The winning formula

In just five short years, Formula E has built an extraordinary following as the international racing series to watch. An all-electric racing formula that is set to become the future of motorsport competition at the highest level, captivating audiences around the globe with its combination of leading-edge technology, outstanding driving talent and exotic race locations.

With season 6 only a matter of weeks away, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler is preparing to write another chapter in the team’s illustrious history to date. From day one, the brand’s participation has obtained results, with Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt the longest standing pairing in the formula and building an incredible record in such a short space of time.

The numbers speak for themselves. Two titles, 12 victories, 40 podium finishes, 1,101 points from 58 races.

That Audi is once again at the very forefront of this exciting and innovating race series comes as little surprise given the brand’s history of thinking outside the square, and as more and more manufacturers join the series, the future looks bright for the formula and for motorsport in general.

The first ever E-Prix was held in Beijing on 13 September, 2014, and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler went down in history as the first winner. Lucas di Grassi was at the wheel fo what was at the time a generic race car – Spark-Renault SRT 01E – essentially provided by the organisers to the teams. 

The chassis, motor, gearbox and tyres were all specified and provided to all entrants by the Formula E organisation and because the capacity of the first-generation lithium-ion batteries was limited, two cars per driver were used in every race up until the end of season four. Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, was the first and – for four years the only German team to finish the inaugural season in third place of the teams’ classification and Lucas di Grassi also finished third in the drivers’ championship.

On winning the inaugural race, di Grassi was jubilant:

“A dream came true for me and for our team. As the first winners in Formula E we went down in motorsport history. Formula E races pose a very special challenge – you not only have to be a racing driver but, at the same time, pay attention to the energy management of your racing car.”

With season 2, teams were allowed to design the entire powertrain in-house. The rest of the car remained identical for all entrants and up until the finale, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler was a hot candidate for the title and ultimately clinched second position in the teams’ classification. Lucas di Grassi went one better than this first season and finished runner-up in the championship.

The car, designated the ABT Schaeffler FE01 managed three victories and 10 podiums during the series, and there was no doubting the team’s commitment to the new racing series.

In season three, the basic technical regulations in Formula E remained unchanged. With two victories and five more podium finishes this season, Lucas di Grassi went one better again and clinched the drivers’ title for the first time. In the teams’ classification, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler again finished runner-up, the tally of two outright wins and seven podiums putting Audi in a class of its own.

“I think I’ll feel proud of having become Formula E Champion for the rest of my life. This triumph was the absolute capstone and well-deserved reward for our unique team spirit and fighting spirit at Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler,” di Grassi said after wrapping up the title in Montreal.

In Season 4, the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler privateer team became an official Audi factory team and together with technology partner Schaeffler, developed and built the new motor-generator unit (MGU) and the powertrain – the Audi e-tron FE04 was born.

It was a particularly pleasing season for German, Daniel Abt, who celebrated his first two victories in the category. 

“Being the first German driver to win Formula E and the first to win for the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler factory team was simply mega,” Abt said after his first victory in Mexico. He later secured victory in his home E-Prix in Berlin.

“No doubt about," he said. “This has been the most important victory and most incredible day in my career as a driver so far!”

In all, the Audi team took a total of four wins for the season and in an exciting final, the team secured its first Formula E teams’ title for the brand with the four rings. For Lucas di Grassi, the end of the season again saw him finish runner up in the drivers’ classification.

In Season 5, the season concluded earlier this year, Formula E introduced its second vehicle generation, the so-called Gen2 Cars and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler unveiled its strike weapon in the Audi e-tron FE05. The most important thing about the new regulations and Gen 2 cars was that each driver needed only one car to complete each race and there was no longer any need to swap half way through.

The charging capacity of the Gen2 racing car’s battery was now sufficient for at least 45 minutes of racing and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler was once again right in the thick of the action and the points right up until the very last race. In the end, the squad achieved the runner-up’s spot in the teams’ classification, while Lucas di Grassi placed third in the drivers’ classification.

The countdown is now on for the greatly anticipated Season 6 of Formula E which will kick off on 22 November and end on 26 July 2020. The opening event will take place with two races in Ad Diriyah (Saudi Arabia) and the finale in London (England) will be a double-header event as well. In the 14 races to be held in 12 major cities around the world, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler will rely on proven assets – the powertrain, developed jointly with technology partner Schaeffler, will only be slightly modified for 2019/2020. The second-generation specification Formula E racing cars will remain unchanged for their second season although the Audi e-tron FE06 cars wear a new livery for the coming season. For the sixth consecutive year, Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt will be the drivers at the heart of the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team and their approach, as it has been since the very start of the Formula E series will be to finish on top. To date, no other pairing has even been close to matching their achievements. Roll on Season 6 Formula E – it promises to be the best one yet.