Mixed fortunes for French-speaking drivers in Paris

Nico Prost -> Qualifications: 10th / Race: 5th

Placed in the second qualifying group, the professor’s son failed to distinguish himself to qualify for the Super-Pole, falling just a tenth short of the fifth place.

Qualified right in the middle of the grid, finished sixth; Nico Prost moved up to fifth place after a five-second penalty was applied to Robin Frijns (Andretti) for speeding under Full Course Yellow conditions.

« I’m a bit disappointed with my qualifying session. When I look at my lap, there are two good little tenths that are lurking and we could have found. I had a good, solid race. In six races, I finished in the top five five times: we are still picking up big points. We just need to be more competitive in qualifying to do even better. »

A better exploitation of tires, an essential parameter on single-seaters in Formula E, is possibly one of its areas for improvement.

« The issue of tires might be a problem. But I think I can reach the podium in the future, I could have already been there in this race or in Monaco, where we were also very fast. »

In comparison to his teammate, Nico Prost nonetheless delivers convincing results, which allow his team to dominate the constructors’ standings, with a 75-point lead over ABT Schaeffler.

« It’s a combination of work and respect. When you have the same drivers and engineers for three years, it helps greatly. We trust each other.

The only team to do like us is Abt Schaeffler, and coincidentally, they are second. Our stability gives us strength, Seb is doing a superb job, and as a team this year, we’re working very well!

Tom Dillmann -> Qualifications: 15th / Course: 8th

Well surrounded, the new kid on the block led a flawless meeting! The reigning champion of Formula V8 3.5 spent the first half of his race under the watchful eye of the cameras, fending off attacks from Lucas di Grassi, whom he passed on the first lap. A well-timed car change and impeccable driving allowed him to secure a fine eighth place.

Leaving here with four points is really very satisfying! At the beginning of the race, I passed di Grassi in the first corners. I got fooled by Piquet at the end of the race, that’s the only thing I regret this weekend.

I was doing well on fuel consumption. I couldn’t even take advantage of my energy benefit because of the Full Course Yellow! »

Remarks illustrating a young wolf’s race led with the intelligence of an old hand. The Alsatian, a former GP2 driver (43 races in two and a half seasons), could only rely on about fifty kilometers performed during shakedown, on the occasion of the Mexico ePrix.

I prepared in advance to be completely focused on driving and not have my head explode! I gradually increased, proceeding step by step. The team is well-structured and the car had a very good setup. However, there were some differences compared to all the cars I’ve driven before…

Promoted by Venturi after Maro Engel’s absence, who is simultaneously engaged in DTM, Tom Dillmann is not expected to get back in the car before the end of the season.

« For the future, I will most likely do the development tests for the team. But I will wait for their choice of drivers for season 4, it’s coming soon! »

Stéphane Sarrazin -> Qualifications: 20th / Race: 10th

The Venturi driver scores an almost miraculous point given the circumstances of his weekend, disrupted by a qualifying session halted right at the end of the installation lap. Another setback in his season, which has been slow to take off, with only two small points on the scoreboard.

We are at the mid-championship and we have already had a lot of problems! Despite our new gearbox, we haven’t been able to succeed. Now, I break down during qualifications, then I change the engine.

The car performed well both in qualifying and in the race. But when you accumulate problems like here, achieving a result was unexpected.

I can’t wait to be in Berlin so we can catch up. The top 5 is achievable. We need to put everything together. We are a young team, but we must make progress.

Jean-Eric Vergne -> Qualifications: 2nd / Race: Retired

After failing by six-thousandths of a second from pole position, the Parisian was on track to reclaim the second place on the podium, a year after his performance with DS Virgin.

But his Techeetah decided otherwise this time, making him a passenger in his crash in the thirteenth corner, on lap 33.

« I felt a lap before my steering had a problem. My engineers told me to keep going. But it completely broke, sending me into the wall… I would like to forget this weekend right away!

“JEV” is the black cat of the moment in Formula E, with two retirements within seven days. The former Toro Rosso driver now slips to fifth position in the overall standings, stuck with 40 points on the scoreboard.

I was comfortable from the start of the day. We had worked well, the car functioned properly in Qualifying… There is a lot of frustration. I had prepared for the end of the race. I could have attacked Sébastien (Buemi); at least, if I hadn’t succeeded, I could have finished second and enjoyed that podium in front of all the Parisian fans. It’s really a shame.

Jérôme d’Ambrosio -> Qualifications: 12th / Race: Retired

The Brussels native was one of the main victims of the collision between di Grassi and da Costa. In the race for the top 10, the Dragon Racing driver had just gone through the pit lane to change cars. Alas, his race was halted anyway with thirteen laps to go. A withdrawal that does not help the difficult season for the former Virgin F1 driver.

I got a good start, I’m tenth when I enter the pits. But we go in way too early. And we get caught out like that… In terms of setup, we weren’t too bad. We have two or three innovations in our package that have been waiting for two or three races. We’re missing three-tenths in race pace before we can make a quality improvement.

The 2017 FIA Formula E @QatarAirways​ #ParisePrix in 60 seconds!
Click here to watch the full video> https://t.co/nSiEopV2Tg pic.twitter.com/a0zwQzYkAX

— FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) 20 mai 2017