Monaco ePrix – Qualifications: Pole for Buemi, Di Grassi/Piquet Junior Clash

Group 1:

This session was indeed marked by a heated exchange between Lucas Di Grassi, leader of the World Drivers’ Championship, and Nelson Piquet, winner of the last ePrix in Long Beach. Once out of their cars, the Brazilian from the Nextev Tcr (China Racing) team accused the one from the Audi Sport Abt team of blocking him at Rascasse in his last attempt.

The stakes of this maneuver, intentional or not, are significant: by preventing Piquet from improving, Lucas Di Grassi managed to keep the best time of the group with a time of 53.669 seconds. He will start on the front row in 2nd position. Nelson Piquet Jr, with a time of 53.712 seconds, is placed 4th in the final standings.

This group included some serious contenders for the final victory today, as in addition to Di Grassi and Piquet, Jean-Eric Vergne and Sam Bird were also present.

In the Group 2, we notably found Nicolas Prost and Bruno Senna as well as Daniel Abt in the other Audi Sport Abt. Daniel Abt recorded the best time of the group with a timing of 53.891 seconds, placing him 5th overall. Just behind him were Nicolas Prost and Bruno Senna, who clocked the sixth and seventh times respectively. The standout performance in this group came from Belgian Jérôme d’Ambrosio, who ranked 3rd among all the drivers.

But it was in Group 3 that the Poleman of this Monaco ePrix was hidden, in the person of Sébastien Buemi. Comfortable with his car on the tour since the beginning of the season, he clinched the Pole Position with a very convincing time: 53.478 seconds, nearly two-tenths ahead of Lucas Di Grassi.

More challenging results for the other drivers in this group: Loic Duval qualifies 10th but receives a 10-place penalty for a change in part of his electronic system. The other drivers in this group are relegated to the midfield with Duran 10th, Charles Pic only 17th, and Scott Speed 14th. Just like Jean-Eric Vergne, the Andretti team seemed to struggle in this qualifying session.

The Group 4 of this Qualifying Session also did not upset the top tier: two drivers, Jaime Alguersuari and Karun Chandhok, also experienced electronic issues. Antonio Felix da Costa, for his part, caused a red flag by hitting the barrier at the Bureau de Tabac corner, consequently damaging the rear of his car.

Monaco ePrix 2015 – Qualifications:

1. Buemi (e.dams-Renault) – 53.478

2. Di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT) – 53.669

3. D’Ambrosio (Dragon Racing) – 53.702

4. Piquet (Nextev Tcr) – 53.712

5. Abt (Audi Sport ABT) – 53.891

6. Prost (e.dams-Renault) – 53.909

7. Senna (Mahindra) – 54.035

8. Heidfeld (Venturi) – 54.129

9. Sarrazin (Venturi) – 54.133

10. Duran (Amlin Aguri) – 54.175

11. Bird (Virgin) – 54.253

12. Vergne (Andretti) – 54.260

13. Trulli (Trulli) – 54.339

14. Speed (Andretti) – 54.347

15. Duval (Dragon Racing) – 53.084*

16. Liuzzi (Trulli) – 54.462

17. Pic (Nextev Tcr) – 54.652

18. Alguersuari (Virgin Racing) – 54.021*

19. Da Costa (Amlin) – 56.938**

20. Chandhok (Mahindra Racing) – 54.813 *

*: 10-place grid penalty for each of these drivers for a RESS system change