Current Affairs - Inside Formula E

Matt Kew is back from attending the first two Formula E events to answer the big questions arising from both action-packed races. Friday was dominated by a supreme performance from Nyck der Vries who dominated every session and drove to a commanding win in the first ePRix of the Diriyah double header. On Saturday, Sam Bird would be handed the win after a red flag brought a premature end with 3 minutes left on the clock, which overshadowed a victory he always looked to have under control.Two major incidents naturally dominated the talking points. Alex Lynn ended his weekend upside down in his Mahindra after a spectacular airborne incident which, somehow, wasn't the scariest moment of the weekend. That honour goes to Edoardo Mortara who accelerated off the track and hit the wall head-on during the Saturday practice session. “To be frank with you I thought that was pretty much the end for me" he said afterwards. On the podcast we explain how a software issue left Mortara with no ability to stop the car, and what the solution was.In the latest episode of Teammate Wars, DS Techeetah’s Vergne and da Costa wound up in another situation which required a post-race summit to establish the rules of engagement. Again. Matt Kew (Autosport Editorial Assistant) is joined by Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport).

Formula E returns this weekend with track action starting on Friday 26th February in Diriyah. The 2021 season (or Season 7 as Formula E like it to be known) sees 10 manufacturer entries out of the 12 teams on the grid, a high-water mark perhaps before some of them leave at the end of the year. On our first podcast of the season, we run through the teams, the drivers, the battles and the tech you need to know about. Plus we look ahead to the Gen3 cars which Mahindra Racing and DS have already committed to, with others including McLaren expected to join. Matt Kew (Autosport Editorial Assistant) is joined by Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport).

Matt Kew (Autosport Editorial Assistant) is joined by Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) to cast their expert opinion over the final rounds of the 2019/20 Formula E season. Was the plan to run six races in Berlin a success? With a champion crowned, why was it good news to see two maiden winners? And does it mean that Mercedes and Nissan can take the fight to DS Techeetah next year?

Matt Kew is joined by Jake Boxall-Legge to analyse the title battle, as Antonio Felix da Costa closes in on the championship.

On the eve of the return of Formula E in Berlin, Matt Kew checks in with Nicki Shields from her Berlin hotel room. They talk about the return of Formula E, how the sport is coping with the pandemic and their predictions for who will shine over the next 6 races.

On the podcast today, Matt and Alex talk about how Formula E will deliver six races in three double-header events in Berlin. Plus, we ask if the punishment was too harsh for Abt; our verdicts on the Formula E documentary 'And We Go Green' and why the 2020/21 calendar will deliver regular action.

In recent weeks we've brought you interviews with drivers, team principals and series chiefs from Formula E. Whist there is no racing at present until the season starts again, there is still plenty to talk about.One of the big talking points recently was Alejandro Agag telling this podcast that city racing could be abandoned for three years. So today Matt Kew is joined by Alex Kalinauckas and Kevin Turner (Chief Editor, Autosport) to discuss what our fantasy Formula E calendar would look like if the series moved to permanent circuits. Brands Hatch vs Valencia? Cadwell Park vs Paul Ricard?How about the idea of event sharing with Formula 1 and MotoGP?We would love to hear from you too. Did we miss any circuits? Tell us your suggestions by emailing news@autosport.com

Coming up on this edition of the show is an interview with Alejandro Agag, the founder and chairman of Formula E and also the founder and CEO of Extreme E. The all-electric off road racing series is set to kick off in January where it will visit Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Greenland and Brazil. The championship has also announced that each team will run both a male and female driver. This move immediately drew criticism on social media, so we give Alejandro the opportunity to offer his reply to those sceptics. We also chat through why the unease around social gatherings, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, might fundamentally change the setup of race meetings in the future.Follow Matt on Twitter @matt_kew

This week is two for the price of one on a very special episode of Current Affairs. Matt Kew is joined by Jean-Éric Vergne and António Félix da Costa from DS Techeetah. Ahead of JEV's 30th birthday we discuss how both drivers overcame the mental challenges of fighting for a seat in Formula 1, and we ask why their car has been the strongest in race pace this year.

On the podcast today you can hear Formula E Chairman Alejandro Agag speaking with Motorsport Network’s President, James Allen. Speaking exclusively to Autosport for our #thinkingforward series with motorsport leaders, Agag struck an optimistic note about the scale of opportunity that faces the industry, despite the severe challenges caused by the temporary cancellation of all events. They talked about why Formula E needs to reflect on the GEN3 car, the biggest lesson we can learn from the virus crisis, and how some racing series can survive through consolidation

How did Allan almost drive in the debut season of Formula E? How did he become a Team Principle? And how does he feel about the future of the sport? Matt Kew (Autosport Editorial Assistant) is joined by Audi team principal Allan McNish for a wide ranging discussion on his career and his involvement with Formula E.

