
The 2015–16 FIA Formula E Championship was the second season of the
FIA
FIA is the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (English: International Automobile Federation), the world's governing body for all forms of motor sport where four or more wheels are used.
Fia or FIA may also refer to: People
* Fia Backs ...
Formula E
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, w ...
championship, held from 24 October 2015 to 3 July 2016. The season saw seven new manufacturers, who were allowed to develop new power trains, specifically the e-motor, the inverter, the gearbox and the cooling system.
Nelson Piquet Jr. was the defending Drivers' Champion and
Renault
Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans and in the past, has manufacture ...
the defending teams' champion. After ten rounds,
Sébastien Buemi
Sébastien Olivier Buemi (born 31 October 1988) is a Swiss professional racing driver, who competes in the FIA Formula E Championship for Envision Racing. He competed for Scuderia Toro Rosso in Formula One from 2009 to 2011. After leaving Formul ...
won the championship by just two points over
Lucas di Grassi
Lucas Tucci di Grassi (born 11 August 1984) is a Brazilian professional racing driver who competes in the FIA Formula E World Championship for Mahindra Racing. He became the FIA Formula E Champion in 2016–2017, achieved three overall podi ...
after setting the fastest lap in the final race, where neither driver finished following an opening lap crash and several attempts to set the fastest lap in their second cars. Renault retained the teams' championship.
Teams and drivers
The second season was planned to again feature ten teams that were essentially identical from the inaugural season. But, the withdrawal of
Trulli after failing to enter the first two races left nine teams competing for the 2015–16 season.
Additionally, there were eight manufacturers of power trains that worked together with or were part of the individual teams. Initially only
Team Aguri
Team Aguri, formerly Amlin Aguri and officially the Team Aguri Formula E Team, was an international motor racing team founded by former Formula One and 24 Hours of Le Mans driver Aguri Suzuki (Executive Chairman) and Mark Preston (Team Principal ...
decided to keep the power train from the previous season, while Dragon used the Venturi power train. Due to the regulations, all teams used the same chassis as in the first season. The eight manufacturers were homologated by the FIA in August 2015.
After troublesome preseason testing,
Andretti decided to revert to the power train from the inaugural season.
All teams used the mandated Spark chassis.
‡ Drivers were present at the first two rounds of the championship, but the team failed to pass scrutineering both times.
Team changes
* All ten teams from the first season intended to compete in season two, with some name changes due to sponsorship changes or manufacturer cooperations.
* Eight teams became manufacturers and produce components either by themselves or with a technology partner: Abt (with
Schaeffler
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, also known as Schaeffler Group (''Schaeffler-Gruppe'' in German), is a German manufacturer of rolling element bearings for automotive, aerospace and industrial uses. It was founded in 1946 by brothers Dr ...
), Andretti, (with
Renault
Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufacture ...
) Mahindra, NEXTEV, Trulli (with Motomatica), Venturi, and Virgin (with
DS Automobiles
DS Automobiles is a French luxury vehicle marque which was introduced in 2009. Formerly part of Citroën, DS has been a standalone brand since 2015 (2012 in China).
DS can be an abbreviation of Different Spirit or Distinctive Series, although it ...
).
On 25 August 2015,
Andretti decided to retain the powertrain from the previous season.
* After failing to pass scrutineering of their new drivetrain for the first two races,
Trulli withdrew from the championship, leaving 9 teams to compete for the rest of the season.
Driver changes
*
Karun Chandhok
Karun Chandhok (born 19 January 1984) is an Indian racing driver and television presenter who last competed in Formula E for Mahindra Racing. Previously, Chandhok has competed for Hispania Racing in Formula One in . Before this, he drove in t ...
,
Jaime Alguersuari
Jaime Víctor Alguersuari Escudero (; born 23 March 1990), also known as Jaume Alguersuari (), and Squire is a Spanish DJ and retired racing driver best known for competing in Formula One between and , and for being the 2008 British Formula 3 ...
and
Jarno Trulli
Jarno Trulli (; born 13 July 1974) is an Italian racing driver. He regularly competed in Formula One from 1997 to 2011, driving for Minardi, Prost, Jordan, Renault, Toyota, Lotus Racing and Team Lotus. His best result in the World Drivers' C ...
; who raced for
Mahindra
Mahindra may refer to:
Business
* Mahindra & Mahindra, an Indian multinational car manufacturing corporation
**Mahindra Truck and Bus Division, an Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer owned by Mahindra & Mahindra
* Mahindra Group
*Kotak Mahindr ...
,
Virgin
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
and
Trulli respectively in the
2014–15 season; announced that they would not compete in 2015–16.
*
Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship ...
