DUBAI: The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Berlin’s iconic Tempelhof Airport street circuit this weekend, May 11-12.

As season 10 reaches the midway point, round 9 and 10 will be the third double-header of the season and are set to intensify the battle for the title. 

With a decade of racing history, all eyes are on the 22 drivers to recreate the excitement of the past 18 races in the German capital, a highlight of which was a remarkable 362 overtakes in last season’s event.

Notable contenders include ABT Cupra’s Lucas di Grassi — eager to take his maiden win of the season in front of his team’s home crowd — and Antonio Felix da Costa, two of only three double winners in Berlin.

Jaguar TCS Racing are aiming to replicate their memorable 1-2 finish from season 9 while Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Gunther has high hopes for his home race.

TAG Heuer Porsche seek to consolidate their lead with Pascal Wehrlein in the Drivers’ Championship standings on what is home territory for both driver and team.

Berlin holds the distinction of being the only city to have hosted a race in every Formula E season — a total of 18 races. With Tempelhofer Feld as the host venue for all but one season, the track presents a familiar yet demanding challenge and, with an updated layout, the opportunities are wide open. 

The second season of the GEN3 era has already yielded fierce competition, with the first eight rounds crowning seven different race winners. No fewer than 11 drivers have celebrated on the podium and, currently, seven different teams are represented in the top 10 of the drivers’ standings.

As the championship gears up for the second half of the year, the current drivers’ standings are as follows: Pascal Wehrlein of TAG Heuer Porsche leads the pack — the only driver with two wins under his belt so far this season; he is closely followed by Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy, who boasts a win and four podiums, leaving him only seven points shy of the lead.

Currently in third is 2023 World Champion Jake Dennis, of Andretti Formula E. He is followed by round 6 winner Oliver Rowland of Nissan Formula E and Mitch Evans, Cassidy’s teammate at Jaguar TCS Racing, in fourth and fifth respectively.

Maximilian Günther of Maserati MSG Racing and DS Penske’s Jean-Eric Vergne are currently sixth and seventh, with Sam Bird of NEOM McLaren Formula E in eighth. Stoffel Vandoorne, after a season-best performance in Monaco, sits in ninth in the other DS Penske machine, while TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa rounds out the top ten.

LONDON: Arsenal have barely put a foot wrong in the Premier League in 2024 but, as the title race approaches the finish line, they desperately need a favor from Fulham, who host relentless Manchester City this weekend.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, who travel to Manchester United, are one point clear at the top of the table with two matches to play but Pep Guardiola’s men, crucially, have a game in hand.

Nottingham Forest will take a huge step toward safety if they beat in-form Chelsea, who are battling Newcastle and Manchester United for a European spot.

Here’s a look at three talking points ahead of the action.

When the 2023/24 fixture list came out, Sunday’s trip to Manchester United would have seemed a tricky task for Arsenal, but it is not looking that way now.

The Gunners, chasing their first Premier League title for 20 years, are likely to have been dislodged from the top of the table by the time they kick off at Old Trafford on Sunday.

That is because second placed City, in the hunt for a historic fourth straight Premier League title, are in action at Fulham the previous day.

City are unbeaten against the London side in 21 games in all competitions.

Arsenal will be confident they can beat a sputtering United team, who appear increasingly likely to miss out on European football next season after their embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday.

City’s game in hand is next week at Tottenham, where they have never even scored a goal in the league, but Spurs’ form has deserted them and Erling Haaland is back to his marauding best.

Arsenal, boasting a superior goal difference, need City to stumble but the signs are not promising.

Newcastle and Chelsea are both making a late-season charge for a European place, helped by Manchester United’s slump.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are in pole position to take either a Europa League or UEFA Conference League spot, depending on results in the last few rounds of the Premier League and in the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United.

They could even finish in fifth spot if Tottenham implode further.

Sixth-placed Newcastle, who host Brighton on Saturday, have won five of their past seven league games.

Free-scoring Chelsea were well off the pace just weeks ago, but a run of one defeat in their past 12 league games has given them hope of salvaging a troubled season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men travel to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest knowing a win will keep alive their hopes of a European spot.

Nottingham Forest learned this week that an appeal against their four-point penalty for breaching Premier League financial rules had been unsuccessful, but they are still close to securing top-flight safety.

If Forest better Luton’s result against West Ham they will be on the brink of securing a third straight year in the top-flight.

It has been a rollercoaster season for Forest, who were charged with improper conduct by the Football Association earlier this month after the club criticized VAR Stuart Attwell on social media following their defeat to Everton.

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said he had “already moved on” after the failed appeal over their points deduction.

They are favorites to avoid the drop but if results go against them this weekend, they could yet face a shootout for survival with Burnley on the final weekend.

Fixtures

Saturday (1400 GMT unless stated)

Fulham vs. Man City (1130), Bournemouth vs. Brentford, Everton vs. Sheff Utd, Newcastle vs. Brighton, Tottenham vs. Burnley, West Ham vs. Luton, Wolves vs. Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea (1630)

Sunday

Manchester United vs. Arsenal (1530)

Monday

Aston Villa vs. Liverpool (1900)