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Exclusive with Nyck de Vries: Formula E doesn't need to be a lottery

Formula E Championship leader Nyck de Vries believes that Formula E doesn't need to be chaotic in order to entertain, believing the series has matured enough.

Nyck de Vries is in a tremendous position in the Formula E Championship, with just one double header round remaining in this year's championship. The Dutch driver enjoys a six point lead over compatriot Robin Frijns, having scored two second place finishes last weekend in London. "Had you told me that before the weekend, I would have signed up for it," De Vries told RacingNews365.com after his weekend in the UK. Saturday saw the Mercedes Formula E driver produce a measured but aggressive catch up race while, on Sunday, he was unlucky not to win outright in a race of chaos and confusion after Lucas Di Grassi took the lead under the Safety Car after diving into the pits to save time. While de Vries leads the championship, 15 drivers are still in with a mathematical shot at winning the title. Given the length of the series, De Vries feels that some aspects of the Formula E Championship can be improved in order to reduce the chaotic nature of the races and allow the best drivers to shine. "It makes it come across a bit like a lottery. For example, if you have three teams competing for the world title, then that is just as exciting, but still easier to follow," the Mercedes driver said. "Some things have to change." The Dutch driver feels that the qualifying format, in particular, generates chaos as the leading drivers are usually out on track early when the track isn't at its grippiest. Run in four groups of six drivers, the drivers running in the final group drive on a track that has 'rubbered in' over the course of the session - a particular advantage at the temporary street circuits that Formula E races on. As a result, De Vries feels the best drivers aren't necessarily starting from the front of the grid: "Formula E does not need this, because the class in itself is exciting and beautiful enough with enough action." As a result of his championship position, de Vries qualifies in Group 1 in Berlin for the final championship weekend at Tempelhof Airport. The Dutch driver is worried about the thoughts of having to qualify so early, but says there isn't anything he can do about it ahead of the final races on August 14 and 15. "Everything will depend on how the track evolves," he said. "If the track for Group 4 is half a second faster than for Group 1, I can't make up for that. I have to accept it."

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