Stoffel Vandoorne: Rome Formula E podium lucky given late failure

HWA received an update to its driveshaft from Venturi - which supplies HWA's powertrain - for Rome following repeated failures this season, and Vandoorne's team-mate Gary Paffett said that the Italian event would be the greatest test of the update due to the circuit's undulations and bumps.

Venturi's Edoardo Mortara and Felipe Massa both retired in Rome, with what the team called "transmission problems" after the drivers had suggested driveshaft issues over the radio.

Vandoorne finished third in Rome but went from 1.5 seconds off second-placed Andre Lotterer to 6.3s behind at the flag and then stopped on track following the finish.

When Autosport asked for the cause of his post-race failure, Vandoorne said: "I suppose it's a driveshaft but I kind of knew it was coming.

"The last couple of laps you could see me slowing down a lot.

"There was not an energy problem, it was protecting the car, trying not to take any kerbs, lifting a lot on the jumps that made it very tricky for us.

"I was aware of the situation with the other [Venturi] cars and the failures.

"It's unfortunate and we were so lucky today to make it to the flag."

Vandoorne added that he hoped his first podium, following on from a maiden pole position in Hong Kong, would be a turning point for HWA.

"I really hope we can turn the page now," he said.

"It's been a difficult start of the year and to come here and finally finish on the podium is a great achievement for everyone.

"So I'm very satisfied we've done a very good job this weekend and again we showed good pace in qualifying.

"We were quick when it mattered. I'm more proud of our race performance because that's where we've been lacking and I've always been saying we need to focus on that to try and get to the end.

"I was trying to hang onto these guys [race-winner Mitch Evans and Lotterer], I was there quite comfortably following the pace and saving some energy for the end of the race."

Paffett retired on the second lap in a pile-up with Dragon Racing's Jose Maria Lopez.