For Joel Eriksson, the Berlin E-Prix means more than just another stop on the Formula E calendar. The venue launched his Envision Racing story two seasons ago, and the Swede returns this weekend carrying both unfinished business and growing confidence.
A six-week break has given the entire grid time to recalibrate, and Eriksson spoke Pit Debrief ahead of the first practice session, to reflect on a season that has already delivered his career-best Formula E result, the qualifying obstacles still costing him grid positions, and what consistent success would look like in the German capital.
A learning curve heading upwards
Eriksson’s debut full campaign has produced flashes of genuine pace, and his P4 result in Miami underlined what the 27-year-old can deliver when the package comes together. He believes the trajectory points the right way, but he holds no illusions about where the work still needs to happen.
“I think the learning curve has been in the right direction, so upwards,” Eriksson told Pit Debrief. “I mean, obviously, Formula E is one of the toughest championships in the world, and it’s just super hard in qualifying to nail it, put the lap together, put the tyres in the right window, because they are very sensitive.”
The qualifying picture, he admits, demands the most refinement. Race pace and race craft, by contrast, no longer concern him.
“So, obviously, I think we are working mostly on the qualifying, because the races we are feeling quite comfortable, but we know what to do when we have a very strong and efficient package.”
Poor starting positions have repeatedly forced Eriksson to carve his way through the pack during races, and the Envision driver wants to flip that dynamic in his favour.
“So, I mean, so far so good with the scoring points, but obviously we want to make it a little bit easier for us to start a bit further up and not on the back. So, yeah, I think someone would be gratified.”
A familiar championship, a new challenge
Although Eriksson is contesting his first full season as a Formula E race driver, his connection with the championship stretches back several years through testing and reserve duties. When asked whether anything had surprised him in his step up to a full-time seat, he gave a measured answer.
“Not really. I think Formula E has always been very special to any other championship,” he said. “I mean, yeah, I’ve been around since 2019 now, so I know the championship pretty well, but I mean, as I said, I’ve not raced a full season yet.”
The complexity of in-race decision-making, however, continues to demand his full attention.
“There are still a lot of things that need to be learned, and obviously the races are very, very complicated, and obviously very hard when it comes to strategy and decision-making within the race, behind the wheel. But, yeah, obviously there are still a lot of things, like I said, to be learned, and we are going to stay focused and make the most of it.”
Berlin holds happy memories
Tempelhof carries particular significance for Eriksson. He made his Envision Racing debut at the venue during Season 10, stepping in for a one-off appearance on reserve driver duties and impressing the team with a points finish that ultimately helped him land a full-time seat for Season 12.
As he returns to the same circuit as a regular race driver, he defines a successful weekend in clear and pragmatic terms.
“I think just scoring points, like points consistently is a very strong target and aim,” he said.
He remains realistic, however, about the unpredictable nature of racing at Tempelhof, where chaos rarely sits far from the surface.
“I mean, here in Berlin it’s going to be quite chaotic. As we know, there is a lot of action going on in the races and people coming from the back within the race. It’s going to be a big gamble this weekend. Just hoping that the luck is on our side and hopefully, we come out with some good points.”
Envision Racing currently sit fourth in the team standings, and Eriksson keeps building on a steady run of points-scoring performances. The Berlin E-Prix double-header now offers Eriksson the perfect stage to push that progression another step forward.
