FE Talk: Maiden Success for Venturi as Puncture Defines 50th Race

At the end of an enthralling Formula E race from Hong Kong, it was Edoardo Mortara who was eventually crowned the winner, but despite it being a first for the Swiss driver, he won’t be the one stealing the headlines.

As the race entered its closing stages, Mortara had been a distant third, with Andre Lotterer and Sam Bird battling over the race victory. With two laps to go, Bird made his decisive move into turn 2, hitting the back of Lotterer’s car and causing a puncture for the DS Techteetah.

Lotterer continued for the next sector, but soon the dilapidated tyre got to him, handing Bird a final lap run to the line. Celebrations were subdued and four hours later, it was justified with the Brit being handed a five second penalty, handing the win to Mortara behind.

It was Mortara’s and his Venturi Formula E Team’s first ever win, in what was the series 50th race. While Hong Kong will also go down as a mostly wet weekend, the action on track will define the event more than the score sheet at the end.

Bird’s reshuffling brought the championship together, with the top four now separated by two points. As he did prior the penalty, Bird retakes the lead of the championship now on 54 points, with ex-championship leader Jerome d’Ambrosio failing to score a point after a disaster for Mahindra. Despite this, d’Ambrosio only drops to second with 53 points as Lucas di Grassi and Mortara are now tied on 52 points.

Even going into the race, many knew the championship would be turned upside down with Jean-Eric Vergne, Antonio Felix Da Costa and both Mahindra’s starting outside the top ten. Championship leader d’Ambrosio started last after a poor qualifying in the worst of the wet conditions.

With di Grassi the highest of the championship contenders in fifth, pressure should have been on him to maximise the results, though as the lights went green it was Bird from immediately behind him who jumped three places off the line, moving into fourth.

It soon became third as he kept on the outside of Lotterer through turn two, nerfing him almost into the barrier at the chicane.

Mahindra’s Mayhem

Starting on the final row, it was always going to be a tough run for Wehrlein and D’Ambrosio, especially on narrow streets, but it’s likely neither expected to have to deal with Felipe Nasr. Like fellow Brazilian, Piquet, Nasr had picked up damage on the opening lap, which affected his grip and steering into turn 2.

Nasr hit the wall and due to the narrow track and close racing was immediately collected by Wehrlein and d’Ambrosio. The Belgian had left Dragon Racing last season under a dark cloud and further insult to an already injured race will do nothing to mend d’Ambrosio’s relationship.

A red flag was called to clear the chaos, with many cars struggling to even squeeze through in the narrow streets. This left Oliver Rowland and Bird as the race leaders ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne who had lost two positions off the start.

There appeared to be something of a curse on the race lead in Hong Kong. After Vandoorne’s slow getaway from pole, which gifted Rowland the lead, Rowland himself was suspected to accidentally activate the FCY Button on his steering wheel after a tap from Bird on the restart, dropping him down to tenth and gifting Bird the position. But it would be something Bird himself failed to maximise as just one lap later, he outbraked himself at the end of the back straight, allowing Lotterer to inherit the lead.

DS vs Virgin

Lotterer had been fourth on the restart, immediately making his way past the ailing Vandoorne before Rowland and Bird gifted him the chance, it would be one he’d seldom surrender.

It looked as though Lotterer would succumb to the leaders curse with 21 minutes to go when he too ran wide at Turn 2, only to edge Bird to the outside of the hairpin at turn 3/4, marking a reversal of what Sam had done to him on the opening lap.

It’s easy to bring politics into situations like these and I’m sure social media can pick up on the British vs German driver narrative or British vs Chinese run team around Hong Kong, but when there’s a championship to be won, you’d be hard missed to forget that Bird could have easily settled for second with his rivals behind. It was a fact his Team Principal pointed out to him during the next safety car period.

Vandoorne’s run finally came to an end with 16 minutes remaining thanks to a driveshaft problem leaving him stranded on track. This ended up being quickly followed by another FCY as Rowland hit the wall. He was already outside the top ten by this point.

