Formula E

Formula E: Pascal Wehrlein wins chaotic race in Miami ahead of Lucas di Grassi & Antonio Felix da Costa

Timo Pape

Timo Pape

Paddy McGrath / Spacesuit Media

Pascal Wehrlein has won a chaotic Formula E Miami E-Prix. The German Porsche driver moved up to first place because Norman Nato, who had actually crossed the finish line in first place, was penalised - as were numerous other drivers who had not used all eight minutes of their attack mode before crossing the finish line. This was preceded by a late red phase due to an accident. The podium was surprisingly completed by Lucas di Grassi and Antonio Felix da Costa.

Pole-sitter Norman Nato was able to maintain his lead at the start. Behind him, everything initially remained the same until Antonio Felix da Costa passed Jake Dennis on the outside after a few corners and took second place. Nyck de Vries also overtook the Briton on the first lap and then Felix da Costa and Nato - a Mahindra in the lead. Robin Frijns also attacked right at the front.

It was already clear that it was going to be an extreme "peloton" style race, in which saving energy was crucial. The lap times in the early stages were several seconds slower than in qualifying. On the fifth lap, Nato once again took the lead ahead of Felix da Costa, de Vries and Frijns. The field drove behind each other for several laps, with Felix da Costa and - a little further back - Dennis in particular saving a lot of energy.

On lap 9, Sebastien Buemi was the first driver to take his first of two mandatory attack modes. The Swiss driver moved up to third place. Meanwhile, Jean-Eric Vergne took a wrong turn through the grass and rejoined the race in 16th place. A little later, he also braked before the chicane and collided slightly with Nico Müller. Now more and more drivers were driving through the attack zone. In all-wheel drive mode, Stoffel Vandoorne, for example, improved to third place.

Porsche works cars work together at the front

Towards the halfway point of the race, de Vries once again took the lead. Felix da Costa tried to stay in second place at all times. On lap 14, Müller was suddenly in the lead - thanks to his first attack mode. Meanwhile, David Beckmann apparently had a problem with his Kiro and had to head for the pits. World champion Pascal Wehrlein now also fought his way forwards and followed his team-mate Felix da Costa into second place on lap 16 - a double lead for Porsche.

The field was now getting faster, the battles for position fiercer. Then a moment of shock for Mahindra: de Vries suddenly slowed down after a good race and initially came to a halt in a run-off area. After restarting his systems, he was able to continue, but had dropped back to the end of the field. Race control had already ordered the safety car onto the track. The race continued at race pace with the start of lap 19. Felix da Costa continued to lead ahead of Wehrlein, albeit with a considerable energy advantage compared to the German. Lucas di Grassi followed behind in the Lola.

Collision in the chicane

There was a major accident in the chicane on lap 20: Jake Hughes and Max Günther first came into contact with each other and then collided with Sebastien Buemi. Hughes then crashed into the wall and blocked the track. Günther, who was driving behind him, crashed into the rear of the Maserarti and was slightly rear-ended. Behind him, Mitch Evans was also affected and slightly damaged his front wing. Race control first sent out the safety car for a second time, but then red-flagged the race for longer.

While the cars were pulling into the pit lane, race control announced a 5-second time penalty against Nick Cassidy for repeatedly disregarding the "track limits" - the next used day for team champion Jaguar! Those responsible in the Porsche garage were also annoyed about the race break, because Felix da Costa had only just activated his six-minute attack mode, which then fizzled out. Nevertheless, the front runner still had a remarkable energy advantage and Wehrlein behind him as a protective shield.

Sprint to the finish - but partly with attack mode!

After an interruption of more than 20 minutes, the drivers finally returned to the track behind the safety car. This was followed by a standing start, which Felix da Costa won. Behind him, de Vries overtook Wehrlein. Numerous drivers drove straight through the attack zone because they had to complete their attack mode duties in time for the end of the race. Wehrlein reclaimed second place with the extra effort and then also overtook Felix da Costa. The Portuguese driver was now fighting with blunt weapons because he was the only driver in the leading group besides Edo Mortara who no longer had attack mode.

So Felix da Costa fell further and further back, while Wehrlein led the race ahead of Frijns, Nato and Rowland. Wehrlein started the final lap of the race with ten per cent of energy left in his battery. Behind him, Nato first passed Frijns in attack mode and then attacked Wehrlein as well. The final metres were exciting once again. Nato actually overtook the German - but: Nato had not yet fully used up his attack mode at this point, which is why he was given a 10-second time penalty. The race win in Miami therefore went to Pascal Wehrlein! Due to further penalties against Frijns, Rowland, Bird and Barnard, di Grassi sensationally finished second ahead of Felix da Costa.

With his first win of the season, world champion Wehrlein has jumped to third place in the drivers' championship. Rowland remains first ahead of Felix da Costa. Porsche has taken the lead in the team standings thanks to the double podium. Nissan continues to lead the manufacturers' standings. Lola Yamaha ABT scored its first points in Formula E and is no longer in last place - at least among the teams. The next Formula E race takes place in three weeks' time. The electric series will then compete a double header in Monaco.

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