this out the hard way last season, with his big shunt at Turn 5 in qualifying having resulted in him missing the first race of the double-header. Interestingly, since joining the Formula E calendar in Season 6, Diriyah has only ever hosted doubleheaders rather than a single E-Prix per campaign.
What happened in Diriyah last year?
On the first day in Diriyah last season, it was Sébastian Buemi who claimed pole position, which saw him match Jean–Éric Vergne’s record-breaking 15 poles. Buemi defeated Jake Hughes in the final on his 100th Formula E appearance.
As mentioned earlier, Günther failed to start the race after crashing heavily in qualifying. Kelvin van der Linde also made his debut at Abt Cupra, after replacing the injured Robin Frijns. In the race, it was Wehrlein who battled through the field from ninth to secure a stellar victory, ahead of Dennis and Sam Bird. The Porsches were dominant once again.
For the second E-Prix of the weekend, Hughes secured a famous pole position on just his third appearance, after defeating Mitch Evans in the final. Unfortunately, he failed to convert pole into a maiden podium, as Wehrlein and Dennis once again stormed their way to the front. It was Wehrlein who completed the double in Diriyah ahead of Dennis, to claim the lead of the championship at the time.
René Rast completed the rostrum, which secured Neom McLaren’s first Formula E podium. Nissan, NIO 333 Racing and Maserati all scored their first points of Season 9 in the second race.
Who are the favourites for victory?
Unsurprisingly, Wehrlein is the big favourite for victory in either of the two races this weekend, with there even being a realistic possibility that he could do the double in Diriyah for a second consecutive season. Based on his previous record in Saudi Arabia and the fact he enters this weekend having been victorious in Mexico City, his confidence is sky-high.
Dennis is another driver who will likely be in the fight for victory this weekend, considering that he finished second in both races 12 months ago and did have strong pace in Mexico City, only to be outdone by his own mistake in qualifying which effectively cost him any chance of a rostrum in the season-opener.
After claiming a podium in Mexico City on his factory Jaguar debut, Cassidy is someone who’ll probably be threatening the Porsche-powered drivers across both races. Historically, Diriyah hasn’t been a strong venue for the Kiwi, although he has every chance of changing that come this Friday and Saturday.
A dark horse for victory is Frijns, who disappointedly crashed out of the season-opener on his return to Envision. Frijns has good recent form on the outskirts of the Saudi capital and has finished second there on two occasions – race two in both Season 7 and Season 8. He also secured pole position for the second race in Season 8.
Another dark horse is Günther. The German’s performance in Mexico City surprised many, given how turbulent the off-season was for Maserati. Nevertheless, following an accident in the opening session, he was fast throughout the season-opener and was a genuine podium contender. However, it’s important for him not to replicate his qualifying crash from 2023.
Who else to watch out for?
There are a number of drivers to watch out for in Diriyah, both as podium outsiders but also because of impressive recent form in Diriyah. With Buemi and Hughes having claimed pole for the races in Saudi last year, they should both be watched closely once again this weekend, especially in qualifying.
Hughes’ teammate, Sam Bird, is one of the most successful Formula E drivers in Diriyah, having claimed two race wins and a further podium since the venue joined the calendar in Season 6. Whilst victory is unlikely, McLaren proved in 2023 that their package works in Saudi, and with Bird being one of the strongest drivers there, a strong result could be on the cards.
Evans is another driver who could threaten the podium places as he looks to start Season 10 better than he started Season 9. He could only manage fifth in Mexico City as a result of a steering issue. Evans also won’t want to be beaten by Cassidy yet again.
After enduring a shocker in the Mexican capital, António Félix da Costa will be looking to bounce back, at a venue he too has been victorious at in the past. Da Costa won the first ever Formula E race in Diriyah from pole position, whilst he most recently featured on the podium there in Season 7.
As it’s the Diriyah double-header this weekend, it’d be silly not to keep an eye on one of the venues most successful drivers, Nyck de Vries. The Season 7 World Champion is a two-time winner and pole sitter in Diriyah. A podium for De Vries is very unlikely but a solid weekend at a circuit he knows very well is possible and could kickstart his Formula E comeback.
How does the championship look?
After supremely converting pole position into victory in Mexico City, Wehrlein is the early leader in the Drivers’ Championship on 28 points, where he sits 10 points ahead of Buemi. With Cassidy having claimed third in the season-opener and the fastest lap, he’s a further two points adrift of his former teammate and 12 points behind Wehrlein. As for Dennis, he already finds himself 26 points behind Wehrlein.
To no shock at all, it’s the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team who are leading the Constructors’ Championship, courtesy of Wehrlein’s 28 points. However, with Cassidy having finished third and with Evans in fifth, Jaguar TCS Racing are only two points behind.
10 points behind Porsche in third are reigning Teams Champions’ Envision Racing, whilst Maserati and DS Penske are joint-fourth on 12 points. Nissan, Mahindra, ERT and Abt Cupra are yet to score a point, something they’ll be looking to rectify in the Diriyah double-header.
Diriyah E-Prix double-header schedule (GMT)
Thursday 25 January
Free Practice 1 – 14:55
Friday 26 January
Free Practice 2 – 09:55
Qualifying (Round 2) – 12:20
Race (Round 2) – 17:00
Saturday 27 January
Free Practice 3 – 09:55
Qualifying (Round 3) – 12:20
Race (Round 3) – 17:00
