Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport had an emotional rollercoaster ride during at the fourth Formula E race – and a sensational happy ending: Lucas di Grassi scooped his fifth victory in a dramatic race and in doing so moved himself back into title contention. Team mate Daniel Abt also produced an impressive fightback to finish seventh.
The 40,000 fans in Mexico City enjoyed one of the most dramatic races in the short history of the electric racing series. Main man: Lucas di Grassi. Thanks to an extremely risky strategy and one in his own words “best races” of his Formula E career, the Brazilian ultimately celebrated as victor in front of the enthusiastic fans. Equally important: because archrival Sébastien Buemi only scored one point, the title battle is now open with eight races still to run.
Following a difficult qualifying, Lucas di Grassi started the race from only 15th place on the grid, and after being hit by another competitor meant it was necessary to change the rear wing even dropped to last place. The team subsequently put all their eggs in one basket and pulled di Grassi into the pits to change cars on the 18th of 45 laps. Over the remaining 27 laps, the Brazilian delivered a masterpiece in energy management and in doing so held the competition equipped with clearly more power behind him all the way to the checkered flag.
“Today we have all seen what defines Formula E: you must never give up, regardless of how hopeless the situation appears to be,” says Lucas di Grassi. “And especially the laps after my stop were possibly the best of my career: I had to manage my energy and couldn’t afford to make a mistake. My thanks go to the team in the pits, which was brave enough to risk trying this bold strategy.”
Team mate Daniel Abt was the tragic hero of the Mexico ePrix: in an exciting qualifying session the German had taken his second pole position in Formula E – and a short while later undeservedly lost it again: the stewards certify a slightly too low tire pressure and move the German to the back of the grid. From here, Abt battled his way to the front in a strong and faultless race, kept himself out of the majority of trouble and scored valuable points at the finish with seventh place. “From this bad grid position it was our goal to score points – we achieved this and in doing so limited the damage,” says Abt. And adds with a smile: “But of course I am a little annoyed because Lucas showed what could have been possible with a little more luck.”
After races in Asia, Africa as well as South and North America, the Formula E now heads to Europe: on 13 May the fifth race is held on the street circuit in Monaco. Lucas di Grassi travels to the principality second in the championship only five behind the leader.