The 2022 Diriyah ePrix was a pair of Formula E electric car races held at the Riyadh Street Circuit in the town of Diriyah, north-west of Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia on 28 and 29 January 2022. It was the opening round of the 2021–22 Formula E season and the fourth edition of the Diriyah ePrix, and was held at night for the second time. Novelties for the event included the introduction of a knockout-style qualifying format, which replaced the series' long-standing four-group and superpole qualifying.[1]

2022 Diriyah ePrix
Race 1 of 16 of the 2021–22 Formula E season
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Race details
Date 28 January 2022 (2022-01-28)
Official name 2022 Diriyah E-Prix
Location Riyadh Street Circuit, Diriyah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Course Street circuit
Course length 2.495 km (1.550 mi)
Distance 41 laps, 102.295 km (63.563 mi)
Weather Dry
Pole position
Driver Mercedes
Time 1:08.626
Fastest lap
Driver New Zealand Nick Cassidy Envision-Audi
Time 1:09.207 on lap 18
Podium
First Mercedes
Second Mercedes
Third Andretti-BMW
Lap leaders
2022 Diriyah ePrix
Race 2 of 16 of the 2021–22 Formula E season
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Race details
Date 29 January 2022 (2022-01-29)
Official name 2022 Diriyah E-Prix
Location Riyadh Street Circuit, Diriyah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Course Street circuit
Course length 2.495 km (1.550 mi)
Distance 35 laps, 87.325 km (54.261 mi)
Weather Dry
Pole position
Driver Mercedes
Time 1:07.154
Fastest lap
Driver United Kingdom Sam Bird
Belgium Stoffel Vandoorne[a]
Jaguar
Mercedes
Time 1:08.723 (1:08.917) on lap 24 (24)
Podium
First Venturi-Mercedes
Second Envision-Audi
Third Venturi-Mercedes
Lap leaders

The first race was won by defending world champion Nyck de Vries, with Stoffel Vandoorne and Jake Dennis rounding out the podium.[2] Edoardo Mortara won the second race, ahead of Robin Frijns and Lucas di Grassi.[3]

Background

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Nyck de Vries entered the event as the series' reigning world champion, whilst his team Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team are the defending constructors' champions in what is set to be their last season in Formula E.[4]

Regulation changes

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The races were the first to see the new knockout-style qualifying format introduced for the season. Under the new format, the grid is split into two groups of eleven cars, each of which will have ten minutes to set the fastest time with the cars set to deliver 220kW of power. The fastest four drivers from each group then advance to a knockout-style tournament to decide the top eight, with the drivers being eliminated via quarter-final and semi-final heats to leave a two-car battle for pole position. The cars' usable power is upped to 250kW for the knockout stages.[5]

Driver changes

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Following the withdrawal of Audi from Formula E at the end of the 2020–21 season, former champion Lucas di Grassi moved to ROKiT Venturi, partnering the incumbent Edoardo Mortara and replacing Norman Nato, the series' latest race winner, who moved to Jaguar as a reserve driver.[6] Long-time Nissan e.dams driver Oliver Rowland switched to Mahindra Racing to replace the outgoing Alex Lynn,[7][8] his space at Nissan being taken by former Andretti driver and three-time race winner Maximilian Günther.[9]

Three drivers made their Formula E debuts at the event. Former Formula One driver Antonio Giovinazzi joined Dragon / Penske Autosport to partner Brazilian Sérgio Sette Câmara.[10] Former Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum joined NIO to replace the outgoing Tom Blomqvist alongside Oliver Turvey.[11] 2019 Indy Lights champion and former IndyCar driver Oliver Askew joined Andretti Autosport, no longer factory-backed by BMW, to partner Jake Dennis, who came third in the 2020–21 season as a rookie.[12]

