The Formula E field returns to North America for this weekend’s CBMM Niobium Mexican City E-Prix, the venue that produced the closest-ever finish in the history of the fully-electric racing series last year.

In 2019 the Mexico City E-Prix turned into the most spectacular race of the season and probably of the entire history of the futuristic racing series when drivers had to manage their batteries temperatures in hot conditions and were forced to save energy in an extreme fashion towards the end of the race. Mahindra driver Pascal Wehrlein led the entirety of the race in 2019 before battling with the energy level of his car in the dying minutes of the race. The German-Mauritian tried to held on in a heroic way, but Lucas di Grassi’s sensational sprint to the finish line meant that the Brazilian crossed the finish line first, securing his second Mexico City E-prix triumph.

The usual colourful schema

The sixth edition of the FIA ABB Formula E Championship has not failed to impress so far. The first two venues have delivered masterful, thrilling and exciting races. Sam Bird won the first race at Ad Diryah, becoming the only driver to have won at least one race in every season of the FIA ABB Formula E Championship. The second race was dominated by Alexander Sims. Curiously, Stoffel Vandoorne left the first location of the season-opening double-header leading the championship due to his two third-place finishes.

When the championship descended at Santiago, Chile, it was Maximilian Günther who delivered a masterful performance, securing his first ever Formula E triumph and also becoming the youngest race winner of the fully-electric series.

Stoffel Vandoorne leads the Drivers’ Championship despite failing to secure a win in the first three races. However, the Mercedes-Benz EQ driver stands out with his consistency after he finished the first two races third and added a sixth-place finish to his tally last time out in Santiago. Dominating the first two qualifying sessions, Alexander Sims is just three points behind the Briton. The former GP3 driver started the championship in a promising fashion, winning the second race at Ad Diryah, but he failed to see the chequered flag at Santiago.

Behind the leading duo, the pack is tightly-matched with six other drivers having more than twenty point to their names. Five competitors are yet to score points in the 2019/2020 season.

When it comes to the teams, the BMW i Andretti Motorsport leads the way thanks to their sixty points. The newly-formed Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team is just four points behind. The duo enjoys a healthy lead in front of the third-placed Envision Virgin Racing and the fourth-placed Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler outfits.

The legendary circuit in the heart of Mexico City

The enormous field of 24 drivers will battle it out around the 2.606km circuit at the iconic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez. The layout consists of 16 corners, featuring a wide variety of corners, straights and curved sections.

After the long start-finish straight drivers have to be spot on when they touch the brakes to master the tricky, tight first corner. Turn 2 represents a relatively long curverd section before Turn 3 breaks the rhythm. Turn 4 is another curved part while the next bend represents a loop where the exit is vital as a long full throttle section follows.

Turn 8 invites drivers to the unique stadium section of the Autodromo where cars have to master high kerbs. For this year, the fully profiled Peraltada curve returns to the layout and does not feauture the uncomfortable chicane any more, making the end of the track even more thrilling.