It all happens in New York. The rain that hit Brooklyn overturns in the blink of an eye a race that until then had seen three cars firmly in control of the podium positions and fighting each other for the overall victory. In fact, a multiple collision causes the display of the red flag, preventing the continuation of the race, but the race direction re-establishes the order of the previous lap, reversing the situation again.
When the traffic lights go out Nick Cassidy keeps the lead, ahead of Grassi and Buemi who both gain one position, while Vandoorne climbs from second to fourth place. On the first lap however a collision in the rear between Lotterer, Evans and Vergne relegates the latter to the bottom of the group, inflicting a hard blow on the Frenchman in a World Cup key. Until the first lap of activation of Attack Mode the first ten pilots travel at close range, swapping positions but generally aiming to save energy. At the second round of Attack Mode the first three break ranks: Vandoorne overtakes Buemi thanks to a delayed activation and together with Cassidy and Di Grassi who precede him increases the pace, distancing the rest of the group. Exhausted the Attack Mode, Vandoorne uses the Fanboost to overtake Di Grassi, after he had used the few moments before him to defend himself.
Fifteen minutes from the end, the group regroups behind the first three, while the rain begins to fall on Brooklyn. Di Grassi passes Vandoorne again, who also loses his position on Frijns who takes advantage of the Brazilian’s maneuver to enter and conquer the last step of the podium. While in Mortara activates its second Attack Mode later than the competition, after saving up to 2% more energy than rivals, and in just four minutes he recovered from tenth to fifth place. The Italian-Swiss thus moves behind Vandoorne, direct rival for the title, limiting the damage in a complicated race on a track that is not very close to the qualities of the Venturi. However, the intensification of the rain opens up to expected scenarios. In order Cassidy, Di Grassi and Vandoorne suffer from aquaplaning and hit the barriers in the same corner. Mortara himself collides with the side wall, but manages to stop his run in time and escape from the escape route. Simultaneously, Wehrlein stops on the track due to a technical problem and is hit by Bird and Dennis. The race is thus suspended seven and a half minutes from the end with Frijns in the lead ahead of Mortara, while Cassidy, Di Grassi, Vandoorne and Wehrlein are forced to retire.
The weather conditions improve, but the major cleaning and repair operations required by the track push the race direction not to resume the race. According to the sporting regulations, the order in force on the lap preceding the neutralization is therefore restored. Thus wins Nick Cassidy despite the accident, while Di Grassi and Frijns complete the podium. Vandoorne, in fourth position, shortens by one point in the championship over Mortara, author of the fastest lap and fifth at the finish. On the other hand, the other two candidates for the World Cup, Evans and Vergne, close out of the points zone. Formula E will be back on track at the New York track for the second E-Prix of the weekend scheduled for Sunday at 19.00 Italian time.
Position | Pilot | Squad |
1 | Nick Cassidy | Envision Racing |
2 | Lucas di Grassi | Venturi |
3 | Robin Frijns | Envision Racing |
4 | Stoffel Vandoorne | Mercedes |
5 | Edoardo Mortara (GPV) | Venturi |
6 | Sebastien Buemi | Nissan |
7 | Pasca Wehrlein | Porsche |
8 | Jake Dennis | Andretti |
9 | Sam Bird | Jaguar |
10 | Nyck de Vries | Mercedes |
11 | Mitch Evans | Jaguar |
12 | Maximilian Gunther | Nissan |
13 | André Lotterer | Porsche |
14 | Oliver Rowland | Mahindra |
15 | Alexander Sims | Mahindra |
16 | Oliver Turvey | NIO |
17 | Dan Ticktum | NIO |
18 | Jean Eric Vergne | DS Techeetah |
19 | Oliver Askew | Andretti |
20 | Antonio Felix Da Costa | DS Techeetah |
RIT | Antonio Giovinazzi | Dragon |
RIT | Sergio Sette Camara | Dragon |
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