Double challenge for Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team in Berlin

The Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team will have to deal with two different circuit layouts in rounds seven and eight of the 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula World Championship at Tempelhof Airport

• Stoffel Vandoorne: "The old airfield's tarmac is pretty unique, so it's super important to get the car in a window where it goes well."
• Nyck de Vries: "It's good to be back racing again this soon, on a track that historically has suited us well as a team. I personally have fond memories of Berlin, so can't wait to get back on track!"
• Ian James: "We are setting off to Berlin for the next two rounds of this World Championship on a high. However, we won't let that high distract us from our ultimate goal: we know we still have a lot of races to go and the level of competition will only get higher by the day."
• Further information, statistics and facts about the upcoming E-Prix can be found in the Race Facts on our media site

The fifth stop in Season 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship takes the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team to Berlin next weekend (14 and 15 May). The team's home race will be held as a double-header with two races on one weekend, with the second race on Sunday presenting a special challenge.

While the seventh round on Saturday will be held on the traditional circuit in an anti-clockwise direction, drivers will have to race clockwise around the 2.355 km circuit at Tempelhof Airport during Sunday's eighth round of the season.

The circuit has ten turns and drivers can expect to be at full-throttle for 73% of the time. Top speed down the main straight will be around 220 km/h. Energy management and race strategy will be particularly important at this bumpy track. The activation zone for Attack Mode will be on the outside of Turn 6 for Race 1 and at Turn 5 for Race 2.

The Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team will well remember their home race and the season finale in Berlin at the end of their debut season when Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries clinched the team's first one-two victory in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. A year ago, the team won both the Drivers' and Teams' World Championships in Berlin.

This year, Stoffel heads the Drivers' World Championship with a six-point lead over Jean-Eric Vergne in the run-up to Berlin. Nyck is eighth in the standings after this season's six races. In the Team Championship, the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team is 15 points ahead of DS Techeetah.

Racing will get under way at 17:30 on Friday with a shakedown to be followed by two practice sessions, one qualifying, and of course, the race on Saturday and Sunday. Race start will be at 14:04 BST on both days.

Comments ahead of the Berlin E-Prix 2022

Stoffel Vandoorne:

"We'll be back in Berlin at the weekend for another double header and our team's home race. We've done well in Berlin previously. I've been on pole a couple of times before there, have taken quite a few podiums and secured my maiden win in Formula E in 2020, so you could say that this track has suited us well so far. However, it's also a circuit where things can go wrong if you don't get the car in the right window. The old airfield's tarmac is pretty unique, so it's super important to get the car in a window where it goes well. If we can achieve that, then we should be able to compete up front again, and hopefully, come away with a good haul of points."

Nyck de Vries:

"It will be good to race again after a difficult race weekend in Monaco. In my opinion, we had a good weekend in terms of pace, but unfortunately we didn't manage to turn it into the result and points we'd hoped for in the race. It's good to be back racing again this soon, on a track that historically has suited us well as a team. I personally have fond memories of Berlin, so can't wait to get back on track!"

Ian James, Team Principal:

"We are setting off to Berlin for the next two rounds of this World Championship on a high. The last race weekend in Monaco proved our strength and pace - a result of hard work by the team. However, we won't let that high distract us from our ultimate goal: we know we still have a lot of races to go and the level of competition will only get higher by the day. The opposition adapts and learns as well and the challenge is to always be ahead - every step of the way. Berlin has treated us very well in the past. Both in Season 7 and Season 8 we have scored good results, so we will be aiming for another competitive weekend. Berlin: here we come!"

Where to watch

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