Monaco E-Prix: Sam Bird insists first Formula E championship is within his grasp despite slide

Britain’s Sam Bird insists a first Formula E Championship title is within his grasp despite a terrible run of results which has seen the Envision Virgin Racing driver slip to eighth in the Drivers’ Standings.

Formula E makes its return to the iconic street track of Monaco after the principality missed out last season with the Gen2 race car set to make its debut in the historic venue.

Bird will be one of a number of drivers looking to break the incredible streak of eight different winners from the first eight races of the season which has left the Drivers’ Championship the most unpredictable ever.

The 32-year-old stood atop the standings ahead of the Hong Kong race, four races ago and after crossing the line first appeared to have extended his lead further but was stripped of the win thanks to a five-second penalty due to hitting Andre Lotterer and ending the German’s race.

This then ignited a run of horrible luck with the Brit suffering contact in each race since and also failing to score a point – seeing him fall to eighth place.

But Bird remained bullish about his title chances thanks to the unpredictability of Formula E ensuring the top-10 drivers are all within 30 points of Championship leader, and Bird’s teammate, Robin Frijns.

“It is still very much on, there is 25 points for a win and I’m within reach of the top so all you need is one good race and you’re there again,” said Bird who will be racing live on BBC Red Button from 3pm on Saturday 11 May. “We are not out of contention yet by any stretch of the imagination. Last season I was 30 off the lead at this stage and in second place.

“I’ve basically been taken out in three races which is unfortunate but hopefully that is out of the way. It has been an unfortunate year really and there has been some bad luck involved.

“Monaco has been a happy hunting ground for me in the past and is a magical place to come to for a race and it is everything that comes with it, the glitz and glamour and it has its own passion and soul.

“Qualify at the front, win the race, that is the master plan. I think it is an achievable target. We have had a tough time of it, but the fortune has to change sometime and hopefully it can change here.”

Sebastien Buemi will be the main man hoping to continue Formula E’s remarkable streak of winner with the Swiss former champion the winner of both previous Monaco E-Prix but without a victory in two seasons.

He will face stiff competition from another former champion in Audi Sports ABT Schaeffler’s Lucas di Grassi who is the two-time runner up of the Monaco E-Prix – losing out to Buemi by just 0.32 seconds last time out.

With only one winner from pole this season and half of the race winners coming from the middle of the pack during the race plenty of surprises have been thrown up this season. But with Monaco famously difficult to overtake this could be the race where one of the leaders of the pack can cement his title claim with a good performance.

The Monaco E-Prix will be broadcast live at 3.30pm on BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Online and Eurosport 1 on 11 May.