Formula E: Eighth winner in chaos race 🎥
BUEMI IN PECH The eighth Formula E race in Paris saw Robin Frjins (NL) as the eighth winner. This thwarted the possible first win of the season by Sébastien Buemi with Nissan. The FIA Formula E Championship remains unpredictable and spectacular. In Paris, moody April weather added drama to the thrilling title fight. Sun, rain and even hail alternated [...]
The FIA Formula E Championship remains unpredictable and spectacular. In Paris, moody April weather added drama to the thrilling title fight. Sun, rain and even hail alternated during the race on the narrow street circuit around the famous Invalides Cathedral. And in the end, there was the eighth race winner in the eighth race of the season.
First row on the grid for Nissan duo
The first victory for a Nissan, in the home of the e.dams team of all places, was in the air. Oliver Rowland and Sébastien Buemi occupied the front row of the grid and led the race, which was started behind the safety car due to the wet conditions. Although the track initially dried out, it was soon all over the place.
On lap 10, Rowland braked and crashed into the track barrier. Team-mate Buemi led the field until he suffered a slow puncture in an infight with chaser Robin Frijns. The tire change threw him back to 15th place.
Sébastien Buemi: "That was really unlucky that Robin hit me on the rear wheel and damaged the valve. It hurts to know you have the pace but not the luck, as the last few races showed. Now I'm looking forward to Monaco, where I've won both Formula E races so far and am aiming for a third win."
Second victory of the season for Audi customer team
After Buemi's setback, Robin Frijns, who had started third, took the lead. He did not relinquish this position as the rain set in and despite several caution periods.
The most turbulent scenes with many spins and crashes, to which the second Swiss Edoardo Mortara (retirement) contributed, are shown in the 1-minute summary:
https://www.facebook.com/fia/videos/442855366482399/
The Dutchman, who once failed at Sauber F1, celebrated his first victory in Formula E in what he described as the toughest race of his life. For Envision Virgin Racing, which fields two Audi e-tron FE05 cars, this meant the second win of the season after Sam Bird in Chile.
Who will win next?
Frijns also immediately moved to the top of the standings with a one-point lead over the still winless André Lotterer (DS Techeetah), who finished second. Meanwhile, after his second place in Rome, Lotterer is now the leader in the "voestalpine European Races" classification, which ends in Bern on June 22.
Audi factory driver Daniel Abt, who like Lotterer, Buemi and Rowland has yet to win a race in the fifth season, climbed the podium in third place. Together with other top drivers who have already led races but not yet won, they are also good for a direct hit at any time. It's quite possible that there could be nine, ten or even more different race winners by the end of the season in New York in mid-July.
