David Beckmann’s Race 2 performance at the 2025 Berlin E-Prix, Round 14 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, showcased early promise but ultimately fell short due to strategic miscalculations. Driving for CUPRA KIRO, the German briefly surged to the front of the field in the opening laps, yet faded to a P17 finish after an aggressive early push compromised his energy reserves.
Following a collision-induced retirement in Saturday’s race, Beckmann entered Sunday determined to extract points from a weekend that had already shown flashes of potential. He began the day from 12th on the grid—gaining a spot due to penalties—and moved up rapidly during the initial phase of the race.
Aggressive push, costly consequences
Beckmann was the first driver to activate Attack Mode, doing so as early as lap 3. By lap 5, he had worked his way up to second place behind teammate Dan Ticktum, highlighting both his commitment and raw pace. However, the decision to use extra energy early would later leave him exposed during the final stint.
“Today we had a better starting position than Saturday and we had quite a lot of potential, but overall looking back, we just went in the wrong direction with the strategy,” Beckmann explained post-race.
As rivals conserved energy and timed their Attack Modes for the closing laps, Beckmann found himself unable to defend effectively. Despite CUPRA KIRO’s strong teamwork and preparation, the energy deficit proved insurmountable once the safety car periods bunched the field and triggered a flurry of tactical moves.
“We were at the front for a few laps but I used a lot of energy to move forward and using the Attack Mode early meant that it was difficult to defend against other drivers at the end,” he continued.
Team effort unrewarded
While the outcome of the Berlin E-Prix was far from ideal, Beckmann acknowledged the collective effort behind the weekend’s Formula E campaign. His frustration was clear, but so too was his appreciation for the dedication shown by the CUPRA KIRO crew.
“I’m sorry for the team that we had to go through this, because we put a lot of effort in and did a good job this weekend.”
Beckmann’s fastest lap of 1:01.552 was over eight-tenths slower than teammate Ticktum’s, and he remains 24th in the championship without points. However, his performance once again hinted at untapped potential.
Final chance awaits in London
Looking ahead, Beckmann now sets his sights on the season-ending double-header in London. The indoor-outdoor layout of the ExCeL Circuit offers new variables—and possibly a final opportunity for redemption.
“London is a very different track to Berlin, and hopefully, we can fight back in the finale.”
With two rounds remaining, the German will be hoping for a more strategically sound performance to end his rookie campaign on a stronger note.
