Formula E

Formula E in Berlin: Nick Cassidy wins chaotic Saturday race at Tempelhof

Timo Pape

Timo Pape

Adam Pigott / Spacesuit Media

Nick Cassidy won a spectacular Formula E race on Saturday 2024 in Berlin, in which hardly a single car crossed the finish line without damage. Jean-Eric Vergne and Oliver Rowland completed the podium ahead of Mitch Evans and the two Porsche drivers. After numerous accidents - including one for Max Günther - the race was interrupted twice by safety car phases.

Polesitter Edo Mortara won the start without any problems and was the first to turn into the first left-hand bend. Not much happened behind him at first either, before Sergio Sette Camara overtook third-placed Jean-Eric Vergne. His ERT team-mate Dan Ticktum was also able to make up a position on Mitch Evans. At the back of the field, there was a minor contact in which Paul Aron (Envision) lost part of his front wing.

On lap 3, the first drivers activated their attack mode, including Mortara. Pascal Wehrlein initially took the lead ahead of the two DS Penske drivers before he also drove through the attack zone. As a result, Stoffel Vandoorne was the new leader ahead of Antonio Felix da Costa, who had already made up a few places. There were numerous thrilling duels in the leading group. After eight of 40 laps, the two DSs led ahead of the two Porsches.

Safety car after Eriksson accident

Vandoorne was told by his race engineer to save as much energy as possible. The Belgian and his team-mate Vergne swapped the lead. While Oliver Rowland damaged his front wing in a contact, Envision replacement driver Joel Eriksson stopped on the track. He had hit the right rear and broken the rear suspension. Race director Scot Elkins was forced to call a full-course yellow on lap 11. However, as the Envision car could not be recovered so easily, the safety car came onto the track a little later.

The moment the full-course yellow was called, Wehrlein was ahead of Vandoorne at the end of the start and finish straight. However, the DS driver braked past and thought he was in front. Race control looked at the scene and decided that Vandoorne should give the place back. Two other duels were similarly affected: Lucas di Grassi versus Rowland, and Kelvin van der Linde versus Paul Aron. After the chaos subsided, the race continued at race pace.

Shortly after the restart, Vandoorne lost a few positions. Felix da Costa took the lead a little later, then Evans, until the Jaguar driver finally steered through the attack zone. At the halfway point of the race, Wehrlein led ahead of Mortara, Vergne and Günther, who overtook Felix da Costa with a remarkable attack. Then there was a clash further back in the field: Ticktum got alongside Lucas di Grassi late on the inside lane and spun the Brazilian. Di Grassi drove on for a few more corners with his damaged ABT, then got out in the pits in frustration.

Dennis makes progress, Günther crashes in home race

Vandoorne fell further and further back to almost the end of the field. He radioed that he had a part under his front wing. Team-mate Vergne, on the other hand, led the race - ahead of the Porsches of Wehrlein and Felix da Costa, Rowland, Evans and Jake Dennis. The world champion had started the race from penultimate place and had already improved considerably. In addition, the Briton still had by far the most energy in his battery. His Andretti team-mate, on the other hand, suffered a puncture on the left rear tyre and dropped back.

On lap 29, things went awry for Max Günther. The German pulled over to the right and collided with Jake Hughes, who was slightly behind him. He then slid into the wall with his Maserati and damaged his front end. Günther stopped at the side of the track and retired - the safety car came out for the second time. Shortly before that, Kelvin van der Linde was also caught out: The South African hit the car in front of him and damaged his front wing, which then rubbed against the front wheel - disaster for ABT at its home race.

Lap 34 continued - with four drivers battling side by side for the lead! Dennis took himself out of the battle for the lead prematurely with a heavy braking incident, which subsequently forced him into the pits. An exciting final phase developed. In contention for victory up to that point: Vergne, Rowland, Wehrlein, Evans and Felix da Costa. Even Jehan Daruvala - almost a lap down at the start of the race - was now in the top 6!

Turbulent final phase, Cassidy clever

The interruptions caused race control to extend the E-Prix by six laps. Sacha Fenestraz collided with Nick Cassidy and lost his front wing - hardly any of the cars had any parts left. Then Daruvala was also hit: the Indian crashed his Maserati into another car and drove into the pits with major damage. The lead changed hands many times. Three laps before the end, Nick Cassidy had suddenly fought his way into first place - especially with an energy advantage! He led ahead of Vergne, Rowland, Wehrlein, Evans and Felix da Costa.

Cassidy was now able to pull out a gap and actually took the win without any danger! Behind him, the fight was still fierce, but Vergne remained second ahead of Rowland. Evans, Wehrlein and Felix da Costa completed the top six, Mortara finished eighth for Mahindra and scored the first points of the season in a race for the Indian outfit, while newcomer Taylor Barnard finished tenth.

With his victory, Cassidy regained the championship lead from Wehrlein. Rowland is third. Among the teams, Jaguar continues to hold a commanding lead - also ahead of Porsche and Nissan. The next Formula E race takes place in less than 24 hours: The Sunday race of the Berlin E-Prix 2024 starts at 3pm on Sunday.

Results & lap times

Championship standings (drivers & teams)

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