Formula E: Pascal Wehrlein starts the season with a victory

Pascal Wehrlein, driver of the Porsche works team, was not only considered one of the favorites of the first stage of the new Formula E season, which started this weekend in Mexico City, but it was also recognized that it was no coincidence that in previous years he had won qualifications more than once in the Mexican stages of the electric series. Moreover, he has more laps ahead. this country than any other director.

Today Pascal confirmed the informal title of the most important “specialist in Mexico” and started the day by winning pole position at the Rodriguez Brothers Circuit. Fans will also remember that he won this race two years ago, giving Porsche its first win in Formula E, and today he didn’t disappoint them either.

Wehrlein started from pole position, next to his car on the front row was the electric car Envision of Sebastien Buemi, a four-time world endurance champion who can also be considered a Formula E veteran; The race was followed by Max Gunther in a Maserati and Nick Cassidy, who has been driving for Jaguar since this year. The third row at the end of qualifying was occupied by his teammate Mitch Evans and McLaren driver Jake Hughes.

Even before the start, some problems arose in the electric car of the ERT team (formerly Nio 333 Racing), in which Sergio Sette Camara drives, and the Brazilian was left in the pits. However, he still had to start from a distant 18th position and was unable to join the battle for trophies.

Wehrlein made a great start and held the lead; Gunther tried to move into second position, but Buemi acted clearly in the first corners and did not let his opponent pass. Cassidy finished fourth, followed by Evans.

The first yellow flags appeared already on the third lap of the race – Antonio Felix da Costa and Lucas di Grassi did not share the track. Their cars ended up off the track and both had to go to the pits. But while the Portuguese Porsche driver was able to continue the race, albeit one lap down, Lucas had to retire. His ABT Cupra later turned out to have a problem with the brakes.

The yellow flags were soon removed, the battle resumed throughout the lap and most riders immediately used attack mode. As Wehrlein was the first to depart from the main line to activate the high-power mode, Buemi took the lead and Pascal moved to second position. Of course, he immediately tried to counterattack Sebastien, but the most experienced Swiss expertly defended himself and did not give his opponent any chance.

In lap 8, the yellow flags were waved for the second time, this time due to the departure of Robin Frijns, Buemi’s new teammate. The replay showed that the Dutchman himself had made a mistake in the difficult right turn that ends the famous stadium section.

The car was destroyed and could not continue, so a safety car, whose role in Formula E is played by the electric car Porsche Taycan, entered the circuit.

On the 12th lap, the safety car returned to the pits, the race resumed and Buemi retained the first position, and overall there were still no changes in the first seven. However, on the next lap, Sebastien activated Attack mode and Wehrlein returned to the lead. Buemi naturally hoped that the increased power mode would allow him to regain the position, but this did not happen. Although the Swiss set the fastest lap, the race was once again led by a German Porsche driver.

On the 17th lap, Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske driver and two-time Formula E champion, moved up to 6th position, pushing Hughes aside. This was already half the race and in the following laps he gradually gained ground, gaining more ground. and more pressure on Mitch Evans. The New Zealander resisted, but it was impossible to break away from Jean-Eric – he still preferred to save the battery, or the car simply did not let him go faster.

Meanwhile, Wehrlein was in the lead, creating a 2.5 second gap over Buemi, and the Swiss almost overtook Cassidy, last year’s Formula E vice-champion. But closer to the finish, Sébastien improved slightly, moving away from his pursuer and somewhat closing the gap to the leader. The closer the finish line came, the shorter the interval between the leading Porsche and the chasing Envision.

But a more interesting battle unfolded between Mitch Evans, who held the 5th position, and Jean-Eric Vergne, who claimed it. Their cars usually drove close behind each other, but the Jaguar driver defended himself well. Admittedly, at the same time he drove slower than the first four, which meant he was already more than 6.5 seconds behind Max Gunther.

Due to the fact that the battle on track was interrupted by the appearance of a safety car, in accordance with Formula E rules, the race management decided to add a few laps to the distance, but this did not affect the balance of current. Except that when Pascal Wehrlein crossed the finish line first, the battery charge in his Porsche was almost zero, but most importantly it was enough for the win.

Second place went to Sebastien Buemi and this is a good start to the season for him, as last year, despite all his experience, he only reached the podium once. Nick Cassidy finished third, fourth place went to Max Gunther and Mitch Evans completed the top five, meaning Jean-Eric Vergne never took the lead.

“I don’t even know what it’s about, but I always perform well in Mexico,” said a satisfied Wehrlein after the finish. – Even at the circuit in Pueblo I was on the podium, not only in Mexico City – I think this is the fourth time I have finished in the top three here. That’s why they call me a veteran in Mexico!”

At the same time, the “veteran” of the Mexican stage and the winner of today’s race is not yet thirty, and if he continues in this spirit, new successes naturally await him. By the way, it was he who won both double stage races in Saudi Arabia last year. Formula E will be heading there again very soon – the city circuit in Riyadh will host the second round of the new season in two weeks, on January 26-27.