F1 News
Cassidy wins strange E-Prix in Berlin
- GPblog.com
With another shameful display, Formula E failed to promote the series in the second E-Prix' of Berlin this season. Just like a day earlier, the drivers did everything they could to avoid being in the lead, meaning they would consume more energy and their attack modes early in the race. After 40 laps of 'racing', it was Nick Cassidy, who was the first to see the chequered flag. The New Zealander ended up driving the longest in front, therefore earning the win.
Cassidy (who moved closer to championship leader Pascal Wehrlein in the standings with the win) finished ahead of Jake Dennis, while Jean-Éric Vergne took the third and final spot on the podium. Emotions were high among the trio, although the Formula E organisers will look back on the two races in the German city with less pleasure. Indeed, there was a lot of overtaking, but this did not usually happen with beautiful overtaking because the drivers pushed the lead.
'Big risk'
Nick Cassidy said over the team radio - and he was probably not the only one - 'can't stay in the lead for too long'. Jake Dennis too, who refused to attack the leader four laps from the end after being asked to do so by his team, said: 'That's a big risk'. These are words that are paradoxical for a racing driver; it is normal in this sport to try and battle for first place. Possibly this refusal cost Dennis the win because, in the absolute closing stages, he failed to outsmart Cassidy.
Incidentally, the race started several minutes later because two protesters climbed over the fence and sat on the track just before the start. However, security immediately removed them from the track. After a check that no liquid had been sprayed on the track, polesitter Frijns of ABT Cupra and the 21 drivers behind him were still allowed to start.
Frijns and teammate Nico Müller (who started second) had little enjoyment from their historic qualifying in the morning when conditions were extremely wet. Frijns dropped back to the rear in the dry weather (17th). The Dutchman took three points from Sunday in Berlin, but there could have been much more.
