SF: It will make a big difference. For other race series, when they come to Monaco, it’s very difficult for them as it’s narrow, bumpy, difficult to overtake, and the grip is very low. For [Formula E], when we go to Monaco it’s the opposite. It’s the smoothest of all the tracks we go to, it’s less bumpy, and it’s the highest grip we see all year - apart from the chicanes, it’s also quite fast flowing.
Obviously, you want to be at the minimum weight set by the FIA because it’s good for performance and for drivability, but at other tracks where there’s far less grip, it matters even more.
SAM BIRD - DS VIRGIN RACE DRIVER
Rob Watts: It's been a frustrating start to the season in some respects; how important is it that the team take advantage of moments (such as in Mexico City) when Sebastien Buemi appears to be having an off day?
Sam Bird: We'll take anything we can get, but we also need to be consistently good at the same time. We’re not just there to take advantage when the others have an off day; we need to be beating them consistently. It’s difficult, and we haven’t done that so far, but that’s always the aim.
RW: To close that gap, will it be a case of improving qualifying pace to ensure you're always at the sharp end, or is it more about maximising race strategy to give yourself more options during the race?
SB: We’ve just to go to capitalise on points - we have to be scoring 18 or 25 points every time if we’re going to close the gap, and he needs to have a race where he doesn’t score again. If we do that were within touching distance, but it will still be hard. The guy’s relentless - he wins everything at the moment that he does. He’s had six races so far this year, and he’s won five of them.
RW: How important a role does confidence play for a driver, in building up a run of form like Buemi is enjoying right now?
SB: It does help, but the guy is just very talented. He has a powertrain that obviously, in my opinion, is the best at the moment, and he’s one of the best drivers in the championship. So when he’s on a hot streak, and he’s got his tail up - which he does at the moment - then he’s very difficult to beat.
RW: With regards to the DS car, how much more can you extract from this current package?
SB: There’s always more that you can extract from the package. We feel that we’ve made improvements since Mexico, what we can improve for season four yet we don’t know. We’ve started doing some work for season four, but nothing’s finalised. I believe in my team, and in DS as a manufacturer, and I believe that we can take the fight to Audi and Renault in the future.