A single point separates the two drivers at the top of the standings going into the 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix double-header race weekend and the final international street circuit clash before the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship climaxes in London at the end of the month
Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team driver Jake Dennis has the slimmest advantage over Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy in the battle for the Drivers’ world championship. While it is an extreme mathematical possibility for Dennis to secure the title in the Eternal City, the far greater probability is two hard-fought races with hundreds of overtakes and plenty of lead changes in fiercely gladiatorial contests where all 22 drivers compete for supremacy.
Nick Cassidy heads to Rome on the back of his win at the inaugural Southwire Portland E-Prix that closed the gap on rival Dennis, whose second place was enough to propel him to the top of the standings. Despite winning the opening race of the GEN3 race car era in Mexico City in January, and achieving eight podiums since, another trip to the top step has eluded Dennis so far with just four races in the 16-race season remaining.
No Formula E driver has managed to exert their dominance in the GEN3 race car this season to build a convincing lead at the top of the championship. This is creating a compelling storyline in the title battle with more twists and turns than Rome’s challenging Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR to come.
TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver Pascal Wehrlein was able to maintain a lead in the standings across multiple races from Round 2 in Diriyah and the German was again on top going into the USA race the last time out. But consistent performances from Dennis and Cassidy have kept them in touch at the top, and Wehrlein’s one-point advantage over Dennis pre-Portland was overhauled when he could only finish eighth.
Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans has fought doggedly to stay in contention in fourth place, despite some friendly fire mishaps twice forcing him out of races and costing critical championship points. However, the Kiwi managed a stunning win-double in Rome last season so cannot be overlooked in the hunt for the world title.
Formula E’s only double champion, Jean-Éric Vergne (DS PENSKE) has just about kept himself in-touch in fifth, 57 points from the top. Teammate and reigning world champion Stoffel Vandoorne (DS PENSKE) sits 11th in the standings, more than 112 points back and guaranteeing no retention of the title and a probable first-time Formula E champion unless the Roman gods favour JEV.
Maserati MSG Racing drivers Maximilian Günther and Edoardo Mortara will be certain of passionate support in the grandstands this weekend as the iconic Italian automotive racing brand competes at home in single-seater world championship motorsport for the first time in 65 years since returning with Formula E this season.
In the Teams’ world championship standings, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team have clung on to their long-time lead but only six points separate them from Envision Racing in second place. Jaguar TCS Racing is just behind Envision, their customer team, in third place.
OVERTAKUS MAXIMUS: PASSES PREDICTED ON THE ROME STREET CIRCUIT
The 19-turn 3.385km Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR is among Formula E’s longest and takes in the city’s Palazzo dei Congressi, Piazzale Marconi and the iconic Palazzo della Civilta Italiana, also known as the “Square Coliseum” while Ninfeo Park skirts the track.
It’s a perfect mix of high-speed runs and tight, complex sections and undulations with plenty of opportunities for overtaking at the hairpin and some 90-degree bends – peak Formula E and a big favourite of the drivers.
COMMENTARY DEBUT FOR ROME
Formula E’s broadcast coverage will feature Tom Brooks, the voice of Gran Turismo, who will commentate of Formula E races for the first time this weekend. Brooks has a wide range of motorsport experience covering everything from Superbikes to Rallycross.
WHEN TO WATCH
Rookie Free Practice for the Hankook Rome E-Prix gets underway at 14:30 Central European Summer Time (CEST) on Friday 14 July.
Free Practice 1 for the Hankook Rome E-Prix gets underway at 17:00 CEST on Friday 14 July.
Free Practice 2 starts at 08:10 CEST on Saturday followed by qualifying from 10:40 CEST. Round 13 gets underway from 15:00 CEST.
Free Practice 3 starts at 08:10 CEST on Sunday followed by qualifying from 10:40 CEST. Round 14 gets underway from 15:00 CEST.
FOLLOW LIVE!
