Jake Dennis wins first Saudi ePrix as De Vries continues to struggle
- Ludo van Denderen
The second ePrix of the season was won by reigning champion Jake Dennis. The Andretti Global driver - also a test and sim driver for Red Bull Racing - stayed ahead of Saudi Arabia's Jean-Eric Vergne. Nick Cassidy finished third on the street circuit with Jaguar. Nyck de Vries played a supporting role, crossing the line in seventeenth.
Vergne, who started from pole, got away best and managed to keep Mitch Evans behind him at the start. As early as the third lap, both took their first mandatory attack mode, hitting each other. Jake Dennis - starting third - took advantage and was able to create a small gap to the pair. After the Briton also took his first attack mode himself, Dennis managed to get back on track in second, behind Vergne.
SIDE BY SIDE @JeanEricVergne reclaims P2 from @mitchevans_, with the two drivers getting a bit too close for comfort! #DiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/GQMQZN9Nr2
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) January 26, 2024
Tension at the front
After the trio in the lead had also taken their second attack mode, Dennis moved into the lead. For Vergne, it looked like it was going to be an unpleasant day altogether, as Evans had more energy to spare, allowing him to pass the Frenchman. Trying to pass Dennis as well, the New Zealander went way too wide and Vergne was able to pass him again.
Evans then made an all-or-nothing attempt in the final corner to still move to P2, but this attack failed. In the end, the Jaguar driver finished fifth, having been overtaken by his current (Nick Cassidy) and previous (Sam Bird) teammates. Dennis crossed the finish line first unchallenged.
A BOLD BID from @mitchevans_ on @JeanEricVergne
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) January 26, 2024
The attempted overtake cost the @JaguarRacing driver two positions in the final few turns of the #DiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/GYLiHhiwHR