Classification

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Race one

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Qualifying

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Group draw[13]
Group A   ASK   SET   JEV   FRI   BIR   ROW   VAN   TUR   BUE   DIG   WEH
Group B   DEN   GIO   DAC   CAS   EVA   SIM   DEV   TIC   GUE   MOR   LOT
Qualifying duels
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Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
B4   André Lotterer
A1   Robin Frijns
  André Lotterer
  Jake Dennis
B3   Jake Dennis
A2   Sam Bird
  Jake Dennis
  Stoffel Vandoorne
A3   Stoffel Vandoorne
B2   Nick Cassidy
  Stoffel Vandoorne
  Nyck de Vries
A4   Oliver Rowland
B1   Nyck de Vries
Overall classification
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Pos. No. Driver Team A B QF SF F Grid
1 5   Stoffel Vandoorne Mercedes 1:09.489 1:08.873 1:08.407 1:08.626 1
2 27   Jake Dennis Andretti-BMW 1:09.284 1:08.749 1:08.379 1:08.926 2
3 17   Nyck de Vries Mercedes 1:09.164 1:08.600 1:08.813 3
4 36   André Lotterer Porsche 1:09.313 1:09.018 1:09.014 4
5 10   Sam Bird Jaguar 1:09.407 1:08.919 5
6 37   Nick Cassidy Envision-Audi 1:09.214 1:08.951 6
7 4   Robin Frijns Envision-Audi 1:09.163 1:09.109 7
8 30   Oliver Rowland Mahindra 1:09.549 1:09.329 111
9 11   Lucas di Grassi Venturi-Mercedes 1:09.617 8
10 22   Maximilian Günther e.dams-Nissan 1:09.471 9
11 94   Pascal Wehrlein Porsche 1:09.710 10
12 48   Edoardo Mortara Venturi-Mercedes 1:09.536 12
13 25   Jean-Éric Vergne Techeetah-DS 1:09.811 13
14 9   Mitch Evans Jaguar 1:09.587 14
15 7   Sérgio Sette Câmara Dragon-Penske 1:09.867 15
16 13   António Félix da Costa Techeetah-DS 1:09.704 16
17 28   Oliver Askew Andretti-BMW 1:09.891 17
18 29   Alexander Sims Mahindra 1:10.039 18
19 3   Oliver Turvey NIO 1:10.129 19
20 33   Dan Ticktum NIO 1:10.507 20
21 23   Sébastien Buemi e.dams-Nissan 1:10.185 21
22 99   Antonio Giovinazzi Dragon-Penske 1:10.596 22
Source:[14][15]

Notes:

  • ^1  – Oliver Rowland received a 3-place grid penalty for impeding another driver in the pit lane.[16]

Race

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Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 17   Nyck de Vries Mercedes 41 52:14.642 3 25
2 5   Stoffel Vandoorne Mercedes 41 +0.636 1 18+31
3 27   Jake Dennis Andretti-BMW 41 +8.802 2 15
4 10   Sam Bird Jaguar 41 +14.925 5 12
5 11   Lucas di Grassi Venturi-Mercedes 41 +15.152 8 10
6 48   Edoardo Mortara Venturi-Mercedes 41 +16.015 12 8
7 37   Nick Cassidy Envision-Audi 41 +17.265 6 6+12
8 25   Jean-Éric Vergne Techeetah-DS 41 +25.076 13 4
9 28   Oliver Askew Andretti-BMW 41 +25.699 17 2
10 9   Mitch Evans Jaguar 41 +27.320 14 1
11 94   Pascal Wehrlein Porsche 41 +28.781 10
12 22   Maximilian Günther e.dams-Nissan 41 +30.536 9
13 36   André Lotterer Porsche 41 +31.521 4
14 29   Alexander Sims Mahindra 41 +34.572 18
15 7   Sérgio Sette Câmara Dragon-Penske 41 +36.781 15
16 4   Robin Frijns Envision-Audi 41 +39.953 7
17 23   Sébastien Buemi e.dams-Nissan 41 +41.334 21
18 33   Dan Ticktum NIO 41 +49.222 20
19 3   Oliver Turvey NIO 41 +50.965 19
20 99   Antonio Giovinazzi Dragon-Penske 41 +1:16.527 22
Ret 30   Oliver Rowland Mahindra 7 Collision 11
Ret 13   António Félix da Costa Techeetah-DS 0 Collision damage 16
Source:[17]

Notes:

  • ^1  – Pole position.
  • ^2  – Fastest lap.

