Fred Bertrand: Mahindra Monaco battles ‘part of Formula E’

Mahindra Team Principal Fred Bertrand has reflected on a positive first race in Monaco for Mahindra, despite controversy.

Fred Bertrand saw his team secure its best race result since season nine in the first race of the weekend in Monaco.

Nyck de Vries, involved in tough battles with Dan Ticktum and Oliver Rowland, secured the runner-up spot on the podium, praising his team’s approach to the race. Team-mate Edoardo Mortara fought hard en-route to fourth.

Fred Bertrand was understandably delighted after the race. Speaking to media in a roundtable, including Fastest Formula News, Bertrand said the tight battles around the famous streets were “expected”.

“I think it’s part of Formula E to have those type of positions here. What we have seen is that with attack mode, you can overtake. With attack mode, it’s massive.

“So losing a minimum of places before taking attack mode. Losing, if possible, no position taking attack mode. And then recovering a maximum when you have it, is the goal.

A busy race for Mahindra drivers in Monaco

Reflecting on the wheel-to-wheel racing seen during the Monaco E-Prix, Fred Bertrand said Mortara had more incidents, but reaffirmed his position that close battling is what makes Formula E so appealing as a series.

After, you need to make your way as good as possible or as nicely as possible. I think for me, the race of Nyck was probably smoother than the one of Edo. Because Edo was involved in one or two big ones where he could have been the one in trouble.

And finally, he has managed to survive through these moves. I think what I like here in Monaco is that the way it goes is tough but good racing.

“So I think it would be a shame if Formula E was losing this. It’s much better than what we had the two previous years. I think the front wing is much stronger and makes the races a bit cleaner. You have a little bit less that idea of pushing from the back.

“So I think all this is going in the right direction. After, it’s a big fight. Because tomorrow, what I’m expecting is that there is even more because of the format of the race.

“Having a level of energy like this and the number of laps we want to do, might be a bit of a nice moment or maybe some nice moment at some areas. But then you have to be a bit lucky, a bit agile and a bit wild. And then it goes well or not.

Does Monaco E-Prix result change Mahindra targets for Fred Bertrand?

When asked by Fastest Formula News if the team’s strong pace in Monaco changes the outlook for Season 11, Fred Bertrand was resolute in his response.

“When we start a race we try to win it for sure. But I think for us we don’t change. I think from the beginning of the season I always say we need 10 points per race, 10, 15 points. So we need to make sure that our two drivers are in the top 10. Or at least one is scoring a big number.But that‘s the goal. 

“To make sure that we deliver what we want is to finish at the end of the season in that P5, P6 area in the championship. That was always the goal of that current step.And then we will see what we can do in the future. 

“We are still a very young structure in the Mahindra 2.0 approach I would say. Because we had Mahindra before which was achieving some results.And now we have structured something which is a different format. 

“A different type of philosophy in the way the team is managed. I try to do something more family spirit and more something where we have probably a type of relationship which is much more on having proper jobs given and make sure that people can deliver.

“And my job is to make sure that everybody gets the maximum of money or support or tools to develop what they have to do. So that spirit remains also in the way we want to achieve our results. There is no reason to change the target right now.

Consistency key for Fred Bertrand and Mahindra

Expanding on the goals for the team for the rest of the year, Bertrand expanded on Mahindra’s achievements in Season 11.

He gave one clear ambition and goal for the team, and stated the level of work required to achieve it.

“The season is still very long. A lot of teams can do the same as today and then take over us. So for me consistency in the way we obtain results during the next races.A bit like we did for the previous races. Make sure that we put if possible the two cars in duel. We were so close today 0.004 and we really thought that we would be able to do it. 

“That’s one of the goals. Consistently put the two cars in the duel but at least one. Up to now we managed to do 100% of the duels.

“That’s something important for us. And second is as much as we can bring the two cars in the top ten. Then is it P1 one day? Definitely. I hope. But it’s not the priority.Priority is the consistency in scoring points with the two cars. 

“That’s what will make us look much stronger at the end of the season than we were looking last year. After P1 and P2 it’s still two guys in the top ten so it’s also fine.I’m happy with that. It’s very tough. But as you said today was probably close but not close enough.It was still a big gap. So we have to work.