World Champion
A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve ( born 9 April 1971) is a Canadian professional racing driver and amateur musician who won the 1997 Formula One World Championship with Williams. In addition to Formula One (F1) he has competed in various o ...
joined
Venturi, replacing
Nick Heidfeld
Nick Lars Heidfeld (born 10 May 1977) is a German professional racing driver.
Despite scoring regular podium finishes in with Williams Grand Prix Engineering, Williams, and in and with BMW in Formula One, BMW Sauber, Heidfeld never won a rac ...
, who moved to Mahindra.
*
Jean-Éric Vergne
Jean-Éric Vergne (born 25 April 1990), also known as JEV, is a French racing driver who competes in the FIA Formula E Championship with Dragon Racing. He became the 2017–18 ABB Formula E Champion, after clinching fifth in the New York ePrix ...
, who joined
Andretti mid-way through the 2014–15 season, moved to Virgin for a full-time drive, replacing Alguersuari.
*
2012 Formula Renault 3.5 champion
Robin Frijns
Robin Frijns (born 7 August 1991) is a Dutch motor racing driver. He is the 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion, and the first driver to have won the series in his debut season since Robert Kubica in 2005. Frijns is currently competing in F ...
joined the series, driving for Andretti, replacing Vergne.
*
Salvador Durán
Salvador Durán Sánchez (born 6 May 1985) is a Mexican race car driver who raced in the FIA Formula E Championship for the Amlin Aguri team. Durán has also previously competed in A1 Grand Prix, Formula Renault 3.5, and the NASCAR Toyota Ser ...
, who competed for
Amlin Aguri
Team Aguri, formerly Amlin Aguri and officially the Team Aguri Formula E Team, was an international motor racing team founded by former Formula One and 24 Hours of Le Mans driver Aguri Suzuki (Executive Chairman) and Mark Preston (Team Principal ...
during the 2014–15 season, joined the Trulli team, replacing
Jarno Trulli
Jarno Trulli (; born 13 July 1974) is an Italian racing driver. He regularly competed in Formula One from 1997 to 2011, driving for Minardi, Prost, Jordan, Renault, Toyota, Lotus Racing and Team Lotus. His best result in the World Drivers' C ...
.
*
Oliver Turvey
Oliver Jonathan Turvey (born 1 April 1987) is a British professional racing driver, who most recently competed in Formula E, and is currently signed to McLaren as a test driver. He was a notable kart racer, with two national titles, and was t ...
, who raced for
Team China in the London round of the 2014–15 season, joined the team full-time.
*
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series was a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The GP2 format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Eccl ...
veteran
Nathanaël Berthon
Nathanaël Berthon (born 1 July 1989 in Romagnat) is a professional racing driver from France.
Career
Karting
Berthon began his international karting career in 2006, with the highlights being a third-place finish in the Copa Campeones Trophy I ...
was chosen for the second
Team Aguri
Team Aguri, formerly Amlin Aguri and officially the Team Aguri Formula E Team, was an international motor racing team founded by former Formula One and 24 Hours of Le Mans driver Aguri Suzuki (Executive Chairman) and Mark Preston (Team Principal ...
seat.
Mid-season changes
* Following a hand injury sustained in
Putrajaya,
Nick Heidfeld
Nick Lars Heidfeld (born 10 May 1977) is a German professional racing driver.
Despite scoring regular podium finishes in with Williams Grand Prix Engineering, Williams, and in and with BMW in Formula One, BMW Sauber, Heidfeld never won a rac ...
was forced to miss the next round in
Punta del Este
Punta del Este () is a seaside city and peninsula on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay. Starting as a small town, Punta del Este later became internationally known as a resort for the Latin and North American ...
. He was replaced by reigning
Formula Renault 3.5
The World Series Formula V8 3.5, formerly the World Series by Nissan from 1998 to 2004, the Formula Renault 3.5 Series from 2005 to 2015 and the Formula V8 3.5 in 2016 and 2017, was a motor racing series promoted by RPM Racing (1998–2004) and R ...
champion
Oliver Rowland
Oliver Rowland (born 10 August 1992) is a British racing driver. He is currently competing full-time in Formula E driving for Mahindra Racing. He has previously competed for Manor Motorsport in the 2018 WEC season, and he was also previously the ...
.
* After three rounds with the Venturi team,
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve ( born 9 April 1971) is a Canadian professional racing driver and amateur musician who won the 1997 Formula One World Championship with Williams. In addition to Formula One (F1) he has competed in various o ...
left due to a "disagreement on the direction of the team". His seat was taken by
Mike Conway
Mike Conway (born 19 August 1983) is a British professional racing driver. He lives in Sevenoaks, Kent and is currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Biography
Conway who was born in Bromley, Lon ...
