The giant rookie doing FE its own way
The progress of Porsche and Mercedes as Formula E newbies will be one of the key storylines of 2019/20, but the two have created their programmes very differently. For Porsche, its decision to have an expanded structure could define its debut season
One storyline is going to run through the sixth season of ABB FIA Formula E in 2019/20, the respective fates of the two new teams on the grid: Porsche and Mercedes.
Each is arriving in the electric championship after rising to the top and then dominating series elsewhere. In Mercedes' case, it is still ruling Formula 1. FE is a series that seeks to head off domination through regulation - as many do - but, judging by the success spread of its most recent seasons, it is working. Success is not guaranteed in this championship, no matter how big a budget or motorsport legacy a team possesses - just ask Jaguar.
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Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.
A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.
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