Piquet Jr: “We need to turn the potential into points”

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As the European season kicks off in Formula E, Nelson Piquet Jr is looking forward to more regular races, starting off with what he considers to be his home ePrix this weekend in Monaco.

The NextEV NIO driver scored a podium last time Formula E visited the Principality in 2015 before going on to become champion that season and wants to see the team fulfil the potential already shown this season by reaching the podium again.

Both Piquet Jr and team-mate Oliver Turvey have been among the fastest drivers this season with a pole position each in Hong Kong and Mexico City, but for varying reasons neither has achieved the results that Piquet Jr believes the team is capable of and hopes the Monaco ePrix will see a turnaround in their fortunes.

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“I’m happy that we are getting back on track and that the start of the European season really gives the championship now a good momentum through until the end. We have had pretty big gaps between races so far this year but from now the races are pretty regular and so that’s a positive thing.

“I live in Monaco so this is my home race and I have good memories from finishing on the podium there in 2015 when Formula E last visited and the year that I won the championship. I’m excited to get back on that circuit – it’s a special place with so much racing history.”

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“It would be really good for us and I think we are so close to being on the podium that it has to happen soon. We need to kick-start the good results as we have shown that we have good pace this season and have some real potential for strong results. Any race result means a huge amount but somewhere as iconic as Monaco, it is very special to stand on the podium.”

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“Feelings are a little mixed. We have shown that we are basically a different team to last year – we have made a lot of progress with the car and we have shown our pace – with my pole position in Hong Kong and Oliver’s in Mexico City. But at the moment we haven’t been able to convert that potential into results for a mixture of reasons and we need to turn the potential into points.

“The positives obviously are that we are in the mix this season and the team is working extremely hard to improve. Everyone deserves some good results and we will continue to work hard for it.”

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“It’s definitely a huge step forward and you have to remember that we have essentially an entirely new team this year as NextEV took the whole team operations in-house and employed the staff whereas before the team was outsourced. It shows NextEV’s commitment to Formula E and we are all working hard to move in the right direction and fight for those race wins and podiums.”

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“I really loved the Miami round in season one and I wish that would be added back onto the calendar. But if you look at our calendar now, the cities we go to are unparalleled in any other racing championship: New York, Paris, Montreal, Berlin, Hong Kong.

“It’s amazing what Formula E has done so far and it can only keep improving. As long as we are in good places for the championship and, I hope, adding more rounds, then I will be happy wherever we race.”

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Main image courtesy of NextEV NIO
Support images courtesy of Rajan Jangda

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