2019–20 Formula E Championship

The 2019–20 FIA Formula E Championship was the sixth season of the FIA Formula E championship, a motor racing championship for electrically powered vehicles recognised by motorsport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as the highest class of competition for electric open-wheel racing cars.

2019–20 FIA Formula E Championship

Drivers' Champion: António Félix da Costa
Teams' Champion: DS Techeetah

Previous

2018–19

Next

2020–21

Support series:
Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy

António Félix da Costa, the 2019-20 Champion.

On 13 March, Formula E and the FIA announced a temporary suspension of the season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1] During the suspension, Formula E organised an esports racing series called Formula E Race at Home Challenge. The season resumed and concluded in August with six races within nine days at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit.

The season's champion was António Félix da Costa who clinched his first title with two races left. DS Techeetah became team champions for the second time in a row.^[2]

Teams and drivers

All teams used the Spark SRT05e chassis and Michelin all-weather tyres.

Team	Powertrain	No.	Drivers	Rounds
Envision Virgin Racing[3]	Audi e-tron FE06[4]	2	Sam Bird[5]	All
		4	Robin Frijns[5]	All
Nio 333 FE Team[6][7][8]	Nio FE-005[9][a][b]	3	Oliver Turvey[11]	All
		33	Ma Qinghua[11]	1–5
			Daniel Abt[12]	6–11
Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team[13][14]	Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01[15]	5	Stoffel Vandoorne[16]	All
		17	Nyck de Vries[16]	All
GEOX Dragon[3]	Penske EV-4[17]	6	Brendon Hartley[17]	1–5
			Sérgio Sette Câmara[18]	6–11
		7	Nico Müller[19]	All
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler Formula E Team[3]	Audi e-tron FE06[4]	11	Lucas di Grassi[20]	All
		66	Daniel Abt[20]	1–5
			René Rast[21][22]	6–11
DS Techeetah[3]	DS E-TENSE FE20[23]	13	António Félix da Costa[23]	All
		25	Jean-Éric Vergne[24]	All
TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team[25][26]	Porsche 99X Electric[27]	18	Neel Jani[28]	All
		36	André Lotterer[29]	All
ROKiT Venturi Racing[3][6]	Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01[30]	19	Felipe Massa[31]	All
		48	Edoardo Mortara[31]	All
Panasonic Jaguar Racing[3]	Jaguar I-Type 4[32]	20	Mitch Evans[33]	All
		51	James Calado[34][35]	1–9
			Tom Blomqvist[36]	10–11
Nissan e.dams[3]	Nissan IM02[9]	22	Oliver Rowland[37]	All
		23	Sébastien Buemi[37]	All
BMW i Andretti Motorsport[3]	BMW iFE.20[9]	27	Alexander Sims[38]	All
		28	Maximilian Günther[39]	All
Mahindra Racing[3]	Mahindra M6Electro[40]	64	Jérôme d'Ambrosio[41]	All
		94	Pascal Wehrlein[41]	1–5
			Alex Lynn[42]	6–11

Free practice drivers

• James Rossiter replaced Jean-Éric Vergne in the first practice session of the Marrakesh ePrix after Vergne fell ill.^[43]

Team changes

• Porsche joined the grid as a new entry.^[25]
• The Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team entered the championship while HWA, which had run customer Venturi powertrains as HWA Racelab in the previous season, are running Mercedes' trackside operations.^[14]
• Venturi switched to Mercedes powertrains, effectively ending their run as manufacturers.^[30]
• The Nio team was sold to Lisheng Racing,^[44] but will continue under the NIO brand.^[6] The team is not using its own powertrains and it instead acquired last year's powertrain from GEOX Dragon.^[11][10]

Driver changes

• Neel Jani returned to Formula E as a Porsche driver.^[28]
• André Lotterer moved from DS Techeetah to Porsche.^[29]
• Maximilian Günther moved from GEOX Dragon to BMW i Andretti Motorsport, replacing António Félix da Costa.^[39]
• António Félix da Costa moved from BMW i Andretti Motorsport to DS Techeetah, replacing Lotterer.^[23]
• 2019 Formula 2 Champion Nyck de Vries made his Formula E debut with the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team.^[16]
• GEOX Dragon signed two rookies, with 2015 and 2017 World Endurance Champion Brendon Hartley partnering Nico Müller.^[17][19]
• 2017 GT World Endurance champion James Calado made his debut with Jaguar, replacing Alex Lynn.^[34]
• Ma Qinghua returned to Formula E as a NIO 333 driver, replacing Tom Dillmann.^[11]

