Formula E: Buemi's furious race to catch up
Sebastien Buemi once again showed what he and his Renault e.dams are capable of at the ePrix in Buenos Aires, Argentina: After a mistake in qualifying, the Swiss started from 18th and thus last place and thanks to his fighting spirit still managed to make up 16 places in the end. Sebastien Buemi managed an almost perfect recovery. Only Sam Bird managed [...]
Sebastien Buemi managed an almost perfect catch-up. Only Sam Bird managed to stand up to the ambitious Aigler and keep behind him in the final meters. Shortly after the start of the race, Buemi made up three places with a daring maneuver. After seven laps he had even fought his way into the top 10. During a safety car period he closed the gap to the leaders di Grassi and Bird. At first, the Abt driver was able to defend himself, but then Buemi bravely went past.
Now only pole-sitter Bird separated the e.dams driver from the perfect catch-up, but the Briton got everything out of his Virgin. On the penultimate lap, Buemi launched the decisive attack. Bird resolutely shut the door and just about caught the following corner - the key to victory. "Sam did a fantastic job of keeping me behind him," Buemi reported after his furious chase.
"In the end it was difficult because the batteries overheated on all of them. So we had problems braking the car down, and the recovery didn't work either. Suddenly the front wheels locked up and you had to adapt to that," he reports about the difficulties that may have prevented his winning move - though Bird knew the same thing.
Sebastien Buemi (80 points) has defended his lead in the overall standings. Lucas di Grassi (76) is second, four points behind, ahead of Sam Bird (52). The next Formula E race will be held in Mexico City on March 12.
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Photos: Sebastien Buemi
