Review of the Monaco ePrix: Jackpot for Vergne!

It’s a comeback that is more than successful! Two years after the last edition, the Monaco ePrix returned to Formula E with a suspenseful race, especially regarding the win. On half of the Formula 1 circuit, a configuration that still displeased many drivers, Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Techeetah) held off his three pursuers to secure his second victory of the season. The Frenchman thus broke the ongoing streak since the start of the championship, with a different winner each time!

Rowland, a frustrating pole

Held four hours before the race, this qualifying session revolves around a penalty. As in Paris, the fastest car did not start from pole position. This time, Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.Dams) found himself in the unlucky position. Although the fastest in the super-pole with a time of 50 seconds and 21 milliseconds, the Brit lost three places on the grid! It must be said that the sanction was already known, a consequence of his collision with Alexander Sims two weeks earlier. A shame for Rowland, who did the job by edging out Jean-Eric Vergne by 21 milliseconds, for his third pole of the season. Not bad for a rookie! But the DS Techeetah driver also deserved his front row, with the best time in the first sector.

The grid was also shaken up just behind, with the withdrawal of Mitch Evans’s third place in his Jaguar. The reason for the penalty was even more ruthless: the New Zealander had activated his full power of 250 kilowatts… four tenths of a second too early in his super Pole lap! Opportunistically, Pascal Wehrlein (Mahindra Racing) took the second place on the grid, ahead of Oliver Rowland (surprise, surprise) and Felipe Massa (Venturi), respectively third and fourth, on the second row.

Behind them, Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.Dams), 5th, the master of Monaco with two victories in as many races. Further back, Robin Frijns, 11th in his Envision Virgin Racing, Lucas di Grassi 13th (Audi Sport)… or André Lotterer (DS Techeetah), Vergne’s teammate, 20th and last in the overall timing! The only consolation for the German at this moment was that he was just a second away from the pole, evidence of the competitiveness of the discipline.

Vergne resists and amasses!

Jean-Eric Vergne emerged as the big winner in the Principality, after a thrilling race: the top 4 being separated by only a second and a half!

On the inside at the first corner, the Frenchman just managed to keep the lead against Pascal Wehrlein. The two mentioned and Oliver Rowland then pulled away from the rest of the pack by setting the fastest lap times. Aggressive, Wehrlein lost big after nine minutes of the race, spinning his wheels in the first corner: the German was overtaken by Rowland, and by Massa on the next straight!

.@JeanEricVergne is your race leader after a race start that saw all cars through the first five minutes safely! #ABBFormulaE #MonacoEPrix pic.twitter.com/417jNgCoLa

— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) May 11, 2019

Behind this fierce quartet, Buemi maintained the fifth position: in the pack, there was movement around the 10th place. Three overtaking spots were visible: the first corner, at Sainte-Dévote, and the Port chicane, at the exit of the Tunnel. Some drivers attempted daring maneuvers, including Sam Bird (Envision Virgin Racing) on Stoffel Vandoorne (Hwa Racelab).

Sam Bird must have eaten his porridge today! 🥣 #MonacoEPrix #ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/H7zmbPDul3

— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) 11 mai 2019

Also in the fray, Lucas di Grassi moved into the top 10 just after the mid-race… before retiring a few minutes later. The reason? A collision with Sims’ BMW, with the Brazilian being squeezed against the wall at the Port chicane.

In the lead, the gaps were narrowing: by the 25th lap, Vergne, Rowland, Massa, and Wehrlein were within three seconds of each other. In fifth place, Buemi was leading a train of thirteen cars! In this group, Bird pulled off an inside pass in the first corner, this time on Alexander Sims’ BMW.

Five minutes before the finish, Rowland decided to activate his last attack mode on his part. The timing was unfortunate as a yellow flag was waved simultaneously to clear debris on the track. Taking advantage of this situation, Vergne activated his last attack mode and was able to withstand the Brit’s assaults, especially since another yellow flag was shown at the first turn following a collision between Frijns and Sims, yet again! The winner of the Paris ePrix tore off the front of his car and had to retire! His car was swiftly cleared, leaving the track open for the last lap of the race.

Vergne, struggling more with battery management, barely resisted Rowland’s final assault to claim victory! The same was true for Massa against Wehrlein: the Brazilian finished the race with 0% battery.

Fifth, Buemi maintained his starting position, ahead of Antonio Félix da Costa (BMW Andretti) and Evans, who gained a place after Bird’s puncture on the last lap. Daniel Abt (Audi Sport) took eighth position, ahead of Lotterer who made an impressive comeback to finish ninth. Vergne’s teammate even gained a place afterwards: da Costa was stripped of his sixth place for exceeding the maximum allocated energy capacity during the race. His disqualification benefited Evans, Abt, and Alex Lynn (Jaguar), who all moved up a place in the top 10. Stoffel Vandoorne (Hwa Racelab) was promoted to 10th place for a point.

On the podium, Jean-Eric Vergne was thrilled to win for the seventh time in his Formula E career, but especially for the second time this season… and the first time in Monaco!

Already second in Sanya, Oliver Rowland stood on the same podium step in Monaco. Frustrating after losing his pole position due to a penalty! The Briton could still be satisfied after dominating his teammate Buemi, who had won the last two editions in Monaco.

Third, Felipe Massa secured the first podium of his electric career. A testament to his progress in the discipline, after a difficult start, even though the Brazilian claimed he “never doubted” what he could do. There is no doubt that his experience in Formula 1 played a part, with 15 Grand Prix in Monaco. For his home race, Venturi couldn’t have dreamed of better!

Jean-Eric Vergne: « Being on this podium is something very special for me. I remember the legends who have stood on it. I also recall the difficult times I had in Formula 1… »