Yahoo Autos Wehrlein marches to Formula E title as Jaguar’s charge falters
TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein won his first Formula E championship in the final round of the season in London as Jaguar’s Drivers’ championship charge imploded.
Nick Cassidy was the early race leader from pole, but slipped behind teammate Mitch Evans and Wehrlein after taking his two Attack Modes early on.
Although frustrated that his team’s strategy dropped him out of the lead, Cassidy just needed to keep up on energy compared to the front two who continued to lap without dipping into the activation zone. The patience wasn’t rewarded after contact from Antonio Felix da Costa on lap 28 gave him a right rear puncture, then another hit from Maximilian Guenther at the final corner pitched him into a half spin. Cassidy subsequently retired, and Guenther also retired as a result of the collision.
Three contenders became two, but the race was far from clear cut as Evans and Wehrlein continued to resist taking their Attack Modes, and Evans defended firmly from the front – earning a warning for moving under braking at Turn 1 in the process. They finally bowed on lap 29, but the safety car was called for the shunt involving Cassidy as they went into the activation zone, rendering both passes invalid.
Both went in again as the race resumed on lap 31, but Evans missed the activation – a move that would ultimately decide the championship. Evans went again a lap later, this time making it, but by then it was too late to overhaul Wehrlein as he had to manage his energy to make the end of the 37 lap race (extended from 34 due to safety cars).
Oliver Rowland snuck a home victory, having first taken the lead during Evans and Wehrlein’s aborted first Attack Mode activation. Fearing an investigation for taking the lead under yellow flags, he let Evans back by initially, but having taken his two Attack Modes early in the race, he was clear to regain the lead and come home untroubled as the title contenders finally made their two mandatory passes through the longer line.
Wehrlein finished the race second, with Evans eventually making his energy stretch enough to claim third. With all the drama happening up front, Buemi’s stellar charge from 17th on the grid to fourth went somewhat unnoticed.
Antonio Felix da Costa survived contact with Jean Eric Vergne to beat the Frenchman into the final top five spot, but with both Porsches needing to finish on the podium to take the Teams’ championship, it wasn’t enough to beat Jaguar to the prize.
Nico Mueller finished his final race for Abt Cupra in seventh, with Robin Frijns, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Lucas di Grassi completing the top 10.
Aside from Cassidy and Guenther, four other drivers retired. Sam Bird’s and Jehan Daruvala’s race came to an end on lap seven after colliding at Turn 6, which brought about the second of three safety cars. The first came on lap two as Jake Dennis and Edoardo Mortara came together at Turn 3. Dennis was also handed a 5s penalty for the clash, an infraction that proved meaningless with his instant exit after the shunt.
While it missed out the Teams’ championship to Jaguar – which is the brand’s first world championship win since 1991 – Porsche added the inaugural Manufacturers’ Trophy to its Drivers’ crown.
