India’s inaugural Formula E race saw DS Penske driver Jean-Eric Vergne take the checkered flag for the first time in two years. Vergne’s race was highlighted by a masterclass in defensive driving and charge management finishing the race just as the car’s charge dropped to zero ahead of the hard-pressing Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing). Remarkably Vergne completed the last lap with just 1 per cent charge remaining in a battle for first that came down to the wire.
Envision Racing almost finished the race in P2 and P3 though a post-race penalty to driver Buemi saw him drop to P15 from P3.
Cassidy meanwhile secured second while Tag Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa climbed to third following a post-race penalty to Cassidy’s team mate Sebastien Buemi. Buemi was awarded a drive-through penalty post-race for power infringement which added up to a 17-second time penalty that saw him drop from the podium to P15.
Jaguar TCS' Nick Evans started the race in P1 though an early go at activating Attack Mode saw him drop places
The build-up to Saturday’s race, however, was quite different with Jaguar TCS being one of the favourites on race day. Driver Nick Evans ended qualifying sitting at the top of the grid getting off to a good start as well. However, a decision to go for the attack zone early saw him drop from P1 to P3. To make matters worse, a few laps later Evans and fellow Jaguar driver Sam Bird collided on turn three forcing both drivers to retire.
McLaren too saw both drivers Jake Hughes and Rene Rast retire from the race. Rast rear-ended Avalanch Andretti driver Jake Dennis while Hughes hit the barrier after his damaged wing mirror - resultant of debris from another incident on track - managed to lodge itself in his steering. This prompted the safety car to be brought into action while marshals cleared the McLaren from the track. As per Vergne this deployment played its part in helping him stay in P1 for the remainder of the race ahead of the pair of Envisions.
Jaguar TCS had a strong start though an error saw driver Sam Bird rear-end Nick Evans forcing both to retire.
Mahindra Racing, celebrating a homecoming in Hyderabad, saw driver Oliver Roland finish in the points at P6 while teammate Di Grassi ended the race in P14.
Tag Heuer Porsche was off the pace during qualifying though saw fortunes turn during the race as both drivers climbed up into the points with Da Costa promoted to P3 post-race. He crossed the line in P4 having started a distant P13. His teammate Pascal Wehrlein finished the race in P4.
The results meant that Wehrlein extended his lead in the driver’s standing to 80 points ahead of Jake Dennis (62 points) who finished outside of the points. Vergne meanwhile climbed to third in the driver’s standings after a poor start to the season.
In the team standings, Tag Heuer Porsche stayed in first post the race with 101 points followed by Avalanche Andretti at 78 points and Envision Racing on 59 points.
Image Credit: Formula E
