Formula E Championship

Formula E, officially the Formula E Championship, is a class of auto racing sanctioned by FIA and is the highest class of competition for one-make, single seater, electrically powered racing cars. The series was conceived in 2012 and the inaugural championship started in Beijing on 13 September 2014. There are 10 teams and 20 drivers and 40 cars in the championship. Each team has four cars.

This championship is held in nine countries such as China, USA, Russia, Argentina, Monaco, United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, and Uruguay. In this championship racing circuits are smaller than Formula One circuits. Length of a circuit is 2-3.4 km long. Electric cars can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 225 km/h. The generators used to re-charge the batteries are powered by Glycerine, a by-product of bio-diesel production.

Races in Formula E championship are 45 minutes in length. There is one pit stop in between the race. After battery runs low, a driver makes a timed pit stop and switches into a new fully charged car. Points system in Formula E championship is same as Formula One. First season of the championship is organized in eleven rounds. Out of these eleven rounds six rounds are already completed in five countries.

Lucas di Grassi from Audi Sport ABT leads the points table with 75 points and Nelson Piquet from China Racing stands at second place with 74 points. Both drivers are from Brazil. E.dams- Renault is at top position in team standings with 124 points. Second place is hold by Audi Sport ABT with 97 points. Next race of Formula E Championship will held in Monaco on 9 May 2015.

The second season of Formula E will be held from September 2015 to June 2016. The calendar will be expanded to 12 cities. The season will see the introduction of eight manufacturers, who will be allowed to change certain parts of the car.

Lewis Hamilton cruises to Bahrain GP Win

Lewis Hamilton took a controlled win in the Bahrain Grand Prix as team mate Nico Rosberg was beaten to second by Ferrari Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton led from the start and was always in control as he took his third victory in four races this season. Rosberg battled the Ferraris throughout and lost second to Raikkonen with a braking problem with laps to go.

Ferrari Sebastian Vettel wrecked his podium chances by going off the track and damaging his car while racing Rosberg. Raikkonen, who nipped past Rosberg at the start of the lap when the German ran too deep into Turn One, put in an impressive drive on an alternative tyre strategy to move up from fourth place on the grid. But Hamilton was out of reach at the front under the lights at the Sakhir track on a windy desert night.

Mercedes had expected a challenge from Ferrari during the race but Hamilton after converting Pole position into a lead at the first corner was always in control as he set about building a lead while also protecting his tyres. Rosberg dropped to fourth at the start from third place on the grid but set about quickly disappointing the Ferraris, passing Raikkonen on lap four and Vettel four laps later.

Behind the top three, Bottas managed to hold off Vettel for fourth despite heavy pressure in the closing laps. Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo took sixth place despite his engine exploding as he headed for the finish line, ahead of the Lotus of Romain Grosjean and Force India Sergio Perez. The final two point’s places were taken Red Bull Daniil Kvyat, who drove well to rise up from 17^th on the grid. Fernando Alonso just missed out on McLaren Honda first points with 11^th place, fending off Felipe Nasr’s Sauber in the closing gaps.

Mercedes on Top after Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton put Mercedes back on top with a win at the Chinese Grand Prix. Hamilton made sure there would be no repeat of Ferrari surprising win two weeks ago at the Malaysian Grand Prix conserving his tires to withstand a challenge by the Italian’s team Sebastian Vettel and easily capture his fourth Grand Prix and the 35^th win of his career.

Rosberg finished second and Vettel finished third in Chinese Grand Prix. Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari finished fourth. Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas finished fifth and sixth. From the start through to the first round of pit stops Hamilton held Rosberg at bay by a second as they traded fast laps, with Vettel and Raikkonen just managing to keep the duo in their sights. After 10 Laps the gap between the quartets was 6.4sec, leaving the remainder of the field behind as a two team battle for the victory unfold.

Hamilton drove fast enough to keep the Ferraris at arm length while eking out the required stint lengths to match the Italian team two stop strategies. His second victory in three races this season and his eighth in 10 grand prix dating back to Italy in September last year extended his championship lead to 13 points over Vettel, whose advantage over Rosberg was cut to four.

Race Result:

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

Sebastian Vettel Wins Malaysian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel stunned everyone in the second race of this season at Malaysian Grand Prix, winning his first race after Brazil 2013. In the searing heat of Sepang, Vettel brought first win race for Ferrari. He won by a margin of +8 seconds. Mercedes Lewis Hamilton finished second and Mercedes Nico Rosberg finished third. After a dominant opening in Australia by Lewis Hamilton, he was challenged by Sebastian in Malaysia.

Now it seems to be a season between Mercedes and Ferrari whereas Williams and Red Bull can be tough competitors in the upcoming races. In Sepang, Mercedes had locked themselves into a three stop strategy but Ferrari had both pace and Tyres to get by with a two stopper. With Rosberg similarly trapped in a slower car, Mercedes never recovered sufficiently to launch a counter-attack. Vettel team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was able to recover from a first lap puncture caused by a brush with Felipe Nasr.

Hamilton was struggling with his car and had an angry exchange with his team over the radio. Hamilton was 8.5 sec behind Ferrari, with Rosberg another 3.7 sec down. Vettel lapped both Red Bulls on his 52^nd lap, but took no delight in that. Both Hamilton and Rosberg dominated last year season in Formula One. But this year there is a competition from Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel.