Formula E championship preview

Formula E is here. The inaugural ePrix will take place in Beijing this weekend. All the buzz is surrounding the cars and for good reason, but we're going to take a step away from that for a moment. Let's take some time to actually talk about the championship and who will end up on top when it's all said and done.

Twenty drivers will contest the ten race calendar and go in pursuit of the honor of being crowned champion of the FIA's brand new, fully electric series. There are a plethora of drivers making up the field, coming from all walks of life.

Looking at the strong list of racers, I've narrowed it down to the five I think will end up battling it out for the title. Keep in mind that the cars are almost identical, similar to the old IROC series in that aspect. Driver skill will play a major role in who comes out on top. Taking that and the results of the Donington test into account, here's who I see as the favorites...

Lucas di Grassi

If it's got wheels, Di Grassi has probably driven it. That versatility will pay major dividends when everyone's going into a brand new series with brand new cars. The ability to quickly adapt is crucial to success. Di Grassi has experience in everything from Brazilian stock cars to GP2/F1 cars, and of course, an Audi R18 E-tron quattro at Le Mans.

He's shown speed in testing as well, but nobody has been as fast as the next guy.

Sebastien Buemi

Buemi has been the name at the top of charts for most of testing and his pace has been nothing short of remarkable. The Swiss driver was decent in Formula One and blistering fast for Toyota in the WEC. He's posted two podium results at Le Mans in as many years and currently leads the championship with two wins to his credit this season. 

Nelson Piquet Jr.

Nelson Piquet Jr. F1 - NASCAR - Global Rallycross. Yeah, it's a very peculiar career path. Piquet didn't make too much noise in Formula One ... Well, besides that scandal of course. In NASCAR, he adapted very quickly and even earned wins in both the Nationwide and Truck Series. Since moving over to the GRC, he has shown incredible potential, currently leading the championship by a fairly comfortable margin in his debut season.

Nick Heidfeld

Anyone with 185 starts in Formula One is someone worth mentioning. He never won, but Nick was a very consistent driver, scoring 259 points in his career. He's driven for the underdog team in the WEC (Rebellion) and has scored two fourth place finishes at Le Mans, further solidifying his reputation as an incredibly consistent driver. That trait will assist him as he sets his sights on the Formula E title.

Franck Montagny

The 36-year-old Montagny has been racing professionally since 1994, accumulating dozens of starts in single-seaters in a number of different series. He's made twelve starts at Le Mans, scoring three podium results in LMP1. Montagny's extensive experience will be a major plus for this veteran.

Making a choice

As for my championship pick, I'm going to have to go with Sebastien Buemi, who will bring it home for the e.dams team. Now it's your turn to select your pick for the Formula E championship ... Click an option below to vote!