Shanghai EPrix: The title fight narrows

The Formula E driver market is ablaze, so we thought we’d get Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt to pour some sustainable fuel upon it for this special episode. The futures of two former champions, Antonio Felix da Costa and Stoffel Vandoorne, are at the forefront of 'silly season' rumours with the former set to essentially dictate the market after a tumultuous second year with the German manufacturer. Vandoorne’s recent talks with Envision are analysed, as is the possibility of Jake Hughes breaking free of NEOM McLaren and heading elsewhere. Also, the possible end of Sebastien Buemi decade long Formula E career is discussed as the Swiss looks increasingly likely to be replaced by Vandoorne. In addition to the merry-go-round, the new for 2024-25 calendar is also looked in to with Smith and van de Burgt pontificating over planned new races at Homestead and Chiang Mai, while a future for Formula E at Silverstone is also debated. Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt are joined by motorsport writer and The Race contributor, Alice Holloway, as the business end of the 2024 Formula E season arrives, with talk of the title fight now being a straight scrap between Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy and Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein. But neither of them took the wins as the all-electric world championship returned to mainland China for the first time since 2015. It was their respective teammates Mitch Evans and Antonio Felix da Costa that triumphed after well-judged victories in more high-energy target races. The future of da Costa and his at times fraught relationship with Porsche is discussed, as is the likelihood of Jake Dennis now not being able to defend his title and Nissan’s Oliver Rowland also losing ground to his rivals. The trials and tribulations of Envision Racing are analysed, as is the future of Stoffel Vandoorne and the likelihood of Silverstone becoming the future home of a UK Formula E round. To join The Race Members' Club, click here to sign up, or you can sign up for all of The Race's bonus audio content (but not the other perks of membership) directly in the Apple Podcasts app. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race Formula E podcast takes an in-depth look in to a tempestuous weekend at Berlin Tempelhof where Nick Cassidy and Antonio Felix da Costa triumphed amid a hail of carbon shards and intra-team and manufacturer recriminations. The Race team explain why the racing was so fraught and what the slow-build and then quick burst peloton style of racing means for Formula E’s future. The bigger picture of what Cassidy’s bumper points haul means for the title race is also analysed, as is how his teammate Mitch Evans might be able to haul himself back in to contention after a tricky weekend in Germany. Oliver Rowland’s continued impressive form is discussed alongside how it might be affecting his teammate Sacha Fenestraz. A round up of the news includes a likely all-female test at Valencia in November and the latest possibilities for new venues in the much debated 2025 calendar. Hosts Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt also pointlessly reminisce about the 1983 Long Beach Grand Prix, Jean-Pierre Jarier’s erratic form and why Smith randomly stole a packet of Haribo from a private jet. To join The Race Members' Club, and enjoy bonus podcasts, as well as other benefits, click here to sign up. Alternatively, you can sign up for all of The Race's bonus audio content (but not the other perks of membership) directly in the Apple Podcasts app. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaguar’s peerless 1-2 at Monaco is picked apart by Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt as the Big Cat captured only its second 1-2 in the all-electric world championship. Mitch Evans victory was only one key aspect of a busy weekend which also saw plenty of off track news including Jaguar’s commitment to the Gen4 rules era, the unveiling of the Gen3Evo model that will race from next season onwards and the hiring of former Indycar entrant Beth Paretta. Smith and Van de Burgt also analyse how DS Penske came back in to form, how Oliver Rowland and Antonio Felix da Costa executed epic recovery drives and a remarkable debut from teenage sensation Taylor Barnard who replaced an injured Sam Bird at short notice. Additionally, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds joins the podcast to talk about the key topics now and for the future as he approaches his first year anniversary of being in charge of the world’s only electric world championship. To join The Race Members' Club, and enjoy bonus podcasts, as well as other benefits, click here to sign up. Alternatively, you can sign up for all of The Race's bonus audio content (but not the other perks of membership) directly in the Apple Podcasts app. