Formula E: Verlaine proposed to ban radio communications

      This weekend, the Formula E season finale will take place in London, consisting of two races that will determine the fate of the championship title. Several drivers are in contention: formally, nine representatives from seven different teams still have a chance, but most likely, the fight for the main trophy of the season will be led by the top three drivers.

      Leading the individual standings is Jake Dennis, an Andretti driver who won the title in 2023, just two points behind him is Mitch Evans, racing for Jaguar and a three-time vice-champion of the electric series, and another three points behind is Pascal Wehrlein, who, along with the factory team Porsche, won this championship in 2024.

      Before the season finale, Wehrlein expressed concerns that the tactics of certain teams could influence the course of the battle, and that this, rather than competition on the track, would determine the fate of the title.

      "I would say that this year, it feels like team tactics have a much greater impact on the results than in the past, and I don't like it," the German driver said in an interview with Motorsport.com. "There is a difference between trying to consciously manipulate the course of the race and the situation where you help your teammate if your cars are close on the track."

      Wehrlein believes that in Tokyo, during the first race of the Japanese weekend, where he finished fourth, the tactics of the Envision team affected his result. Sébastien Buemi was set to serve a penalty, having nothing to lose, so before the mandatory pit stop, he deliberately slowed down, holding up the peloton to help Joel Eriksson, his teammate.

      "What Buemi did in Tokyo, from my perspective, crosses all boundaries," Wehrlein continued. "He was penalized and held up half the peloton so that his teammate could earn points. That's too much. And it's a completely different situation when you and your teammate are running second and third, and then you swap positions...

      I believe that this upcoming weekend, only this factor will create some uncertainty: what games will be played, and what will the reactions be?

      My teammate Nico Müller and I intend to do everything possible for our team because Porsche is also fighting for victory in the team standings. Overall, we'll see. I'm sure if there's nothing to lose, and we find ourselves close on the track, Nico will help me. But he also needs to perform well this weekend for the team result."

      Moreover, Wehrlein even proposed a rather radical measure that, in his opinion, would eliminate the possibility of various manipulations: "We should ban radio communications. Personally, I know when the pit stop window opens, and all the necessary information is displayed on the steering wheel, and that's enough to make the right decisions at the right moments."