Formula E returns to Monaco this weekend where they will once again use a modified configuration of the iconic Grand Prix street circuit. At just under 2km in length, the MS Amlin Andretti cars will use the same famous start/finish line before turning right immediately towards the harbour, where they’ll tackle a new hairpin before rejoining with the more familiar track configuration, including the well-known Tabac and Swimming Pool corners.
Antonio Felix da Costa raced in the inaugural Monaco ePrix in 2015 where he finished ninth. His teammate Robin Frijns will make his debut on the Formula E verison of the Monaco circuit, as the duo will look to bounce back after a disappointing weekend in Mexico City. The Andretti Formula E team enters the Monaco race weekend with 18 championship points, sitting eighth in the rankings but only one point behind seventh-place Faraday Future Dragon Racing.
Roger Griffiths, Co-Team Principal “Monaco is a pretty smooth track and the garage facilities are great. Turn 1 is hard, especially the first lap of the race, you need to be able to get through there without damage. I feel if the drivers can qualify a bit better, then they will make their lives a bit easier. Certainly we were more competitive in Mexico City than we were in Buenos Aires. Everyone is working very hard, there’s lots of activity. The mechanics prepare the cars very well and I would like to see a good result for the effort that everyone is putting in. They deserve that. This is motor racing, it’s not easy, it’s a highly competitive championship. We know that if we all continue to keep working like this we will see success.”
Robin Frijns “This will be the first time for me in Monaco with Formula E. I’ve driven World Series and GP2 on this track so it’s not new for me. During the last round in Mexico City we showed some great pace which is very encouraging. The team is working hard every day to be back in the points. We’ve had some bad luck the past few races so we are going to look to turn that around this weekend in Monaco.”
Antonio Felix da Costa “Monaco is one of the coolest places in the world to have a race. There is so much heritage and history, and so many big names have won there. I have good memories from Monaco, having been on the podium there in GP3. Being on that podium is very special so I would really like to do that again in Formula E. It’s a very technical track and very hard to overtake, so qualifying is going to be really important. I think we’ll have a good car because this track suits our car better than others. I think as a team, we’re going to do a really good job and keep improving on ourselves. We’ve been doing really well in our sim sessions so hopefully we arrive in Monaco with a really good chance of getting back in the points.”