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A typically action-packed Formula E weekend at the energy-bonkers Misano circuit in Italy is debated in this episode with special guest Maserati MSG’s Maximilian Guenther. Oliver Rowland and Pascal Wehrlein were the victors but the biggest story of the weekend was Antonio Felix da Costa’s bizarre and petty disqualification and the furious exchanges between Porsche and the FIA That is forensically analysed, as is the why Oliver Rowland ran out of energy while starting the last lap handing Wehrlein the win and the championship points lead. Gunther details his races which involved a strong run to third on Saturday, a dust up with Mitch Evans, getting airborne via kerbs and then seeing another points finish on Sunday being taken away for an incident with Jean-Eric Vergne. Hosts Andrew Van de Burgt and Sam Smith also take a wry-eye look at various other flashpoints, decipher the latest paddock news and indulge, for no particular reason at all, in reminiscing randomly about 1980s boxers and the long-forgotten Cagliari F3000 street race. Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up or join in Apple Podcast app Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race Formula E podcast goes big in Japan as the inaugural Tokyo EPrix is reviewed by Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt. How did Maximilian Guenther spring a surprise for Maserati MSG? Why did Oliver Rowland relinquish the lead? What happened to Edoardo Mortara after his qualifying heroics and why did Norman Nato’s sixth place get reinstated? All this and much more is covered, including an interview with the new Lola-Yamaha programme manager Mark Preston, as he outlines Lola’s ambition for 2025 and beyond. There is also a major breaking news story covered in which sensationally one of the Tokyo EPrixs points finishers is revealed as testing for a rival team! Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of The Race Formula E podcast Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt report from the Tokyo EPrix paddock with special guests Tommaso Volpe and Tadashi Nishikawa from the Nissan Formula team. An in-depth look in to Nissan’s electric programme is discussed, as is the recent announcement of the Japanese giant’s commitment to the Gen4 rules set which will ensure it remains racing in the world championship until 2030. Additionally, Volpe and Nishikawa, outline Nissan’s technical prowess and how it dovetails with its automotive messaging around all-electric engineering. Oliver Rowland also joins the conversation, looking ahead to the Tokyo EPrix and what excites him about the new circuit. Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A dramatic pot-boiling Sao Paulo EPrix is reviewed by Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt as they analyse the thrilling final lap win for Sam Bird, the first for the NEOM McLaren team. The duo are joined by Jaguar TCS Racing team principal James Barclay who talks over both Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy’s contrasting races and how the team ae reflecting on its generally positive start to the 2024 season. Also dissected are Oliver Rowland’s outrageous 5th to 3rd last corner mugging of Jake Dennis and Pascal Wehrlein, Maximilian Guenther’s blast through from last to 9th despite grid and stop/go penalties and disastrous races for hometown heroes Lucas di Grassi and Sergio Sette Camara. There is also time for a look ahead to the forthcoming inaugural Tokyo ePrix, the latest news from the paddock and even the moment Smith almost inadvertently wiped out Bernie Ecclestone in the paddock! Click here to take our quick survey about your podcast habits and you could win £/$100 worth of Amazon vouchers Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After an enforced and agonising seven-week gap in the 2024 calendar Formula E is back this weekend with the second Sao Paulo EPrix. Andrew van de Burgt is on feisty form as he questions some of the ‘noise’ generated in the intervening period since the Diriyah races in January, while Sam Smith reports from a visit to NEOM McLaren where he chats to team principal Ian James. The recent episode of The Apprentice is mulled over by Van de Burgt who is unflinching in his assessment of what he believed was a major lost opportunity for Formula E. The pair also discuss if Sao Paulo will see the first true energy saving race of the season and how both Mitch Evans and Antonio Felix da Costa can properly kick-start their tough seasons so far. Join The Race Members Club and have a free month on us! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two Diriyah EPrixs through up vastly different protagonists last week with only Nick Cassidy managing to achieve anything bordering on consistency. In this week’s Formula E podcast Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt are joined by Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns who put behind him a disappointing Friday race in Riyadh to lead but ultimately finish second to Cassidy in the second race. The trio discuss what made the event so difficult and what could be done in the future to make track conditions more conducive to racing. Topics such as Mitch Evans’ eventful Friday race, Pascal Wehrlein’s damage limitation exercises, surprises from Sergio Sette Camara and Jehan Daruvala, and the worrying form from Antonio Felix da Costa, are also covered off. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Click here to join The Race Members' Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices