Zurich E-Prix: Folk festival without Swiss success
AUDI-SIEG The first Swiss Formula E race was met with huge interest from spectators in Zurich. Unfortunately, they did not see a Swiss driver on the podium. Victory went to the Brazilian Lucas di Grassi in an Audi. The premiere of Formula E on Swiss soil turned out to be a unique event. Outwardly, it was the best advertisement for that [...]
The premiere of Formula E on Swiss soil turned out to be a unique event. Outwardly, it was the best advertisement for motorsport, which nowadays appeals more to an urban and young audience than real racing fans.
One of the most beautiful races ever
The electric spark was not only passed on to the spectators, who experienced and participated in this sport and all the surrounding events. According to estimates, there were around 150,000.
The foreign guests, i.e. teams, drivers and media representatives from all over the world, also described the Swiss race as one of the best and most beautiful ever since the FIA Formula E has existed. Not only the lake bordering the track contributed to the Mediterranean ambience, but also the midsummer weather.
Legally through Zurich at 123.3 km/h
The mood was not dampened by the failure of the four drivers with a Swiss connection. Of course, many were keeping their fingers crossed for Sébastien Buemi. However, the record Formula E winner never came within striking distance of being able to have a say in victory on Sunday.
In the two free practice sessions in the morning, he finished ninth out of the 20 competitors. For qualifying, he drew a grid position in the first group, which was slightly inferior to the other three groups in terms of the grip level of the track.
In addition to a small mistake, this explains his only seventh-best lap time. Lucas di Grassi also narrowly missed out on the super pole qualifying of the top five in sixth place. In the first practice session, the defending champion also set the fastest lap of the day on the 2.465 km circuit: in 1'11.995, an average of 123.3 km/h - no driver has ever been legally that fast in the city of Zurich...
The Brazilian was also the fastest man with the Audi e-tron FE04 from Team Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler in the 39-lap race, which did not start until shortly after 6 p.m. due to the tennis final in Paris.
Di Grassi made up three places in the first half of the race and, like the rest of the field, came into the pits for a car change in second place during the only safety car period. He was then in front and remained so until the finish.
Flood of penalties
Keyword pits: cobblestones in the pit lane - that was also a novelty. Which prompted the FIA to lower the limit from 50 to 30 km/h. It was not only this slow speed that proved fatal for some drivers, but also the speed during the yellow phase.
Mitch Evans, who had put his Jaguar I-Pace 2 on pole position for the first time, not only lost the top spot during the car change, but also dropped back afterwards due to a pit drive-through penalty. André Lotterer, who had followed the New Zealander for a long time, also missed out on a podium finish as a result.
And finally, Sébastien Buemi was also caught out, as he was in third place for a moment in the Renault Z.E. 17. He only finished fifth and was accordingly disappointed.
Sébastien Buemi: "I certainly had the car to finish on the podium. Unfortunately, I pressed the button for full power a second too early after a yellow phase. It's a shame, because I had set my sights high for my first home race. I hope we can come back here in a year's time as planned on the calendar."
No luck for Nicolas Prost with the Swiss helmet
Nicolas Prost regarded the Zurich E-Prix as his second home race. Born in France, he has lived in French-speaking Switzerland (now in Féchy) since he was one year old and holds both a French and a Swiss passport.
To mark the occasion, the son of four-time world champion Alain Prost competed with a Swiss cross on his helmet. It didn't bring him any luck, as a sudden battery failure caused Nico to brake into the emergency exit on the hairpin bend and retire.
Points for Heidfeld from Zurich, retirement of Mortara
It was a veritable home race for German-born Nick Heidfeld, who rode his MV Agusta naked bike to the race track in around 20 minutes from Stäfa, where he has lived for 17 years.
Starting from 12th place in the Mahindra, the father of three (all his children were born in Wetzikon) was bumped up to sixth position after a faultless drive, due to retirements and other drivers dropping out.
Edoardo Mortara from Geneva retired after just six laps due to a broken suspension on his Venturi.
Fangio is followed by Di Grassi
And so, 63 years, nine months and 20 days after the Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio, who won the last Swiss Grand Prix in Bern on August 22, 1954 in a Mercedes Silver Arrow, a South American once again stood at the top of the podium with the Brazilian Lucas di Grassi in an Audi e-tron FE04.
Although it was only an E-Prix with whirring and tire-squealing racing cars, the battles were as fierce as in any other high-profile and loud championship.
After such an event, there should be no more doubters about the legitimacy of Formula E - at least not from motorsport circles.
