After starting Formula E season in control of fashion, British racer Oliver Rowland is hoping Mercedes has not found another set for a boss.
The Silver Arrows are enjoying a run of Formula 1 leadership of unprecedented form, collecting the seventh title of Drivers and Builders double in a row in 2020. And many expect that will be eight this year.
Back in 2018, Mercedes also turned its attention to the all-electronic Formula E series, looking for workwear next year.
And the opening round of the 2020-21 season could not have started much better, with Mercedes getting used to it before Nyck de Vries gave the Silver Arrows a pole over six-tenths.
The day of the race comes, the Dutchman led every lap on his way to victory, crossing the 4.1s line ahead Edoardo Mortara, also using Mercedes powertrain.
There has already been dissatisfaction with Mercedes’ dominance of Formula 1, so if that pours into Formula E, Rowland is concerned.
“Yeah, it’s a little worrying,” he told Motorsport.com.
“Formula E can be a little weird, up and down. They are certainly doing a good job at Mercedes. Hopefully it won’t turn into Formula 1.
“They had a very unfamiliar driver in Nyck [last season], even Stoffel is like me [in terms of experience]. So it will take some time to get everything right.
“They are known for doing a great job building things. So I think [they are] probably getting better. We’ve already seen in Berlin, they were good last year at times and maybe more steps in all areas are the way everyone is improving. ”
Did anyone order more Mercedes-EQ Silver Arrow 02 night pictures? 😍📸#wedrivethecity #drivenbyEQ #DiriyahEPrix #ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/6aAzUlvMJW
– Formula E Mercedes-EQ Team (@MercedesEQFE) February 27, 2021
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Mercedes Formula 1 engine buyer, who has just joined, has signed up to the Formula E grid for the 2022/23 season, although McLaren Racing Head Zak Brown has announced say that a cost cap must be introduced if they are to accept that option.
“The cost cap is mandatory for us, because as a racing team / manufacturer, we don’t have the depth of BMW or Mercedes or Porsche facilities, where we do budget X, and because people keep building their bar, will price become Y, ”he previously told Autosport.
“What I don’t have is the ability to just go back and say ‘ah, I need another £ 15million’.
“We need to be absolutely confident that we can pay for a race for the tree, and that these goal posts are not going to move us.
“I’m very happy with what I’m hearing, and the numbers I’m hearing, but that will be something before we make a final decision that needs to be made well.
“What I can’t do is enter a champion, any competition, that has a moving target as a budget.”
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