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Di Grassi deliberately hit me, says Formula E champion Buemi

Newly-crowned Formula E champion Sebastien Buemi believes Lucas di Grassi intentionally crashed into him at the start of the season finale

Buemi clinched the 2015/16 FE crown despite ending up facing the wrong way, with a broken rear wing, after getting rear-ended by di Grassi at Turn 3 on the opening lap of the Battersea Park race.

BATTERSEA RACE REPORT: Buemi champion despite first-lap collision

With both drivers out of contention to finish in the top 10 the title battle turned into a fight for the two points for fastest lap, which Buemi secured late on.

The Renault e.dams driver said he was certain the first-lap accident was caused on purpose.

"He really went for the accident," Buemi said.

"What he did, I didn't know what to think. I thought he wanted to try anything.

"In the end I think the best driver and the best team won.

"It's difficult to realise, I was not expecting to win it that way."

Buemi's Renault e.dams team-mate Nico Prost narrowly avoided being caught up in the accident, having run side-by-side with di Grassi on the way into the corner.

The Frenchman went on to dominate the race but admitted he was perplexed by di Grassi's actions.

"I don't know what he did," he said. "He was 100km/h too quick. He lost his mind."

Di Grassi claimed an immediate post-race analysis of the data showed Buemi braked "50 metres too early" for Turn 3.

"When I was fighting with Prost and realised Seb had braked so early, it was too late for me to hold control of the car," he said.

"That's what caused the impact."

The Abt Audi Sport driver was also critical of the championship's regulations that allowed the title to be decided this way.

"It's not really fair to have points for fastest lap," he said. "But that's the rules.

"We tried our best, we gave it a go - did everything possible, and the impossible.

"I'm proud of my championship."

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