Lucas di Grassi feels he is back in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship battle after taking his first win of the season in the opening race of the Puebla E-Prix last Saturday.
The Brazilian finished second on the road but was immediately promoted to victory after Pascal Wehrlein was disqualified from first place after his Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E Team failed to declare his tyres prior to the race.
From eighth on the grid, di Grassi drove well and used his attack mode to good effect to make up places, and he was in prime position once the decision was made by the stewards about Wehrlein.
It is di Grassi’s eleventh Formula E victory, and the thirty-third time he has stood on the podium, and he says his Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler team continue to show their credentials despite the German marque announcing their departure from the championship at the end of the season.
“This victory feels very special,” said di Grassi on Saturday. “Today, we finally proved that our Audi e-tron FE07 is a real winner.
“The fact that I can celebrate together with René in second place and the whole team makes it even nicer. Now we’re back in the title fight and will give everything to keep it exciting until the very last race.”
Sunday’s second race did not go to plan for the Brazilian, with di Grassi taking a penalty for hitting Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team’s Nyck de Vries early on. He also made contact with Jaguar Racing’s Sam Bird, but the drive-through for the first incident with de Vries meant he ended the day eighteenth and last of the classified finishers.
“I got into a few scuffles right after the start and damaged my car,” said di Grassi after Sunday’s second race. “After that, I gave it everything, but it just wasn’t my day.
“The 1-2 on Saturday gave the entire team a lot of positive energy, which we’re now taking with us to New York. We have the best memories of the Brooklyn circuit.”
“An incredible race that I don’t think anyone could have predicted” – René Rast
Team-mate René Rast finished just behind di Grassi in race one in Mexico, with the German moving up to second place to give Audi a one-two finish.
It was Rast’s second career Formula E podium, and he, like his team-mate, made good gains throughout the race having started down in ninth.
“An incredible race that I don’t think anyone could have predicted. The day couldn’t be more special,” said Rast on Saturday. “Finally, we have also been rewarded with trophies and lots of points for a strong performance. It feels good to be in the title fight.”
Rast’s Sunday race saw him start right at the back of the pack after a mistake in Qualifying left him last on the grid, but some more good overtakes and excellent energy management saw him claim the final point on off in tenth.
“A very exciting race,” said Rast on Sunday. “We chose a slightly different strategy and saved a lot of energy, so we still scored two points.
“The joy about the podium on Saturday and the good position in the championship prevails above all.”
Rast now sits fourth in the championship standings with three rounds and six races remaining, just twelve points behind ROKiT Venturi Racing’s new championship leader Edoardo Mortara.
