Formula E: Every series has an end
VERGNE WINS IN MONACO Jean-Eric Vergne was the first driver to win twice in the golden DS Techeetah in 2019. And Sébastien Buemi, who has never been beaten at the Monaco E-Prix, never came close to the podium in fifth place. The ninth race of the multi-season FIA Formula E Championship (summary in 60 seconds at https://www.facebook.com/fiaformulae/videos/419020118929023) was a sure prey for defending champion Jean-Eric Vergne in the [...]
The ninth race of the multi-year FIA Formula E Championship (summary in 60 seconds at https://www.facebook.com/fiaformulae/videos/419020118929023) was a sure prey for defending champion Jean-Eric Vergne in the DS Techeetah electric racing car. As Oliver Rowland, who was fastest in the super pole qualifying, was penalized to the second row of the grid due to a collision in Paris, the Frenchman moved into pole position. Last year's champion skillfully took advantage of this. As a result, JEV also took the lead in the standings.
Jean-Eric Vergne: "I would have liked to have won my home race in Paris two weeks ago, but things went badly there. So now I really wanted to win in Monaco, where I have never managed to do so in any other championship. So this means a lot to me, it's an incredible feeling."
Rowland clearly better than Buemi
At the two previous events in 2015 and 2017, Sébastien Buemi was the winner in the princely box. Although the man from Vaud made it into the top 5 in the Super Pole qualifying session, he was clearly overshadowed there and in the race by his Nissan team-mate Oliver Rowland.
The Briton, who was driving in Formula E for the first time in his fifth season, benefited from Pascal Wehrlein's braking in the Mahindra after just a few minutes and took second place. Although everyone put pressure on everyone else after that, the order remained Vergne, Rowland, Massa and Wehrlein until the finish, which could have been covered with a towel.
First Formula E podium for Felipe Massa, retirement for Mortara
This makes Vergne the first two-time winner of the current season. For Rowland and Nissan it is the second second place, for ex-GP driver Felipe Massa the first Formula E podium. The Brazilian also sent his team Venturi, which originates from Monaco, into a frenzy of joy.
Edoardo Mortara was delighted with the team. The Genevan himself retired after a collision with Jérôme d'Ambrosio as a result of suspension damage, having started from the back of the grid after an unsuccessful qualifying session.
Buemi far from his former best form
In contrast to Rowland, Sébastien Buemi acted as a brake pad for the chasing pack. It was only towards the end that he managed to pull away a little, finishing fifth to equal his previous best result from Race 7 in Rome. However, the record winner from the first four Formula E seasons is a long way from his best form in his Renault days. Although it would still be theoretically possible, Buemi's championship hopes are practically over.
With 40 points, the third-season champion is still languishing in 13th place, while Vergne and his consistent team-mate André Lotterer already have 87 and 86 points respectively. After a botched qualifying session (20th), the German offered the catch-up race of the day, which ended for him in 7th place between the two Jaguar drivers Mitch Evans and Alex Lynn following the disqualification of Antonio Felix da Costa (BMW).
Championship completely open
There is still no clear favorite for the championship. Six drivers from five teams are within eight points of each other at the top of the standings. It is reasonable to assume that, given this balance, the fifth Formula E champion will not be crowned until the last of the two final races in New York in mid-July.
