Britain’s Sam Bird claimed his first win of the season in Santiago, Chile, taking him to first place in the Drivers Championship in the process.

The Virgin Racing driver took full advantage after e.dams Renault’s Sebastien Buemi, who had led the race from pole, crashed out 11 laps before the end.

With reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne also forced to retire following an early collision, the way was left clear for Bird, who held on despite pressure from Pascal Wehrlein and Daniel Abt, who finished second and third respectively.

Read more here.

Techeetah drivers Jean-Eric Vergne and Andre Lotterer have criticised Formula E’s qualifying format ahead of the Mexico race.

Under the current rules, the top five drivers in the championship form the first qualifying group, which often means the leading title chasers trying to set times on a slippery track, with later drivers able to set better times on an “evolved” surface.

In the last race in Santiago, Chile, Antonio Felix da Costa, Robin Frijns and Jerome D’Ambrosio joined Techeetah drivers Vergne and Lotterer in Group 1, with all five failing to advance to the superpole qualifying group.

Vergne said he would like to see a change in the qualifying rules. “Qualifying has always been a problem in FE - when I was in F1, no-one ever complained about qualifying,” he said. “I don’t think they can keep it this way for long.

“There are big manufacturers spending so much money and then having their weekend ruined by being in Group 1.”

Despite his problems in Chile, D’Ambrosio says the rules will help bring fans into the sport.

“It’s good for the show,” he said. “It’s frustrating and it’s not the fairest thing, but at the same time, it produces an amazing show.

“So if I speak as Jerome I think it’s unfair, but if I speak as a fan of Formula E I think it makes things quite exciting.”

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Formula E

Three races into the season, US team Geox Dragon has decided for a change, bringing in ex-Sauber F1 driver Felipe Nasr to replace Maximillian Gunther. Nasr will partner Jose Maria Lopez from this weekend's race in Mexico City onwards.

Brazilian Nasr scored 29 points in two seasons in Formula 1, and won the 2018 IMSA Prototype Championship," said Jay Penske, Owner of Geox Dragon. "We are thrilled to add a driver of his calibre to the team.”

Gunther was a test and reserve driver for Geox before taking a taking a full-time seat ahead of Jerome D’Ambrosio for the 2018/19 Season.

Although he had failed to score a point in the first three races – but that on a team where his partner Lopez only managed two points – Gunther was improving, finishing 15th at the season opener in Ad Diriyah, 12th in Marrakesh and qualifying seventh in Santiago last time out, only to retire from the race due to technical issues. Gunther said he had always expected to share the seat at Geox and is confident of a return later this season. In the meantime, he will act as a replacement driver for the team as well as doing most of his work in the simulator.

Image source, Getty Images

The next step in electric racing – the Extreme E series – is penciled in for a January 2021 debut and according to Formula E co-founder Alejandro Agag, has nine manufacturers – ‘nine of the usual suspects’, as he described them -interested in the concept.

Extreme E’s unique selling point is the St Helena – a ship that will transport the series around the world between extreme racing environments such as the Himalayas, the Arctic and the Amazon.

The vehicles will be electric SUVs fitted with existing Formula E engines and power cells, with the launch of prototypes and testing due to start in spring.

Agag, who was briefly the chairman of Queens Park Rangers, insists that the series will happen. "I’ll start the championship with no manufacturers if needed, and just use independent teams," he said.

CBBC

Drivers race super cool electric cars, battling it out on the streets of famous cities all around the world to win the title of Formula E Champion.

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Follow all the action from every race of the new ABB FIA Formula E Championship across the BBC.

The championship consists of 11 teams and 22 drivers competing over 13 races, finishing with a double-header in New York.

Live coverage will be available to watch on the Red Button, Connected TV, BBC Sport website, mobile app and the BBC iPlayer.

16 February – Mexico City, Mexico

21:30-23:30 - Race, BBC Red Button, Connected TV and online (replayed 07:45-09:45, Sunday, 17 February on BBC Red Button)

10 March – Hong Kong, China

07:00-09:30 - Race, BBC Two

18:00-20:30 - Race (replay), BBC Red Button, Connected TV and online

23 March – Sanya, China

13 April – Rome, Italy

27 April – Paris, France

11 May – Monaco

25 May – Berlin, Germany

22 June – Bern, Switzerland

13 July – New York, USA

14 July – New York, USA

Image source, Getty Images

The FIA Formula E Championship is the world’s first all-electric single seater series and is in its fifth season of competition.

The 13-race calendar started in December and will run until July, finishing with two races in two days in New York City.

A new car has been introduced this season that has a longer battery life, eliminating the need to change cars during the race, while BMW and Nissan have joined the rapidly growing list of manufacturers.

The 45-minute long races feature a number of ways to add extra excitement, with drivers able to use ‘Attack Mode’ and ‘Fan Boost’ to help overtaking while there are bonus points for pole position and fastest lap.