Sam Bird did not have the expected start in the debut of Formula E Season 9 in Mexico City, where the technological Gen3 era of the electric single-seater series made its debut.
The Jaguar Racing driver finished 20th after leaving the track due to mechanical problems, and will have to adjust quickly if he wants to figure in the tournament and not repeat the disappointment of 2022, where he lost his record of securing a victory in each campaign and was forced to miss the last two races after breaking his hand during the London E-Prix.
In the preview, the Briton praised the big increase in performance compared to what he was used to with the Gen2 car’s power. “Obviously, last year, we ran at 250kW. Now we have 350kW. That means big straight-line speeds and when you outperform yourself, it’s harder.”
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Engineering and Technology
On the new-era innovations, Bird noted that the most complicated thing this year is the amount of software in the cars, which he believes is a really complex piece of equipment.
“Putting all the software in the right window is critical to being fast. If something is out of the window, the whole car feels completely off,” he explained.
Bird managed to secure a podium finish in Mexico City in Season 3, but since then, his results at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez have been relatively disappointing.
The Psychological Factor
Beyond the technical specifications of the single-seaters and the talent in front of the wheel, Bird stated in Mexico that his preparation for this new year of competition was not focused on his physique, but on his mental health.
“I’ve worked a lot with a sports psychologist and learned a lot about myself in and out of the car,” he said. “It’s been an important lesson for me to grow as an individual. This is also directly impacting my work and personal life.”
He claimed that one of the mistakes he made in his approach to racing was that he was fit enough, but didn’t work the mind. “That was a weakness and now I feel much stronger, overall, because of it.”
