10 March 2019 – Hong-Kong
After a hectic Hong-Kong E-Prix, which saw Sam Bird clinch the win for Envision Virgin Racing Audi, the drama continued in the paddock. The last lap incident between Bird and DS TeCheetah’s André Lotterer was investigated by the FIA. After several hours of discussion, Bird was given a 5-sec time penalty. Edoardo Mortara inherited the win with Bird ending up in 6th place. Lucas Di Grassi for Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler and Robin Frijs – Bird’s teammate – filled up the podium.
Rain clouded the practice sessions and qualifying. This didn’t stop the twenty-two drivers from going to the max. Stoffel Vandoorne ended up on pole for HWA Racelab. “First pole position of the year, and also for the team. So I’m super happy of course”, said the Belgian driver afterward.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Vandoorne, together with seven other drivers, failed to reach the chequered flag. It was a race filled with accidents from the get-go. Piquet left the track after hitting one of the Nio cars, before retiring. Further down the road, Felipe Nasr form Geox Dragon hit the wall at Turn 2, followed by both Mahindra Racing's Jerome d'Ambrosio and Pascal Wehrlein then colliding with the stricken car. The race was red flagged. After thirteen minutes the race got going again.
Alexander Sims (BMW I Andretti Motorsport), Sébastien Buemi and Oliver Rowland (Nissan E. Damns) all experienced mechanical failures for which they had to retire.
Spectacle formed after the last safety car period – which was to clear Rowland’s wreck – with two minutes left on the clock. Sam Bird went for the attack on André Lotterer. Unable to brake in time, the Brit driver hit the back of Lotterer’s car, puncturing the left tire. After a few corners, the damage was noticeable and Lotterer had to limp his way back to the finish.
Bird took the win but didn’t celebrate. The Brit knew this race wasn’t finished yet.
FIA’s decision to give a time penalty to Bird came late in the evening but was no surprise. Less grave incidents have received a similar penalty before.
The penalty has a big influence on the driver’s championship, with Bird leading the pack (54) with one sole point from D’Ambrosio (53). Instead of a gap of nearly twenty points. Di Grassi and Mortara follow with both 52 points, before a slightly bigger gap to Da Costa (47) and Robin Frijns (43). André Lotterer who would have been at the top of the table with a win, slots in tenth with 29 points. He received a point today for fastest lap.
The Sanya E-Prix is in two weeks, March 23. What will the season have left in store for us?
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