Standings after the race

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  • Notes: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.


Race two

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Qualifying

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Group draw[18]
Group A   DEV
(1)
  DEN
(3)
  DIG
(5)
  CAS
(7)
  ASK
(9)
  WEH
(11)
  LOT
(13)
  SET
(15)
  BUE
(17)
  TUR
(19)
  ROW
(21)
Group B   VAN
(2)
  BIR
(4)
  MOR
(6)
  JEV
(8)
  EVA
(10)
  GUE
(12)
  SIM
(14)
  FRI
(16)
  TIC
(18)
  GIO
(20)
  DAC
(22)
Qualifying duels
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Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
B4   Jean-Éric Vergne
A1   Nyck de Vries
  Nyck de Vries
  Lucas di Grassi
B3   António Félix da Costa
A2   Lucas di Grassi
  Nyck de Vries
  Edoardo Mortara
A3   Oliver Rowland
B2   Robin Frijns
  Robin Frijns
  Edoardo Mortara
A4   André Lotterer
B1   Edoardo Mortara
Overall classification
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Pos. No. Driver Team A B QF SF F Grid
1 17   Nyck de Vries Mercedes 1:07.939 1:06.871 1:06.835 1:07.154 1
2 48   Edoardo Mortara Venturi-Mercedes 1:07.724 1:07.014 1:06.987 1:07.159 2
3 4   Robin Frijns Envision-Audi 1:07.757 1:07.207 1:07.184 3
4 11   Lucas di Grassi Venturi-Mercedes 1:08.083 1:07.580 1:07.216 4
5 36   André Lotterer Porsche 1:08.224 1:07.285 5
6 25   Jean-Éric Vergne Techeetah-DS 1:07.968 1:07.539 6
7 30   Oliver Rowland Mahindra 1:08.101 1:07.780 101
8 13   António Félix da Costa Techeetah-DS 1:07.806 No time2 7
9 27   Jake Dennis Andretti-BMW 1:08.419 8
10 29   Alexander Sims Mahindra 1:08.011 9
11 94   Pascal Wehrlein Porsche 1:08.454 11
12 5   Stoffel Vandoorne Mercedes 1:08.257 12
13 28   Oliver Askew Andretti-BMW 1:08.626 13
14 22   Maximilian Günther e.dams-Nissan 1:08.339 14
15 23   Sébastien Buemi e.dams-Nissan 1:08.829 15
16 9   Mitch Evans Jaguar 1:08.368 16
17 3   Oliver Turvey NIO 1:08.943 17
18 33   Dan Ticktum NIO 1:08.753 18
19 7   Sérgio Sette Câmara Dragon-Penske No time3 19
20 99   Antonio Giovinazzi Dragon-Penske 1:08.811 20
21 37   Nick Cassidy Envision-Audi No time 224
22 10   Sam Bird Jaguar 1:13.910 21
Source:[19][20]

Notes:

  • ^1  – Oliver Rowland received a 3-place grid penalty for causing a collision in race one.[21]
  • ^2  – António Félix da Costa had his quarter-final duel lap time deleted for missing his slot.[22]
  • ^3  – Sérgio Sette Câmara had all his qualifying lap times cancelled for impeding another driver.[23]
  • ^4  – Nick Cassidy did not take part in qualifying as his team could not repair his car in time following an accident in free practice. He was allowed to start the race from the back of the grid.[24]