Follow the action on-track as it happens in the new Race Centre. Keep across Live Timing – which includes a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow drivers during every session of every E-Prix – plus highlights, detailed session reports, exclusive interviews, all the standings and results as well as data, insight and reaction from trackside.
WAYS TO WATCH
Find out how to follow the action live in every country by visiting: fiaformulae.com/en/ways-to-watch
EUROPE
ITALY: Both races will be live on Mediaset’s primary channel Italia Uno, with all sessions available live on SportMediaset.it. Sky Italia will also show the races live on Sky Sports Arena, along with both qualifying sessions on Sky Sports Action with all sessions across their digital platforms, and dedicated news coverage across the weekend.
GERMANY: The races will be live on Formula E’s home, ProSieben. Fans will also be able to catch free practice sessions and qualifying live on Ran.de. As usual, the Ran Racing team will be reporting from site, telling all the key stories direct from the paddock.
UK: Watch both races live on Channel 4, with all sessions covered on Channel 4’s Sport YouTube channel. Eurosport 2 will also be covering race live and highlights. Discovery+ will also bring UK based fans dedicated coverage from all sessions.
FRANCE: Fans can catch live race action across both days on La Chaine L’Equipe. Eurosport 2 will show the race live and Eurosport.com will be showing all sessions live.
NETHERLANDS: Enjoy all sessions on Ziggo Sport Racing, with highlights covered across Ziggo Sport, Select and Racing. Eurosport 1 will also be providing delayed coverage across the weekend on linear and digital channels with highlights covered on Eurosport 1.
REST OF EUROPE
Across the remainder of Europe (excl. Italy), all sessions will be live across Eurosport’s linear and digital platforms. Eurosport will provide bespoke, live coverage of the races on Eurosport 2, while all sessions will be live on Discovery + / Eurosport.com and Eurosport Extra. These platforms will also provide a one-stop destination for all Formula E fans’ catch-up needs. Race highlights will also be covered on Eurosport 1.
AMERICAS
USA: CBS will show both races across their pay-tv platform, CBS Sports Network. Free practice sessions and qualifying will be live on CBSSports.com as well as the CBS Sports App.
CANADA: TVA Sports and TSN will show the race action from Rome in French and English, respectively.
MEXICO: Enjoy coverage on Fox Sports 3, Claro Sports, and Azteca Deportes, with Claro Sports providing further coverage across Latin America.
BRAZIL: Catch all Rome race action across Band TV (delayed for Sunday’s Round 14) and BandSports along with digital coverage on BandPlay and bandsports.com.br.
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
Qualifying and races will be live on Saudi Sport Company’s (SSC) linear channel SSC 2 as well as their digital platform shahid.net. Across the Middle East and North Africa, Dubai Sports 2 will be showcasing qualifying and races.
AFRICA: Across Sub-Saharan Africa, catch all the live action across SuperSport Variety 2 and 3.
SOUTH AFRICA: Free-to-air broadcast partner eTV will be covering race and highlights across their eReality channel.
ASIA
INDIA: Star Sports Select 2 and Disney+ Hotstar will show all of the competitive action live from the Hankook Rome E-Prix, with Disney + HotStar the destination for all the Formula E action across the weekend.
CHINA: Formula E’s digital partnerships continue with HUYA, BiliBili, Sina Kuaishou and Douyin will be covering all sessions live, with live race action on Guangdong Sports linear channel.
SOUTH EAST ASIA: SpoTV will be providing full coverage of practice, qualifying and the race.
JAPAN: Viewers will be able to catch all the action from qualifying and race sessions on J-Sports 3, with BS Fuji providing dedicated highlights coverage.
INDONESIA: Catch the race live on iNews, with dedicated coverage of the weekend across MNC platforms.
AUSTRALIA: Formula E continues the broadcast partnership with Stan Sports, who will bring live coverage of all sessions on the Stan Sports platform. 9GO will wrap up the weekend with highlights for fans in Australia.
NEW ZEALAND: Catch all of the action live on Sky Sports 5.