Mid-season changes

• Daniel Abt was suspended from Audi after the "Race At Home" eSports series race during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic when it was discovered professional video gamer Lorenz Hörzing had taken his place.^[21] He was replaced by René Rast.
• Pascal Wehrlein left Mahindra Racing with immediate effect in June 2020.^[45] He was replaced by Alex Lynn.^[42]
• Ma Qinghua was unable to attend the final six races in Berlin due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.^[46] He was replaced by Abt.^[12]
• Brendon Hartley left GEOX Dragon team with immediate effect in July 2020.^[47] He was replaced by Sérgio Sette Câmara.^[18]
• James Calado missed the final two rounds with Jaguar and was replaced by Tom Blomqvist.^[48] Calado was already set to leave Jaguar Racing at the end of the season, having Sam Bird take his place.^[49]

Calendar

The 2019–20 championship was due to be contested over fourteen rounds in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, North America, and South America. The layouts are on street circuits, except for the Mexico City ePrix - held on a permanent road course and the Berlin ePrix - held on the access roads of Tempelhof Airport.

Round	ePrix	Country	Circuit	Date
1	Diriyah ePrix	Saudi Arabia	Riyadh Street Circuit	22 November 2019
2				23 November 2019
3	Santiago ePrix	Chile	Parque O'Higgins Circuit	18 January 2020
4	Mexico City ePrix	Mexico	Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez	15 February 2020
5	Marrakesh ePrix	Morocco	Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan	29 February 2020
6	Berlin ePrix	Germany	Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit[c]	5 August 2020
7				6 August 2020
8	Berlin ePrix			8 August 2020
9				9 August 2020
10	Berlin ePrix			12 August 2020
11				13 August 2020
Source:[51]
CAN	Sanya ePrix	China	Haitang Bay Circuit	21 March 2020[d]
	Rome ePrix	Italy	Circuito Cittadino dell'EUR	4 April 2020[d]
	Paris ePrix	France	Paris Street Circuit	18 April 2020[d]
	Seoul ePrix	South Korea	Seoul Street Circuit	3 May 2020[d]
	Jakarta ePrix	Indonesia	Jakarta National Monument Street Circuit	6 June 2020[d]
	New York City ePrix	United States	Brooklyn Street Circuit	11 July 2020[d]
	London ePrix	United Kingdom	ExCeL London[e]	25 July 2020[d]
				26 July 2020[d]

ePrix locations

Diriyah

Mexico City

Marrakesh

Santiago

New York City

Seoul

Jakarta

Sanya

Location of non-European ePrix in season 6.
(: scheduled ePrix : cancelled ePrix)

Rome

Paris

Berlin

London

Location of European ePrix in 2020.
(: scheduled ePrix : cancelled ePrix)

Calendar changes

The Spark SRT05e demo car at the 2020 Autosport International promoting the returning London ePrix by sporting a modified, Union Jack-inspired livery.

Three ePrix were taken off of the calendar. The Swiss ePrix was taken off as the 2019 Swiss ePrix was run as a one-time event.^[56] The Monaco ePrix was removed from the calendar as the race only happens every other year. The Hong Kong ePrix was originally due to take place but it was replaced with the Marrakesh ePrix due to the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.^[51] The season started a month earlier than the 2018–19 season - November instead of December - with the opening round, the Diriyah ePrix, taking place as a double-header with one race on the Friday and another on the Saturday.^[57]

The New York City, Paris, Rome, Sanya, London and the inaugural Jakarta and Seoul ePrix had been due to take place but were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^{[1][54][55][58][59][60][52][53]} In their place six ePrix were scheduled across three different layouts at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit between 5–13 August.^[61]

