António Félix da Costa produced PIT BOOST perfection on the way to the win in ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s first race in Madrid, heading home teammate Mitch Evans for a Jaguar TCS Racing one-two – narrowly ahead of Porsche Formula E Team’s Pascal Wehrlein.
The grandstands and verges were filled around Circuito del Madrid Jarama – RACE, and fans – as well as King Felipe VI, who was also in attendance – were treated to an instant classic of a race with da Costa leading Evans, Wehrlein and Dan Ticktum across the line with less than a second between them.
“I should have won the race, but I don’t want to take anything away from António [Félix da Costa], he drove a mega race,” commented Evans. “A 1-2 for the team and the team got the result they wanted. I was playing the long game and I had a good energy advantage that got me in the fight during the pit window, especially towards the end.
“I was surprised to be in the mix but with my energy advantage it was going to be a good finish. It still was, just not the result I was hoping for. It is what it is, but a great 1-2 for the team.”
Da Costa had started third and was first to jump into the pits for his stop on Lap 12. He pushed through the laps to take ATTACK MODE late on – matching up those around him out-front as the PIT BOOST stops shook out.
That teed up a real sprint to the finish with da Costa’s mirrors full of the fast-charging CUPRA Kiro of Ticktum on home soil for the Spanish car brand. The Brit made a stunning move stick around the outside of Wehrlein as the top four jostled on Lap 21 for second, with Evans following for P3 at the final chicane.
Evans then spotted his chance to go and sliced by Ticktum to take the fight for victory to teammate da Costa. The Kiwi thought the win was his, but he couldn’t quite make a move stick with da Costa placing his Jaguar in all the right places to hold on to the flag to seal back-to-back victories with his new team.
Wehrlein pipped Ticktum to third as the Kiro driver made a last-ditch move on the Jaguars – Ticktum and CUPRA KIRO would still be mighty pleased with fourth.
Edoardo Mortara (Mahindra Racing) rounded fifth with the outfit looking strong on pace – teammate Nyck de Vries compromised his own front-running race through a shunt with Wehrlein that was later penalised.
Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing) wound up sixth after a late charge. Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E) and Nico Mueller (Porsche Formula E Team) came home seventh and eighth with Pepe Martí (CUPRA KIRO) – an early race leader much to the joy of the Spanish crowd – bagging points with ninth. Joel Eriksson (Envision Racing) completed the top 10.
All that sees Pascal Wehrlein top the Drivers’ table – 11 points clear of Mortara. Da Costa jumps to fourth.
Jaguar closed in on Porsche in the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ standings: now only four points in the former and three in the latter.
We head to Berlin, Germany for Rounds 7 & 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on 2 & 3 May.
Comments