Vergne scores second straight Formula E crown!

DS Techeetah/Michelin’s Jean-Eric Vergne emerged from the 2019 New York City E-Prix as the first driver in Formula E history to claim the title twice. The Frenchman successfully defended his 2017/2018 crown after the weekend’s doubleheader meeting in New York City, USA, which produced wins for Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams/Michelin) and Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing/Michelin). DS Techeetah/Michelin is Season 5’s Teams’ champion.

By winning Saturday’s race from pole position, Buemi made a late bid for the 2018/2019 title. To keep his chances alive, however, he needed to qualify on pole again for Sunday’s clash but he was beaten to first place on the grid for Race 2 by Alexander Sims (BMW i Andretti Motorsports).

There were consequently only three drivers still in contention for the crown as the cars lined up for Season 5’s thirteenth and ultimate round, namely the outgoing champ Vergne, Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler) and Mitch Evans (Panasonic Jaguar Racing) who trailed the Frenchman by 22 and 25 points respectively.

With the track temperature standing at almost 40°C on the harbourfront in Brooklyn, Vergne basically only had to stay out of trouble to win the title for a second time. He ultimately took the flag in seventh place, but that was of little importance since Evans and di Grassi collided and crashed on the final lap.

Vergne’s team DS Techeetah/Michelin had double reason to celebrate because the afternoon’s result saw it clinch the 2018/2019 FIA Formula E Championship’s Teams’ title.

“It’s an emotional moment for me,” said Vergne after the finish. “Given my start position in the middle of the pack, I had to tread very carefully. It was very complicated. I am so proud of my team and all the good work we achieved together in the course of the season.”

Season 5’s last race was won by Frijns who passed Sims (2nd) in spectacular style to take control on Lap 16. Former champion Buemi ended up third to pocket the championship’s bronze medal.

The 2018/2019 calendar’s 13 races produced nine different winners, while the new Michelin Pilot Sport earned praise during its maiden campaign for its performance on the championship’s more powerful ‘Gen2’ cars in conditions ranging from searing heat in Santiago, Chile, to heavy rain in Hong Kong, not to mention the notoriously abrasive circuit in Berlin, Germany, and the phenomenon of sand on the track in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, where Season 6 will kick off in November.

New York City E-Prix – final positions:

Race 1

1, Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams), 36 laps

2, Mitch Evans (Panasonic Jaguar Racing), +0.932s

3, Antonio Felix da Costa (BMW I Andretti Motorsport), +1.216s

4, Alexander Sims (BMW I Andretti Motorsport), +2.971s

5, Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler), +3.537s

Etc.

Race 2

1, Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing), 36 laps

2, Alexander Sims (BMW I Andretti Motorsport),+3.200s

3, Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams),+3.912s

4, Sam Bird (Envision Virgin Racing), +4.270s

5, Daniel Abt (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler), +4.757s

Etc.

2018/2019 Drivers’ championship – final positions: 1, Vergne (136 points). 2, Buemi (119). 3, di Grassi (108). Etc.

2018/2019 Teams’ championship – final positions: 1, DS Techeetah (222 points). 2, Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler (203). 3, Envision Virgin Racing (191). Etc.