Zane Maloney after crash with Pepe Marti at Formula E race in Jeddah: "My race only lasted 3 corners"

The first race of the double-header in Jeddah is over. The start phase in particular was pure chaos: First, the start was cancelled, then Mortara had major problems at the start and finally Maloney stopped after just three corners with his damaged Lola Yamaha Abt. This was preceded by a collision with rookie Pepe Marti. Due to the resulting tyre damage, it was more or less the end of the race for both of them.

On the approach to turn 4, Maloney positioned himself to the right of Marti and wanted to overtake him. The latter, in turn, wanted to put himself in the best position for the upcoming corner and overlooked Maloney. The suspension of the Lola Yamaha ABT broke and Marti suffered tyre damage. Maloney had to park the car and Marti was also no longer competitive after the tyre change.

Quick end for Maloney

In an interview with e-formula.news, Maloney mourned the good start: "My race only lasted three corners, but I made up six places in those three corners. So it was a very good race up to that point." The Barbadian had started from 19th place, just ahead of his team-mate Lucas di Grassi.

Maloney could not really have prevented the accident, at least not without slowing down so much that there would have been potential for another accident. He himself is convinced that Marti simply overlooked him: "Pepe didn't know I was there and didn't crash into me on purpose. But I was just there."

No longer competitive after the puncture

Marti also had a good start and considered the contact to be race-deciding for him. Coming from 15th place, he had also been able to make up a few places: "The contact with Zane was very unfortunate. I had already made up four places by then."

He regretted his rival's retirement: "Unfortunately, Maloney couldn't continue after that and I had a puncture, which is why I had to pit." However, Marti only had one old set of tyres left: "We put on a tyre from free practice. Of course, it had no grip at all. Then I couldn't keep up with anyone anymore."

Their team-mates were also unsuccessful, leaving both Cupra Kiro and Lola Yamaha Abt without points in the first race in Jeddah. Both teams have another chance on Saturday, when the second race of the Jeddah race weekend is scheduled.