F1 News

Vandoorne third for Mercedes as Sam Bird wins FE season opener!

22 November 2019 at 12:54
Last update 22 November 2019 at 13:10
  • Adam Newton
  • Editor

Sam Bird has won the first race of Formula E season six in Saudi Arabia with a terrific drive from fifth on the grid. Mercedes' EQ FE had a superb start to life in the all-electric series as they qualified second and third with Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck De Vries, with Vandoorne coming home third for a debut podium.

Britain's Alexander Sims was on pole and led from the start, but was pushed wide by Belgian Vandoorne, allowing Bird through to take his ninth Formula E win, keeping up his streak of taking a victory in every season.

Andre Lotterer came home second on Porsche's debut, ahead of Vandoorne, with his Mercedes teammate De Vries slipping back to sixth. Sims fell down to eighth before the chequered flag.

It was a nightmare start to the season for reigning two-time champion Jean-Eric Vergne, who was forced to retire from the race.