TAG Heuer Porsche driver Pascal Wehrlein experienced quite a roller coaster ride in season 9. After an impressive start to the season, with a second place in Mexico followed by a victory in both races in the Diriyan desert, the German looked like the easy favorite for the title.
However, apart from another win in Jakarta, Wehrlein never returned to the podium for the rest of the year.
He finished fourth in the World Championship and Porsche did the same in the team standings. Nevertheless, it was still his best campaign to date and showed the world the potential he and the team could offer on a good day.
Balance
Speaking to Formula E ahead of Season 10, Wehrlein explains what the team has been doing since the London finale to come back stronger next year.
“I think it was a positive season,” Wehrlein begins, looking back on the previous season. “It was our best season so far in Formula E. I think after the good start we expected. I think after the good start we expected more than fourth place in the drivers’ and teams’ championship.
However, it was a strong season. We need to improve a couple of things and then we should be able to fight for the championship.”
Formula E returns to the familiar and favored Mexico City in January, a venue Wehrlein knows very well.
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He came close to winning the event in Season 5 after losing the victory to Lucas di Grassi (now at ABT CUPRA) on the final lap, before receiving justice and climbing the top step of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez with Porsche in season 8.
He also finished second last year, losing to eventual world champion driver Jake Dennis (Andretti).
“I think Mexico will be a good track for us in general, and it always has been. It’s clear we’re pretty strong in racing, we just need to fix the qualifying. I think our average starting position last season was nine-odd points, while the top guys were at six-odd points. Those positions will already make your life and your races a lot easier.”
The German said they have been working very hard to understand what it means and what it takes to qualify well and, obviously, with their great race pace they should have a good start to the campaign.
