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Buenos Aires ePrix race report

Sébastien Buemi secured his third win in three races with victory at the Buenos Aires ePrix. Starting from third on the grid, the Renault e-Dams driver now has a commanding lead in the drivers' championship. The Puerto Madero street circuit is a favourite amongst the drivers because it provides excellent overtaking opportunities as well as high-speed racing. Once out in front, this was of little consequence to Buemi, but it provided good entertainment throughout the rest of the field. A clean start for everyone initially saw pole-sitter Lucas di Grassi open a lead of several car-lengths. But Adam Carroll was forced to stop on the start/finish straight, resulting in a full course yellow. This prevented di Grassi from increasing his lead while he had the advantage, and shortly after racing resumed he was overtaken by both Jean-Eric Vergne and Buemi within half a lap. On paper, there's little to separate Vergne and Buemi's cars, and throughout the race it was clear that

Buenos Aires ePrix qualifying report

A slippery qualifying session for the Buenos Aires, beset with accidents and delays, saw Lucas di Grassi claim his first-ever Formula E pole. Sam Bird was first out of the blocks, but it was a frustrating lap for the DS Virgin driver. He struggled to keep the rear of the car in check, and clipping the wall took it's toll on his lap time. Robin Frijns took a typically aggressive approach to the session, but could only set the third-fastest time. Provisional pole went to Mitch Evans, who set the fastest time thanks to a competent lap from the New Zealander. Evans was unlikely to hold on to pole for long, especially with a highly competitive second qualifying group featuring Buemi, di Grassi and Vergne. Buemi also complained that there was very little grip in the car, but briefly set the fastest time. Jean-Eric Vergne, who we know has a fast car underneath him, quickly replaced him at the top of the timing screens. Local boy Lopez was first to try and set a time in the third gro

Buenos Aires ePrix preview

Formula E racing returns this Saturday after a mammoth 14-week break. Round three of the third season will take place around the Puerto Madero street circuit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It will become the first track to have hosted three ePrix. A revised FanBoost system is in place from this round. The voting window has been reduced to one week, and Instagram posts no longer count towards a driver's total. Current championship leader Sébastien Buemi has taken the chequered flag in this season's opening two races, but has yet to win in Buenos Aires. In last year's race, he battled with Sam Bird over the final few laps, but couldn't catch the British driver in time. Buemi will hope the third time's the charm, and continue his 100% record. But his (and Renault's) dominance could be challenged by any number of the other drivers. We've still to really see how well the other teams have developed their cars since last season and during the mid-season break.

Formula E 2017 calendar still uncertain

How the final stages of the current Formula E calendar will look is still unclear, after a series of interventions from local politicians in the planned host cities. The "traditional" season closer in London's Battersea Park was scrapped last summer after complaints from a local residents group. They successfully lobbied councillors to cancel the event citing concerns about the removal of green space in favour of tarmac, despite Formula E paying for new roads and other improvements to the park. Several rounds marked as "to be confirmed" on the initial schedule never came to fruition, leaving a massive 12-week gap between November's Marrakesh ePrix and the next round in Buenos Aires on 18 February. Politics Late last month, it was revealed that the location of the Berlin ePrix would have to change after local politicians objected. It looks likely to return to the Templehof airfield track used in season one, rather than the inner-city street circuit