.
* After three rounds
Salvador Durán
Salvador Durán Sánchez (born 6 May 1985) is a Mexican race car driver who raced in the FIA Formula E Championship for the Amlin Aguri team. Durán has also previously competed in A1 Grand Prix, Formula Renault 3.5, and the NASCAR Toyota Ser ...
re-joined Team Aguri for the rest of the season after they split with
Nathanaël Berthon
Nathanaël Berthon (born 1 July 1989 in Romagnat) is a professional racing driver from France.
Career
Karting
Berthon began his international karting career in 2006, with the highlights being a third-place finish in the Copa Campeones Trophy I ...
. The Mexican driver already competed in nine rounds of the
first season for Team Aguri. After another three rounds, he was replaced by Chinese driver
Ma Qinghua
Ma Qinghua () (born 25 December 1987 in Shanghai) is a Chinese racing driver currently competing in the World Touring Car Cup with Cyan Performance Lynk & Co.
Ma became the first Chinese driver to win an FIA World Championship race when h ...
for the
Paris ePrix
The Paris ePrix is an annual race of the single-seater, electrically powered Formula E championship, held in Paris, France. It was first raced in the 2015-16 season.
Circuit Circuit des Invalides
The track is in length and features 14 turns ...
.
Ma then competed in the
Berlin ePrix and the two races of the
London ePrix
The London ePrix is an annual race of the single-seater, electrically powered Formula E championship, held in London, United Kingdom. It was first raced in the 2014–15 season until the 2015–16 season. The event was originally meant to retu ...
.
* Due to a
DTM commitment,
António Félix da Costa
António Maria de Mello Breyner Félix da Costa (born 31 August 1991) is a Portuguese professional racing driver for the Porsche Formula E Team and the 2019–20 Formula E Drivers' Champion.
He won the Macau Grand Prix invitational Formula Th ...
missed round 8, but returned for the London ePrix. His replacement was endurance racer
René Rast
René Rast (born 26 October 1986 in Minden) is a German professional racing driver and the 2017, 2019 and 2020 DTM champion. He previously drove for Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler in Formula E from 2019 to 2021 before Audi left the sport at the end o ...
.
Rule changes
* The rules were opened up for the second season, in keeping with the series' long-term plan to use a single car over the course of a race instead of two separate chassis. Teams were free to pursue their own development of the powertrain, including the e-motor, inverter, gearbox and cooling system.
* The maximum power usage during the race was increased from to . The total allowed energy consumption from the battery remained limited to 28 kWh.
Calendar
The season was scheduled to include 11 races, held between October 2015 and July 2016. The final calendar was approved by the
World Motor Sport Council
The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) is a major organ within the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's governance structure. Its primary role is amending current regulations and drafting new regulations for all of international motor spor ...
in October 2015.
However, in May 2016, the Moscow ePrix was cancelled "due to recent and unforeseen circumstances related to road closures", reducing the season to 10 races.
Calendar changes
* The
Miami ePrix was dropped after the first season. The
Monaco ePrix
The Monaco ePrix is a recurring automobile race of the Formula E World Championship which takes place in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Circuit
On 18 September 2014 it was announced that Formula E would be racing on a shorter version of the original M ...
did not feature in this season's calendar, but returned the following season.
* The
Mexico City ePrix
The Mexico City ePrix is an annual race of the single-seater, electrically powered Formula E championship, held in Mexico City, Mexico. It was first raced in the 2015–16 season.
Circuit
The ePrix is held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodrígu ...
- the first race on a permanent racing circuit - and the
Paris ePrix
The Paris ePrix is an annual race of the single-seater, electrically powered Formula E championship, held in Paris, France. It was first raced in the 2015-16 season.
Circuit Circuit des Invalides
The track is in length and features 14 turns ...
were new additions to the calendar.
* The
Berlin ePrix moved from
Tempelhof Airport
Berlin Tempelhof Airport (german: Flughafen Berlin-Tempelhof) was one of the first airports in Berlin, Germany. Situated in the south-central Berlin borough of Tempelhof-Schöneberg, the airport ceased operating in 2008 amid controversy, leav ...
to the city centre.
* The
Moscow ePrix was cancelled in mid-season.
Race results
;Notes:
Championship standings
;Points system
Championship points are awarded as follows:
Unlike the
previous season, all results count towards the total.
Drivers' Championship
;Notes:
† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.
Teams' Championship
;Notes:
† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:2015-16 Formula E season
Formula E seasons
Formula E
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, w ...
Formula E
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, w ...
Formula E
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, w ...
Formula E
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, w ...