This week, the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team will be heading to Monaco for the sixth and seventh rounds of Season 11.

Sam, Taylor and Team Principal Ian James are here to help us prepare for the event. As well as hearing from the team, we’ll also be explaining some key FE terminology, recapping the season so far, and catching up with a team member on their priorities this weekend.

Key info

“I always look forward to racing in Monaco, it’s one of the greatest tracks in the world and definitely challenges you as a driver. Monaco is also where I unexpectedly started my Formula E career last year, and where I’ve previously won in Formula 2, so it’s a place that I have good memories of.

“There’s a sense of excitement in the team as a whole heading into the weekend, as this track should really suit our car. I can’t wait to get going!”

“I’m very much looking forward to the first Formula E double-header in Monaco. Monaco is historically one of the most important race circuits in the world, and it’s also one of the most fun to drive in a Formula E car.

“This is a track that always produces spectacular racing, and I can’t wait to get going after a race in Miami, where we maximised the race, but unfortunately got a penalty, so I’m very much hoping to put that right this when we get to Monaco.”

“I’m excited to return to Monaco this weekend – the first of the European rounds this season and a staple on the Formula E calendar. For the first time in Formula E history, the Monaco E-Prix will be a double-header event, consolidating the strength of the World Championship in a location with a strong motorsport legacy.

“After a few weeks since a challenging outing in Miami, the team is looking forward to the opportunity to score more points and fight for our position in the Championship. Although the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team has shown strong on-track performance, we have left some valuable points on the table which, given the competitiveness of this World Championship, we cannot afford to happen during the upcoming races.

“Starting with Monaco, we are entering a very busy period of racing, with plenty of potential. We have been working hard to equip ourselves for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead and I, for one, can’t wait to be out on track again.”

The season so far

The team remains in a strong position in the Championship standings despite a tougher race last time out in Miami. Sam and Taylor were unable to finish in the points, due in part to a late Red Flag, which meant neither driver could complete Attack Mode.

However, Sam, Taylor and Ian James felt that the pace was strong through the round and are confident of the team’s potential going into this weekend’s double-header at Monaco, with the team sitting third in the Teams’ Championship, 13 points off second.

FEducation: Energy management

Our aim is to ensure everyone is as equipped as possible to follow Season 11, so whether you’re new to following Formula E or a long-time fan, we’ll be explaining some of the series’ most complicated terminology, jargon, acronyms, and technical terms to aid your understanding. This week, it’s energy management.

Energy management is the key strategic element of Formula E races. It’s somewhat similar to tyre degradation in Formula 1, in that the drivers and their engineers need to decide when to push and when to drive more conservatively, but instead of saving their tyres, they're preserving energy.

Each car has a set amount of usable energy per race, and if we were to drive flat out for the full length of the E-Prix, then… well, they wouldn’t see the Chequered Flag, simple as that.

Energy can be preserved through a variety of techniques. For example, by lifting off the throttle to coast through a high-speed corner rather than accelerating through it, or by braking early into a lower-speed corner. These methods also help to recover energy through the car’s Energy Recovery System (ERS) via a paddle on the steering wheel.

Energy can also be preserved by racing within a pack and exploiting the slipstream. If utilised effectively, drivers will be left with more energy than their competitors towards the end of the race, allowing them to go on the offensive and make their way through the pack.

Alternatively, drivers can attack in the opening stages of a race and then attempt to defend their lead in the closing laps, while conserving energy.

What to watch out for in Monaco

Each weekend, we’ll catch up with a different member of the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team and ask them what their priorities are for the upcoming E-Prix. This weekend, we’ve spoken with Programme Planner and Reliability Engineer Louis-Khanh Le.

My role is inherently dynamic - no two days look the same. Outside of race weekends, I adopt a more strategic mindset as a planner. A significant part of my role involves component usage planning and post-event service in collaboration with our suppliers.

During race events, working from our base in Bicester, I wear the hat of a Reliability Engineer, responding in real time to any issues that may arise, helping to ensure both cars run consistently throughout the weekend. I spend much of my time interpreting driver feedback, analysing data and key performance metrics, and communicating insights back to our trackside colleagues. This could be identifying emerging risks or advising on decisions - race support is all about being agile while providing a clear flow of information.

Monaco presents a unique and heightened challenge this year - for the first time, it's a double-header weekend, featuring two races with different formats. The extra day brings added physical and mental toll - maximising human performance becomes just as critical as vehicle performance.

One race will incorporate Pit Boost, while the other will run without it, meaning two separate strategies and approaches must be prepared. Our work in the simulator reflects this: solid preparation ensures both drivers and engineers are ready to adapt swiftly to the changing demands of the weekend. On a tight street circuit where track evolution and traffic are constant factors, giving the drivers confidence to push to the limit from FP1 is vital.

Monaco stands alone in its demands - it’s a narrow street circuit that rewards driver precision and bravery - but there are off-track challenges too. Signal interference from the surrounding buildings makes radio communication less reliable, and the unique garage layout requires extra coordination between our Setup, Commercial, and Engineering teams. Success in Monaco won’t just be down to just a fast car on the track, but also how teams handle moments that test composure behind the scenes.

Lastly, Monaco marks the final stop before a demanding triple-header stretch in Asia. Reliability planning becomes key - every component choice feeds into not just this event, but the momentum we carry into the next phase of the season.

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