Regulation changes

Technical regulations

• The usage of twin motors was banned.^[62]
• The Attack Mode power was increased by 10 kW, from 225 kW to 235 kW.^[63]
• Drivers are no longer allowed to activate the Attack Mode during Full-Course Yellow and Safety Car periods.^[63]
• For each minute spent under Full Course Yellow or Safety Car conditions, 1 kWh is subtracted from the total available energy measured from the point at which the race was neutralised.^[63]

Sporting regulations

• During a race suspension, the countdown clock now stops, unless otherwise announced by the Race Director, with the aim of completing the full race time.^[64]
• The fastest driver in the group qualifying stage is awarded one championship point.^[64]

Results and standings

ePrix

Round	Race	Qualifying		Race			Report
		Group stage	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning team
1	Diriyah	Sam Bird	Alexander Sims	Daniel Abt[f]	Sam Bird	Envision Virgin Racing	Report
2		António Félix da Costa	Alexander Sims	António Félix da Costa	Alexander Sims	BMW i Andretti Motorsport
3	Santiago	Mitch Evans	Mitch Evans	Oliver Rowland[g]	Maximilian Günther	BMW i Andretti Motorsport	Report
4	Mexico City	Mitch Evans	André Lotterer	Alexander Sims	Mitch Evans	Panasonic Jaguar Racing	Report
5	Marrakesh	Maximilian Günther	António Félix da Costa	Pascal Wehrlein[h]	António Félix da Costa	DS Techeetah	Report
6	Berlin	António Félix da Costa	António Félix da Costa	António Félix da Costa	António Félix da Costa	DS Techeetah	Report
7		Sébastien Buemi	António Félix da Costa	Stoffel Vandoorne	António Félix da Costa	DS Techeetah
8	Berlin	Jean-Éric Vergne	Jean-Éric Vergne	Mitch Evans	Maximilian Günther	BMW i Andretti Motorsport
9		Jean-Éric Vergne	Jean-Éric Vergne	Sam Bird[i]	Jean-Éric Vergne	DS Techeetah
10	Berlin	René Rast	Oliver Rowland	Lucas di Grassi[j]	Oliver Rowland	Nissan e.dams
11		Sébastien Buemi	Stoffel Vandoorne	Nico Müller[k]	Stoffel Vandoorne	Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team
Source:[65]

Drivers' Championship

Points were awarded using the following structure:

Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	GS	Pole	FL
Points	25	18	15	12	10	8	6	4	2	1	1	3	1

Pos. Driver DIR SCL MEX MRK BER BER BER Pts 1 António Félix da Costa 14* 10G* 2* 2* 1* 1G* 1* 4* 2* Ret* 9* 158 2 Stoffel Vandoorne 3* 3* 6* NC* 15* 6* 5* Ret* 12* 9* 1* 87 3 Jean-Éric Vergne Ret 8 Ret 4 3 NC 10 3G 1G 18 7 86 4 Sébastien Buemi Ret* 12* 13 3 4 7 2G 11 3 10 3G 84 5 Oliver Rowland 4 5 17 7 9 14 7 6 5 1 Ret 83 6 Lucas di Grassi 13 2 7* 6* 7* 8 3 8* 6* 21 6* 77 7 Mitch Evans 10 18 3G 1G 6 13 12* 9 7 7* 11 71 8 André Lotterer 2* 14* DSQ Ret* 8 2 9 5* 8 4* 14 71 9 Maximilian Günther 18 11 1 11 2G DSQ Ret* 1 Ret* Ret 12 69 10 Sam Bird 1G Ret 10 Ret 10 3 6 13 11 20 5 63 11 Nyck de Vries 6* 16* 5* Ret* 11 4 Ret* 18 4 14 2* 60 12 Robin Frijns 5 Ret 15 DSQ 12 Ret 4 2 DNS 2 Ret 58 13 Alexander Sims 8 1 Ret 5 Ret 9 19 10 13 11 13 49 14 Edoardo Mortara 7 4 Ret 8 5 17 8 14 14 8 10 41 15 René Rast 10* 13 Ret 16 3G 4 29 16 Jérôme d'Ambrosio 9 DNS NC 10 13* 5 DSQ 7 15 16 18 19 17 Alex Lynn 12 11 17 9 5 8 16 18 Pascal Wehrlein 11 15 4 9 22* 14 19 James Calado 16 7 8 DSQ 16 15 20 Ret 17 10 20 Neel Jani 17 13 Ret 14 18 11 15 Ret 19 6 15 8 21 Daniel Abt Ret 6 14* Ret 14 18* 16* 15* 18* Ret* 20* 8 22 Felipe Massa 12 17 9 Ret 17 Ret NC 19 10 13 16 3 23 Brendon Hartley 19 9 Ret 12 19 2 24 Oliver Turvey 15 DSQ 11 13 21 16 18 16 22 19 21 0 25 Nico Müller DNS Ret 12 Ret 20 NC 14 12 20 17 22 0 26 Tom Blomqvist 12 17 0 27 Sérgio Sette Câmara DSQ* 17 Ret 21 15 19 0 28 Ma Qinghua 20 19 16 Ret 23 0 Pos. Driver DIR SCL MEX MRK BER BER BER Pts Source:[66]

Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX) Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest lap G – Fastest in group stage * – FanBoost

Teams' Championship

Pos.	Team	No.	DIR		SCL	MEX	MRK	BER		BER		BER		Pts
1	DS Techeetah	13	14	10G	2	2	1	1G	1	4	2	Ret	9	244
		25	Ret	8	Ret	4	3	NC	10	3G	1G	18	7
2	Nissan e.dams	22	4	5	17	7	9	14	7	6	5	1	Ret	167
		23	Ret	12	13	3	4	7	2G	11	3	10	3G
3	Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team	5	3	3	6	NC	15	6	5	Ret	12	9	1	147
		17	6	16	5	Ret	11	4	Ret	18	4	14	2
4	Envision Virgin Racing	2	1G	Ret	10	Ret	10	3	6	13	11	20	5	121
		4	5	Ret	15	DSQ	12	Ret	4	2	DNS	2	Ret
5	BMW i Andretti Motorsport	27	8	1	Ret	5	Ret	9	19	10	13	11	13	118
		28	18	11	1	11	2G	DSQ	Ret	1	Ret	Ret	12
6	Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler	11	13	2	7	6	7	8	3	8	6	21	6	114
		66	Ret	6	14	Ret	14	10	13	Ret	16	3G	4
7	Panasonic Jaguar Racing	20	10	18	3G	1G	6	13	12	9	7	7	11	81
		51	16	7	8	DSQ	16	15	20	Ret	17	12	17
8	TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team	18	17	13	Ret	14	18	11	15	Ret	19	6	15	79
		36	2	14	DSQ	Ret	8	2	9	5	8	4	14
9	Mahindra Racing	64	9	DNS	NC	10	13	5	DSQ	7	15	16	18	49
		94	11	15	4	9	22	12	11	17	9	5	8
10	ROKiT Venturi Racing	19	12	17	9	Ret	17	Ret	NC	19	10	13	16	44
		48	7	4	Ret	8	5	17	8	14	14	8	10
11	GEOX Dragon	6	19	9	Ret	12	19	DSQ	17	Ret	21	15	19	2
		7	DNS	Ret	12	Ret	20	NC	14	12	20	17	22
12	Nio 333 FE Team	3	15	DSQ	11	13	21	16	18	16	22	19	21	0
		33	20	19	16	Ret	23	18	16	15	18	Ret	20
Pos.	Team	No.	DIR		SCL	MEX	MRK	BER		BER		BER		Pts
Source:[67]

Footnotes

1. The powertrain is a rebadged Penske EV-3 used by GEOX Dragon in the 2018–19 season.^[10]
2. NIO keep their manufacturer status due to their new powertrain being homologated as such by the FIA in late August.^[10][a]
3. Each pair of races used a different track configuration.^[50]
4. The Sanya, Rome, Paris, Seoul, Jakarta, New York and London ePrix's were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^{[52][53][54][1]}
5. The circuit was designed as an indoor-outdoor venue, combining the ExCeL facilities and the surrounding public roads at Royal Docks.^[55]
6. Daniel Abt set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Mitch Evans was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
7. Oliver Rowland set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Sam Bird was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
8. Pascal Wehrlein set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Mitch Evans was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
9. Sam Bird set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. António Félix da Costa was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
10. Lucas di Grassi set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Oliver Rowland was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
11. Nico Müller set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Sam Bird was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.