Mercedes Formula E ready for the new season.

After 125 years of motorsport, Mercedes-Benz is about to open a new chapter in its successful racing history with the Diriyah E-Prix scheduled to take place this coming weekend.

As the 2019/20 ABB FIA Formula E Championship season gets underway, the two Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01s driven by Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries will be competing in the electric racing series for the first time. It truly is the dawn of a new era.

What’s new in season six?

For the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team, the electric racing series constitutes unfamiliar territory. But for the other teams too, this season brings a number of significant changes in the regulations. For every minute of interruption to normal racing (safety car, Full Course Yellow), each car will have 1 kWh deducted from its available energy reserves. This puts energy efficiency even more in the foreground. In addition, the clock will be stopped in the event of an interruption to proceedings, which will ensure that the E-Prix goes the full distance. The usual race duration in Formula E is 45 minutes plus one lap.

The so-called Attack Mode is also being slightly changed this season. If this overtaking aid is activated by the car driving over three detector strips located off the racing line, the driver benefits from a time-limited power boost. The maximum power of this boost after activation will be 235 kW instead of 225 kW. However, Attack Mode must not be used during a safety car deployment or a Full Course Yellow.

There is also an innovation in the scoring system: the fastest drivers in each qualifying group receive an extra point. The pole-sitter continues to benefit from the three bonus points. In the race itself, the points are awarded on the same basis as in Formula 1, i.e. from first to tenth place. There is another extra point for the fastest race lap, but only if the driver posting it has finished within the Top Ten.

What’s so special about Formula E?

Formula E is more than exciting motorsport. Within a very short space of time, the electric racing series has become established as a pioneer as regards to technological innovation, sustainability and electro mobility. Racing takes place on specially designed street circuits in the centres of major cities. In this way, the race is brought directly to spectators – and not the other way around.