Race

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Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 48   Edoardo Mortara Venturi-Mercedes 35 47:02.131 2 25
2 4   Robin Frijns Envision-Audi 35 +0.451 3 18
3 11   Lucas di Grassi Venturi-Mercedes 35 +0.912 4 15
4 36   André Lotterer Porsche 35 +1.125 5 12
5 27   Jake Dennis Andretti-BMW 35 +1.646 8 10
6 25   Jean-Éric Vergne Techeetah-DS 35 +3.166 6 8
7 5   Stoffel Vandoorne Mercedes 35 +3.568 12 6+11
8 30   Oliver Rowland Mahindra 35 +4.235 10 4
9 94   Pascal Wehrlein Porsche 35 +4.962 11 2
10 17   Nyck de Vries Mercedes 35 +5.294 1 1+32
11 28   Oliver Askew Andretti-BMW 35 +6.732 13
12 13   António Félix da Costa Techeetah-DS 35 +8.693 7
13 23   Sébastien Buemi e.dams-Nissan 35 +9.015 15
14 22   Maximilian Günther e.dams-Nissan 35 +9.464 14
15 10   Sam Bird Jaguar 35 +11.690 21
16 37   Nick Cassidy Envision-Audi 35 +13.973 22
17 7   Sérgio Sette Câmara Dragon-Penske 35 +14.521 19
18 3   Oliver Turvey NIO 35 +15.005 17
19 33   Dan Ticktum NIO 35 +16.744 18
20 99   Antonio Giovinazzi Dragon-Penske 35 +17.681 20
21 9   Mitch Evans Jaguar 35 +29.8723 16
Ret 29   Alexander Sims Mahindra 29 Accident 9
Source:[25]

Notes:

  • ^1  – Fastest lap.
  • ^2  – Pole position.
  • ^3  – Mitch Evans received a post-race drive-through penalty converted into a 24-second time penalty for failing to activate the second of the two mandatory attack modes.[26]

Standings after the race

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  • Notes: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.


Notes

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  1. ^ Vandoorne received the point for fastest lap as Bird failed to finish in the top 10.

References

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  1. ^ Borrás, Jo (24 January 2022). "Formula E season 8 set to kickoff with new, 'knockout' qualifying format". Electrek. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Mercedes takes crushing 1-2 in Formula E opener". The Race. 28 January 2022.
  3. ^ Boxall-Legge, Jake (29 January 2022). "Diriyah E-Prix: Mortara beats Frijns to win as De Vries struggles". Autosport.
  4. ^ Kew, Matt (18 August 2021). "Mercedes announces withdrawal from Formula E at end of 2022". Autosport. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. ^ Kew, Matt (15 October 2021). "FIA approves radical Formula E qualifying format shake-up". Autosport. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. ^ Kew, Matt (15 September 2021). "Di Grassi joins Venturi for 2022 Formula E season". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. ^ Smith, Sam (23 June 2021). "Mahindra Secures Rowland For Next Formula E Season". The Race. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  8. ^ Newbold, James (20 November 2021). "Lynn moved to IMSA from Formula E to "write your name in history"". Autosport. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. ^ Smith, Sam (2 September 2021). "Nissan signs Guenther to replace Rowland in Formula E". The Race. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  10. ^ Thukral, Rachit (16 November 2021). "Giovinazzi moves to Formula E after losing Alfa Romeo F1 seat". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  11. ^ Thukral, Rachit (25 November 2021). "Formula 2 race winner Dan Ticktum will move to Formula E in 2022 with NIO 333". Autosport. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  12. ^ "American Oliver Askew completes Avalanche Andretti Season 8 driver line-up". FIA Formula E. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Doc 9 - Qualifying Groups" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Doc 34 - Final Classification Qualifying after Duels" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Doc 35 - Final Starting Grid" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Doc 30 - Decision No. 6" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Doc 43 - Final Classification Race" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Doc 48 - Qualifying Groups" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Doc 64 - Final Classification Qualifying after Duels" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Doc 65 - Final Starting Grid" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Doc 39 - Decision No. 8" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  22. ^ "ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Twitter". Twitter. FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Doc 60 - Decision No. 14" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Doc 54 - Decision No. 11" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Doc 73 - Final Classification Race" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Doc 69 - Decision No. 16" (PDF). FIA Formula E. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
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