2 April 2024 08:45 (UTC)

2024 TOKYO E-PRIX REPORT

"We’ve learnt a lot during this event, which will help make us stronger"

2024 TOKYO E-PRIX REPORT

"We’ve learnt a lot during this event, which will help make us stronger"

Saturday, 30, March

Hear from NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers Sam Bird, Jake Hughes, and Team Principal Ian James after the 2024 Tokyo E-Prix.

Free Practice 2	1:13.979	P16
Qualifying	1:13.870	P13*
Race		P13

*Jake started the race in P16 following a three-place grid penalty.

“Today was a difficult day. In the race itself, I felt quite competitive, but in Qualifying we were lacking in performance. However, immediately afterwards, the initial thoughts and data suggested we already understand the issue. It’s going to be a key focus for us now in the lead-up to the next race in Misano – especially as it was Qualifying that compromised us today.

“As I said to the team on the radio after the race: 'we came into this week with a positive and focused mindset', and we need to make sure we carry this into the next round so we can bounce back.”

Free Practice 2	1:12.773	P21
Qualifying	1:13.208	P22
Race		DNF

“It was a challenging day for everyone at the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. Not scoring any points does hurt, especially when you’ve worked so hard. Having said that, we have collected valuable data. We’ve learnt a lot during this event, which will help make us stronger looking forward.

“We’ll use next week to regroup, and the aim is to be strong and competitive again when we get to Italy.”

“The inaugural Tokyo E-Prix has been a great success for the Formula E World Championship. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. Put simply, we weren’t able to provide Jake and Sam with a package which instilled the necessary confidence with which to attack this circuit. This, combined with a number of other issues which were outside of our control, made for a miserable and frustrating weekend on the track.

“As always, the team constantly evaluated and adapted to the situation to ensure that we learnt as much as possible. We now need to capitalise on this learning and ensure that the event in Misano in two weeks’ time has a much more positive outcome. There is still much of the season to go and the competition is as close as it ever has been.”