This week, Matt is joined by Alex Kalinauckas to look at how Formula E handled race postponements and cancellations as the Covid-19 crisis spread across the globe.

Matt Kew is joined by by Valentin Khorounzhiy to look back on a race won by over 11 seconds, the third largest winning margin in Formula E.

Matt Kew is joined by Jack Cozens to discuss Formula E’s new and noisy neighbour: the all-electric Pure ETCR series. They analyse how the two will coexist and discuss the key names taking part in the Marrakech rookie test.

Matt Kew is joined by Alex Kalinauckas to look back at an eventful Mexico City E-Prix. Jaguar's Mitch Evans claimed a crushing Formula E victory as polesitter Andre Lotterer and pre-event points leader Stoffel Vandoorne crashed out.

Looking ahead at the race in Mexico this weekend. Plus we talk to Buemi and Rowland about their thoughts on the current season.

This week we're talking about the news story of the week, and Formula E getting a whole new look. A new bodykit called the Gen2 Evo will arrive for the 2020/21 season.The key differences with the bodykit include the front and rear wheels being uncovered, a large ‘shark fin’ added behind the rollhoop, a simpler rear wing and a changed outboard section of the front wing.Shortly after Formula E called off the Sanya E-Prix, we're talking about how the inaugural Jakarta E-Prix due to take place on 6th June needs an alternative location.PLus we catch up with Jean Eric Vergne to talk about why the Formula E grid is stronger than Formula 1, and when Lewis Hamilton will make the jump to racing electric cars.

Alex and James have an in depth discussion about the original aspirations for Jaguar Racing and how they've achieved all the targets they set. Plus, what are the current expectations for results?How does James manage the team and how come so many of the same faces are still in the garage going back to their first season? Finally they talk about the Jaguar® I-PACE eTROPHY and why electrification is the future for both racing and road cars.

What a difference a year makes! 12 months on from leaving Dragon, Maximilian Günther writes his redemption story with a win in Santiago. This was the event at which he first met with BMW Andretti Team Principal Roger Griffiths in 2019. Vandoorne now leads the championship on 39pts with Alexander Sims on 35pts. DS Techeetah's Antonio Felix da Costa didn't hold back when talking about being delayed by team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne. Whilst Mercedes-Benz continue to impress with their powertrain improvements. Plus, we ask why so many of the front runners fell back during this particular race.

Alex is joined by BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver Alexander Sims to talk about his start to the season and being the current championship leader. We look ahead to Santiago, which saw an eventful race last year with scorching temperatures and even parts of the tarmac breaking up. Attack Mode continues to stimulate plenty of debate, so how does Sims feel about placement and timing of Attack Mode?

This week Alex and JBL take a deep dive into the new ideas from Formula E with the Gen 3 cars scheduled for the 2022/23 season. Will the next generation of car be an evolution of the current specs or will they be a radical departure? Could pit stops make a comeback with ultra-fast charging of the batteries? How will the aero change? We *think* we have some of the answers.

On the final podcast of the year, Alex is joined by Autosport Magazine Editor Kevin Turner and former Formula E reporter Scott Mitchell. They look back at five years of Formula E, ask which drivers might have made it to Formula 1, and they play the worst Christmas quiz ever written.

Formula E has delivered some of the closest and most exciting racing of any major series in recent years. However there's still one question which needs to be answered: why does Formula E need explaining? Whether it's the technology, the qualifying format or even the races themselves, all too often some of the casual fans have been left scratching their heads.On this special edition of Current Affairs, Alex sits down for an extended interview with Mark Preston, Team Principal of the Techeetah Formula E racing team. They look back at the action in Diriyah and talk about the wider issues around Formula E.

Alex and JBL joined Edd Straw on The Autosport Podcast to talk about the first weekend of the 2019/20 Formula E season. Not only were we shamelessly plugging our new podcast to the Autosport audience, we were recording the same show for both channels. That, my friends, is multitasking!

Welcome to the first show! Alex is joined by Autosport Editor Kevin Turner and Technical Editor Jake Boxhall-Legge to preview the 2019/20 Formula E season. Plus we're joined by Sam Bird to talk about the current state of Envision Virgin Racing, and Alex is even allowed to try out the state-of-the-art simulator at their Silverstone HQ.