ePrix de Paris – Race: Buemi goes from strength to strength

The images are still just as spectacular. Surrounding the Hôtel des Invalides, not far from the Eiffel Tower, the National Assembly, and Place de la Concorde, Formula E once again secured a magical setting for its second Paris ePrix.

After resolving its organizational issues, the 100% electric discipline welcomed this time around ten thousand spectators, gathered around a 1.920-kilometer-long circuit. Short but intense, the Parisian track had experienced a qualifying session held at midday.

Thirteen months after Sam Bird clinched pole position, Sébastien Buemi made a unanimous statement at the end of the super-Pole. The championship leader narrowly edged out Jean-Eric Vergne. Six thousandths of a second, converted into a few meters difference on the starting grid.

Behind the two headliners, José Maria Lopez positioned himself as the first outsider, at the wheel of his DS Virgin Racing, a team with French heritage. Alongside him on the second row was not Oliver Turvey (demoted from his fourth place due to a ten-place grid penalty) but the other Techeetah driven by Esteban Gutiérrez.

The Indian threat, with Mahindra Racing, then locked in the third row. Nico Prost settled for ninth position, four spots ahead of Lucas di Grassi, one of the session’s disappointed participants along with Sam Bird himself in eighteenth. Although rain was forecasted, it ultimately did not interfere with the race, leaving the drivers to battle it out among themselves for 49 laps.

At 4:00 p.m. and a few minutes past the hour, the 20 competitors took their positions on the starting line, drawn on the Boulevard des Invalides. 620 meters further stood the first turn.

Vain attempt at the start for Vergne

At the start, Buemi barely held the lead! Neck and neck with Vergne, the Renault e.Dams remained in front after the first corner. Behind José Maria Lopez, Nick Heidfeld snatched fourth place from Esteban Gutiérrez. Off to a good start, Jérôme d’Ambrosio climbed into the top 10. All the drivers completed the first lap without any issues.

Re-live the start of the Qatar Airways Paris ePrix #ParisePrix pic.twitter.com/kqWOfbCRsK — FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) 20 mai 2017

Lucas di Grassi worsened his case by losing two positions, from 13th to 15th. The Brazilian was struggling with his car, lacking grip. The first laps went by and the top 10 solidified without major changes. At the back, Stéphane Sarrazin was also stuck, waiting to adopt an alternate strategy.

First driver adrift, Nelson Piquet hit the wall on the fifteenth lap, in the seventh turn, before the main straight. The Brazilian slipped to sixteenth place behind his compatriot Lucas di Grassi. The Abt Schaeffler driver was the main attraction at the moment, battling with Antonio Félix da Costa, who firmly closed the door towards the first turn.

This first maneuver was the prelude to the clash that would follow. On the 16th lap, da Costa did not ease off the accelerator against his opponent, who was trying to overtake him. On the inside, the Portuguese remained level. The accident was

Inevitable: the Andretti driver hit the wall and di Grassi lost precious seconds in the process.

Crash! @afelixdacosta out after contact with @LucasdiGrassi #ParisePrix pic.twitter.com/FO8DdDFOJ9

— FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) 20 mai 2017

di Grassi and Vergne: shattered dreams

The neutralization shifted the race into a new phase. The entire field was already heading to the pits to get into the second car. Buemi reclaimed the lead on the 26th lap after the last driver on his first car, Mike Conway, who was the temporary leader, made his pit stop. Meanwhile, Felix Rosenqvist had snatched the position from Esteban Gutiérrez.

Surprisingly, Lucas di Grassi benefited from his collision and the subsequent FCY. Buemi’s rival climbed to eighth place after overtaking Nico Prost on the track. But there was a catch: his pit stop was completed under the mandatory 70-second limit. The Paulista served his penalty on lap 31 and dropped out of the points zone, never to return.

Major twist two laps later: the runner-up was dethroned! Jean-Eric Vergne hit the wall at the exit of the thirteenth corner, which skirts around Place Vauban. The local contender’s hopes for a podium finish were dashed at that moment. His Techeetah suddenly skidded, refusing to turn. This accident prompted the deployment of the safety car.

Big hit! @JeanEricVergne crashes out of the #ParisePrix pic.twitter.com/OdjY5wNp5F

— FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) 20 mai 2017

Buemi, new victory without a shadow of a doubt

The electric BMW returned to the pits on the 38th lap, unleashing the electric beasts for about ten laps. Buemi saw di Grassi’s car ahead of him, whose sole objective was to secure the fastest lap point. An objective also coveted by Sam Bird, stuck in sixteenth position. The DS Virgin Racing driver improved the mark.

The Brit finally clinched that point after the final crash caused by Lucas di Grassi!

A symbol with the accident of the 2016 edition winner, which offers a similar finish for the 2017 winner.

A push too far. @LucasdiGrassi ends in the barriers as he fought for the Visa Fastest Lap #ParisePrix pic.twitter.com/jIqnD6uYCO — FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) 20 mai 2017

Sébastien Buemi wins the Paris ePrix!

Here is therefore his fifth victory in six meetings, the eleventh in his entire electric career.

The championship leader extends the gap over his pursuers, now holding a 43-point lead over Lucas di Grassi. Just a few more points and the Swiss driver could almost skip the New York round with peace of mind…

Second in the race, “Pechito” secures his first podium, ahead of Nick Heidfeld who regains his position from Monaco.

Behind, the standings were shaken up as three drivers, Frijns, Gutiérrez, and Dillmann, received a five-second penalty following speeding under the Full Course Yellow regime. And in the final lap, Daniel Abt abandoned his car, creating a strange confusion, to conclude this Paris round…

Here is the final race ranking, taking penalties into account.

.@Sebastien_buemi wins the 2017 FIA Formula E @qatarairways #ParisePrix with @pechito37 2nd and @NickHeidfeld 3rd! #FormulaE pic.twitter.com/dXfna9Hbbx

— FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) 20 mai 2017