Formula E: 5 things we learned upon return in Saudi Arabia

5. New drivers impress on Formula E debut

A number of new drivers were racing in Formula E for the first time in Saudi Arabia and in two races that were packed with incident, they conducted themselves well.

Sadly for the likes of Nico Muller and Brendon Hartley at GEOX Dragon, they don’t quite look to have the machinery to compete at the top end, but nonetheless it was notable that Hartley was able to take two points on Saturday, despite incurring a penalty.

He was, of course, aided by the slew of penalties that were handed out at the end of that race, but he was able to out-qualify his teammate twice and can now look ahead to the Santiago ePrix knowing he is already on the board.

Muller is also a talented driver, but he didn’t have the best of weekends, unable to start the first race and then retiring from the second.

However, GEOX Dragon weren’t at the front of the field last season and will know that with two new drivers they may have to be patient.

Elsewhere, James Calado secured a seventh place finish in race two, and despite qualifying far down the grid, he was able to put in two quiet but effective race performances.

On both occasions, he impressed in wheel to wheel action and looks capable of being a useful support driver for Mitch Evans.

Finally, the most of impressive of the new drivers was Nyck de Vries, who scored points in race one after qualifying third in his first ever session.

If that wasn’t already impressive enough, he then drove from the back of the grid in race two and into the top 10, before picking up a five-second penalty for a technical infringement.

He was unable to recover for a second time, but it was a mighty performance from the Formula 2 champion.