It’s time for Formula E’s first ever race in Jeddah! Will pole sitter Maxi Günther manage to fend off reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein’s efforts to take his first win for DS Penske? Or will championship leader Da Costa have a strong comeback after an unimpressive qualifying session during which he didn’t manage to advance to the Duels?
Mortara following an impressive FP2 will start from the back of the grid due to a last minute battery change. Di Grassi has a 20 places grid drop from the Mexico City E-Prix, and an additional 20, alongside his teammate Maloney, for an MGU change. This second penalty turned into a 10 seconds stop and go as they couldn’t serve it.
Chaotic start
Gunther managed to keep hold of the top spot, whereas Bird spun at the first turn.
At turn 5 race leader and Wehrlein make contact, with the a german suffering from a puncture. Mitch Evans has his front left tyre damaged as well in the accident from hitting the German, with plenty of smoke out of the car. He was hit by De Vries who slowed down.
Andretti’s müller broke off the front part of his car running over the back of Da Costa’s car and went airborne, who eventually lost off a wing.
At Lap 4 Günther had a 1.6s of gap to Row,and in P2 and Barnard in P3, followed by De Vries and Hughes.
On Lap 6 the Safety Car came out to remove a part of Da Costa’s rear wing. The driver himself tore from his challenger. Racing resumed on Lap 9, with Cassidy trying to complete a move on the Portuguese driver. Hughes slightly hits the back of Barnard before completing a move on him, with the youngest driver of the team colliding with De Vries as well.
Evans has received a 5 seconds drive penalty for the accident, while nato has a drive through for technical infringement.
A new Race Leader
Rowland, second in the drivers’s standings, overtakes Günther on Lap 12 for the lead, while Jake Dennis pick up his first attack more. The DS Penske is definitely on an energy saving strategy. De Vries overtakes Hughes for the final podium spot.
On Lap 15 many drivers take up the Attack mode, including Rowland, Vergne and Vandoorne whereas Barnard and Hughes are the first to try the new Pit Boost, stopping to get the extra new power. Evans and Nato pit on the following lap.
Günther and De Vries are next to pit, with the Mahindra driver overtaking the former race leader at the exit and the duo behind Barnard. That early Pit Boost call might turn out to be the right move for the McLaren driver, on the podium in São Paulo already.
On Lap 18, Vergne leads from Vandoorne, but the duo is yet to pit. Wehrlein and Maloney are among the last to stop two laps later. A very interesting end of the race is setting up for the final laps, with all the drivers having over 40% of battery.
The whole field is bunched up! De Vries overtakes with the end of his Attack Mode Barnard for P3, and Hughes as well. The Nissan driver has a 4.3s lead.
Pole sitter strikes back
Günther overtakes his teammate Vergne, and goes on to make an impressive recovery, surpassing Barnard and Hughes as well to return in the podium positions. Mortara on his Attack mode overtakes Dennis with a bold move. Bird, Wehrlein, Ticktum and Evans are also on their first stint with 8 laps to go out of the initial 31.
Hughes and Barnard are worried abouttheir energy left. Günther manages to complete the move on De Vries with a flat out on the straight on Lap 26. He is now launching on a desperate quest to reduce his gap to Rowland in the lead, 1.250s away.
Rowland is under investigation for pit lane infringement on lap 29. No further laps will be added to the race length. Barnard gets to P3 with the final seconds of his Attack mode. Günther is only 0.200s from Rowland, and tries to make a move on him on the penultimate race lap.
Alt ought he doesn’t manage to make it last, he still has a full lap to make it. Da Costa overtakes Vergne for P3, while Barnard joins the battle for the win. Ultimately Günther manages to make it through the Nissan driver’s defence at the last corner.
An important win for Günther
Günther is the first driver to convert a pole in win in Saudi Arabia, with Rowland and Barnard completing the podium. It’s s second podium in three races for the rookie driver. He is definitely having an impressive run! De Vries and Hughes complete the top five, while Da Costa, Mortara, Vergne, Bird and Vandoorne round off the top ten.
It’s a first win for the German driver with his new team, and a first win since Tokyo 2020. However, Nissan can smile as well, as now Rowland leads the drivers’s standings with 4 points of advantage on Da Costa.
Tune in tomorrow for Round 4!
