Formula E

Piquet Jnr expecting better year with new look NextEV

2 Mins read
FIA Formula E Second Pre-Season Testing Event. Donington Park Racecourse, Derby, United Kingdom. Photo: Alastair Staley / LAT ref: Digital Image 585A6450

Season one champion Nelson Piquet Jnr is expecting a far better year going into the third season of Formula E.

The 2014-15 champion endured a terrible time last year as the overweight and unreliable NextEV TCR meant the team finished last in standings with Piquet Jnr managing just two points finishes.

However the team have gone through a dramatic restructuring following their split from Campos, and have developed a completely new car for the year ahead.

Speaking ahead of the Hong Kong ePrix this weekend, the Brazilian said it was like starting with a new team.

He said, “We’re essentially starting from scratch this year. We have a new car and also a brand new team.”

“NextEV has put a lot of resource into making the best team possible, taking the operations in house.”

“A lot of the previous staff were supplied by race outfit Campos, so for this season almost all the team personnel has changed.”

“We’re effectively an all-new outfit heading into season three. We really are starting from square one.”

It’s this change that has led the former champion to be certain that the team will perform better this year, and he’s hopeful they can challenge for victories once again.

If results were dependent on how hard we are working and how much we effort and emotion we’ve put into season three, then I’m hoping that we will be celebrating like we were in season one.

“The whole team deserves victories and good moments. We’ve been preparing hard to get everything squared up as best we can. I’m sure we’re going to have a much better year.”

His team-mate Oliver Turvey had similar sentiments about the car’s performance, believing it to be a big step up from last year.

“The NextEV team has worked extremely hard on the new season three car,” Turvey said.

We completed some productive private testing in Spain to learn and understand the new car’s performance and feel we have made a significant step forwards from last year.”

“The objective personally and within the team is to win. We know it won’t be easy as there is very strong competition from the other teams and drivers, but I will be giving it my all to get the first win of the season for the team.”

While NextEV weren’t ever at the top of the timesheets during testing, they did show signs of progress from last year, with the car also seeming to be more reliable.

Avatar photo
679 posts

About author
Formula E writer for TCF since 2015-16 and fascinated by all things electric.
Articles
Related posts
Formula 2Formula E

Jehan Daruvala to Make Formula E Debut With Maserati

1 Mins read
Formula 2’s Jehan Daruvala is set to make his Formula E debut with Maserati MSG Racing
Formula E

Formula E Title Contenders Embrace Ancient Rome's Spirit Ahead of Rome E-Prix Double Header

2 Mins read
The top four contenders in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship came together in Rome to pay tribute to the fearless charioteers of ancient Rome. As they gear up for the Rome E-Prix double header, Jake Dennis, Nick Cassidy, Pascal Wehrlein, and Mitch Evans took part in a chariot-themed photoshoot at the historic Circus Maximus.
Formula E

Jake Hughes and McLaren Seek Redemption at 2023 Rome E-Prix

1 Mins read
Jake Hughes and the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team are determined to bounce back at the Rome E-Prix after a challenging race in Portland.