Rubbin’ is Racing

If the previous two race leaders going out in quick succession wasn’t ominous enough, the biggest talking point came with two laps to go. All Attack Modes had been used on previous restarts, with energy consumption no longer an issue and third place Mortara now closing in, Bird knew it would be now-or-never.

After a good run out of the hairpin, he lined up Lotterer into turn two, making his move to the inside. Lotterer made his move to block the Brit just before the braking zone with Bird left no room to run down his inside. As a result, Bird hit the back right tyre of the DS Techeetah with both continuing on.

All was not well though as Lotterer squirrelled his way around the twisty streets, with the tyre off its rim. He elected against pitting, instead running another lap in order to finish with his tyre flailing like a catherine wheel.

Bird held off Mortara on the final lap, but it was clear the enthusiasm had gone from his voice, with even his team subdued in celebrations. He congratulated his rivals, but apologised to Lotterer during the interviews, though defended his point of it being a racing incident. Lotterer would later smirk at the statement.

Does Consequence Change Punishment for the same Action?

The fact it took four hours for an official result to be released seemed almost comical for an FIA series, especially one that regularly deals with similar last lap incidents. But this form of contact is certainly nothing new, especially not for Lotterer.

As the German waits for his first win, many should cast their mind back to when he picked up his career best at Chile in 2018. During a late tussle with teammate Vergne for the win, Lotterer hit the back right corner of the Frenchman into a braking zone.

Last season we ran the Gen1 cars, vehicles which had rear wheel guards, this ensured that while dramatic for those involved, both drivers finished (and in their positions.) As for yesterday, the Gen2 cars have no protection, ensuring the same contact creates a rubber splitting incident for the car in front.

While I am not here to argue for the return of rear wheel guards, should Bird have been punished for a move that last season wielded nothing, because the consequence of his action this time was worse. It raises a strong question for the rest of the season, whether more precedence for penalties should be placed on moves, or the results of those actions and it could be a pondering point for many in the rest of motorsport.

Mortara the Mighty

While much of the hype will be on the various incidents, it would be easy to forget the actual result of the race. The fact we talk more about the events inside rather than the end product is perhaps a testament to the racing, but it would be ridiculous to take away the effort of Edoardo Mortara.

Whether it be retirement, penalty or a three-wheeled car, every one of the four race leaders failed to finish in the top five, but similar to Da Costa’s first win in 2014, it doesn’t matter how long you lead, as long as you’re ahead when the flag drops (or a few hours after.)

The result will be retribution for Mortara who spun out of the lead in the closing stages of the least Hong Kong ePrix, though more importantly it’ll go down as his and Venturi’s first victory. A welcome result for the team now managed by Susie Wolff.

Mortara had provisionally qualified third, but a penalty for speeding during the red flag ensured he started sixth, staying out of trouble in the early stages and maintaining position. From there, he picked up three places at the expense of the ailing leaders, soon running a respectable third.

In getting there he had used all his Attack Mode early and during the penultimate restart, held off the entire chasing pack, which included di Grassi as the lead two broke away. A second safety car ensured he had saved enough to finally attack Bird in the final three laps, perhaps leading to the Brit’s desperation lunge, eventually picking the spoils after crossing the line second.

The Forgotten Heroes

Of course, Mortara was not the only one to gain. Di Grassi’s second place will be perhaps the most bitter pill for Bird to swallow with the Brazilian just two points behind in the standings. The Audi Sport ABT driver had followed Mortara for much of proceedings, though had started ahead.

However, the most forgotten result from Sunday would go to Robin Frijns. The Dutch driver had started a lowly tenth and only saw TV coverage when he came to blows while overtaking Sebastian Buemi. The Swiss driver himself will be aware of what now could have been a podium finish as the resulting damage eventually led to his retirement.

Last years winner Daniel Abt is again promoted, though only to fourth ahead of Felipe Massa, who is finally finding his feet in Formula E. Bird’s penalty put him sixth, with Mitch Evans eventually jumping ten places to finish seventh. Gary Paffett, Oliver Turvey and Da Costa completed the top ten.

ABB Formula E will continue from Sanya, China on the 23 March 2019. Stay up-to-date for the latest News.