Formula E Diriyah: False start of the Swiss
ONLY POINTS FOR MORTARA Of the four Swiss drivers involved in FIA Formula E, only Edoardo Mortara in the Venturi finished in the top 10 on Friday in Diriyah (Saudi Arabia). Nico Müller had to watch after a training accident. This is how the Swiss quartet had planned to kick off the sixth season of FIA Formula E in Diriyah (Saudi Arabia) [...]
This is not how the Swiss quartet had imagined the start to the sixth FIA Formula E season in Diriyah (Saudi Arabia). Even Edoardo Mortara cannot be satisfied after qualifying in a promising fourth place in the Venturi with Mercedes powertrain. In the course of the race lasting 45 minutes plus one lap, the driver from Geneva dropped back to ninth position at times and in the end at least scored a few points in seventh place.
Buemi failure
As the runner-up in the championship, Sébastien Buemi, like champion Jean-Eric Vergne and predecessor Lucas di Grassi, had to start qualifying in the first group according to the sporting regulations. Vergne still managed eleventh place on the "green" track with little grip, Buemi only 14th and Di Grassi in the Audi only 19th.
All three played no role in the race. Buemi had to park his Nissan early, as did Vergne his DS Techeetah.
Unforced bad luck from Müller
The emotional situation was even worse for Nico Müller. With the second-best time in practice, the first race day got off to a very good start for the rookie in the Geox Dragon Penske EV-4. In the fourth qualifying group, he then had the best conditions.
Because he had to avoid a stumbling competitor immediately in front of him, Müller got onto the sandy asphalt and crashed into the side of the wall. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to repair his to the start. At least Müller will get a second chance again immediately on Saturday.
Strong debut from Porsche
Neel Jani did not yet get up to electric speed. While his Porsche teammate André Lotterer qualified seventh, he only achieved the 20th time in qualifying. At Porsche's debut in Formula E, the German then stunned with second place after a brilliant driving and strategic performance.
In only his second Formula E race after his unsuccessful debut with Dragon Racing two years ago, the man from Biel only finished in P17. Jani also benefited from the retirements and time penalties of others.
Victory to the Audi customer team
Victory went to the Briton Sam Bird in the car of Envision Virgin Racing, an Audi customer team. The factory team itself came away empty-handed.
Pole setter Alexander Sims in a BMW led for half an hour, then lost a few positions and dropped further back in the turbulent final phase. Stoffel Vandoorne, who was leading after him, brought his factory-fielded Mercedes EQ Silver Arrow home in third place.
The second race will take place on Saturday. TV broadcast times see message on MySports.
