Formula E: Mexico track layout revealed
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship jolts back into action from its mid-season break on June 19 & 20 with a maiden trip to Puebla’s Autodromo Miguel E. Abed on the series’ return to Mexico. Here’s what to expect from a circuit new to every driver on the grid.
The Autodromo Miguel E. Abed will be entirely new territory for Formula E’s 24 world-class drivers. Experienced though they all are, none have raced on the 2.98km, 15-turn permanent racetrack near Puebla, which is set to host the 2021 CBMM Niobium Puebla E-Prix.
NEXT. WEEK. 🇲🇽
The drivers will be taking on a brand new circuit for this season’s visit to Mexico! Hear what they have to say ahead of the #PueblaEPrix double-header 👇 pic.twitter.com/OwPEe4KYY6
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) June 11, 2021
“I’ve been there, although quite a long time ago – maybe 2008 or 2009,” said Monteiro. “The altitude is very high. Mexico City is already quite high, but we’re going even higher, on a very, big volcanic plateau, and you can feel it. So, every day you can feel that kind of a little bit of lack of air and the tiredness. With a combustion engine, you would feel it in the car as well, but that shouldn’t happen with Formula E cars. The track is interesting, and has a low-grip Tarmac surface. Back when I drove it, it felt almost like ice – it was really challenging.
“I’m not going to tell everybody the secrets, not! But I have a few tricks that I remember and will keep those for Antonio. He’s quite capable of doing a good job on his own, though and he knows very well how to adapt to new tracks as well. I think the biggest challenge will be for the driver, breathing wise and maybe tiredness – and keeping your head cool. I remember we could feel it.”
“I’m really looking forward to Mexico and I’m very happy we can go there,” said Porsche’s Andre Lotterer. “I truthfully don’t know much about the circuit, but I did some research and I saw some pictures of the track, and it looks cool. I heard the location is a very exciting and beautiful place as well, so I can’t wait to go.
“When we go to hot places and abrasive tracks, you are on the higher end of the working window and the tire which will need more management. We’ll implement that into our energy management style and in the car setup. It’s another thing to master.
“Overheating the battery due to too much regen can also be an issue in the heat. So, we’ll need to also adapt the profile to stress the battery less and not getting into the derating phase where you start losing power.
“This has to be managed from the beginning of the race because we get a kind of prediction until where we will end up with the temperature. These are all things we can simulate in simulator and get ready for it, and it makes things a bit more difficult for us.”