Formula E / Hypercar: Berlin or Spa for drivers?

The arrangement of the calendars of the different world championships is always a delicate undertaking and conflicts of dates continue to persist between them. If this does not pose too many problems when the Formula 1 meets other disciplines, this proves more complex to manage for the teams and the drivers when two major meetings collide. This is the case from May 9 to 11, the weekend where the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, third round of the 2024 season of WEC, and the Berlin e-Prix, rounds 9 and 10 of the Formula E, telescope. Problem: several drivers competing in Hypercar are also registered in the Formula E Championship.

Nyck de Vries (Mahindra / Toyota), Sébastien Buemi (Envision / Toyota), Norman Nato (Andretti / Hertz Team JOTA), Robin Frijns (Envision / BMW), Edoardo Mortara (Mahinda / Lamborghini), Nico Mueller (ABT / Peugeot ), Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne (DS / Peugeot) will therefore have to make a choice.

With no less than three drivers out of the six entered in the World ChampionshipEndurance of the FIA, Peugeot is the manufacturer most affected by this weekend on two fronts. Jean-Marc Finot, director of Stellantis Motorsport, confirmed on the sidelines of the 1812 km of Qatar that Mueller will ride in the French Hypercar in Belgium while Vergne and Vandoorne will be requisitioned by DS.

To replace at least one of the two, Peugeot could call on its reserve driver Malthe Jakobsen. “ It's not yet decided, replied Jean-Marc Finot to the press in the Qatar paddock. We still have time for that. » Peugeot could choose to run with only two drivers in each car, which is permitted by the regulations for six-hour races. This is also what the Hertz Team JOTA team will do for its part with the absence of Norman Nato.

« For me it's pretty clear, the Frenchman explained to us in Qatar. I will not be present at Spa, they will race two drivers on our car (the No. 12 that he co-drives with Callum Ilott and Will Stevens. Editor's note). I signed first in Formula E for this season, and then in the negotiations with JOTA, that was part of the discussions. If they didn't change the date I couldn't be at Spa, but as long as they can do it with just two drivers it's not a problem. »

Lamborghini should do without Mortara at Spa and therefore call one of its drivers IMSA to compensate for his absence. It should be Andrea Caldarelli or Matteo Cairoli since Romain Grosjean will already be busy with the Indianapolis GP in IndyCar. Another clash of dates appears for Lamborghini on the other side of the Atlantic, since the Frenchman will not be able to be present at Watkins Glen (June 20-23) due to his IndyCar commitments with Juncos, the Laguna Seca round taking place this same weekend. The Italian manufacturer should call on one of its WEC drivers to replace the Frenchman (Daniil Kvyat, Edoardo Mortara or Mirko Bortolotti).

On the Toyota side, Nyck de Vries and Sébastien Buemi should be present at Spa, just like Robin Frijns with BMW.

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