Hyderabad E-Prix: Vergne holds off Cassidy siege to win wild race, Jaguars self-destruct
Jean-Eric Vergne held off a charging Nick Cassidy to win the inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix, as both Jaguar Formula E cars collided with each other in a chaotic race.
DS Penske driver Vergne was considerably low on energy in the final stages of the 33-lap contest compared to Envision’s Cassidy, who kept the pressure up on him in a bid to take only his second career victory in FE.
But Vergne covered off the inside line into the Turn 3 hairpin - the primary overtaking point of the race - on every lap since a late safety car period triggered by McLaren’s Jake Hughes, preventing Cassidy from making a move.
Despite starting the final lap with just 2% useable energy remaining, Vergne was able to defy the odds to claim a first victory of the DS Penske partnership by just 0.400s.
Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa was elevated to the final spot of the podium in third after Sebastien Buemi was handed a late drive-through penalty for overusing the maximum power allowed.
At the start of the race, polesitter Mitch Evans led the field from Vergne, with Buemi slotting into third place.
But Evans would take an ill-timed attack mode early in the race on lap 7, which would drop him a net third behind Buemi and Vergne.
However, things would go from bad to worse for Jaguar just a few laps later, with Sam Bird crashing into the side of Evans and sending both cars out of the race on home turf for the squad’s owner Tata Group.
Bird was trying to pass the Nissan of Sacha Fenestraz for fourth place into the hairpin but ended up sliding into Evan’s car, pitching the Kiwi into a spin and with terminal damage into the car.
Both Fenestraz and Maximilian Guenther had nowhere to go and got caught out in the incident, although the two were able to continue without any damage.
The melee benefited a number of drivers, not least Cassidy, who now found himself third behind Buemi and Vergne.
Vergne wasted little time afterwards to pass Buemi for what would turn out to be the race-winning move, passing the Swiss driver going into the hairpin.
Antonio Felix da Costa, Porsche, Porsche 99X Electric Gen3, Sergio Sette Camara, NIO 333 FE Team, NIO 333 ER9, the remainder of the field
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Buemi immediately armed the attack mode which was located on the outside of the same corner, which promoted Cassidy up to second and set-up a two-horse race for victory.
But before they could duel for the win, the safety car was deployed as Hughes crashed his McLaren and was left stranded on track.
At the restart, Rast went into the back of Dennis’ Andretti and immediately tumbled down the order with front wing damage, with Dennis also picking up a puncture on the incident and having to make an unscheduled pitstop for a fresh tyre.
It undid Dennis’ stunning recovery from 11th on the grid, with the Andretti driver having scythed his way to third, which would have been enough to take the championship lead from Pascal Wehrlein.
Instead, Wehrlein finished fourth behind teammate da Costa after an impressive drive of his own from 15th place at the end of the opening lap.
Sergio Sette Camara finished a strong fifth for NIO 333, while Oliver Rowland bagged a strong haul of points for Mahindra in sixth place.
Rowland even attempted an ambitious move over Buemi for third place on the outside of the hairpin in the closing stages of the race, but he ran wide and instead lost momentum that left him sixth at the finish.
Norman Nato scored his first points on the year in seventh, with Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Penske), Andre Lotterer and Edoardo Mortara (Maserati MSG) completing the points scorers.
Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix race results - 33 laps
Electric series positioned as Formula E feeder category set for 2024
Bird 'let Jaguar down' in Evans FE Hyderabad clash, got attack mode 'wrong'
Rast, Ricky Taylor combine at Tower LMP2 team for Le Mans 24 Hours
Rast, Ricky Taylor combine at Tower LMP2 team for Le Mans 24 Hours Rast, Ricky Taylor combine at Tower LMP2 team for Le Mans 24 Hours
Why Triple Eight's Newcastle Supercars disqualification was upheld
Why Triple Eight's Newcastle Supercars disqualification was upheld Why Triple Eight's Newcastle Supercars disqualification was upheld
Why the Hyderabad E-Prix is only a first step in India's motorsport emergence
Why the Hyderabad E-Prix is only a first step in India's motorsport emergence Why the Hyderabad E-Prix is only a first step in India's motorsport emergence
Mahindra explains suspension issues which caused Cape Town Formula E withdrawal
Mahindra explains suspension issues which caused Cape Town Formula E withdrawal Mahindra explains suspension issues which caused Cape Town Formula E withdrawal
MotoGP riders critical of Portugal track safety after Espargaro incident
MotoGP riders critical of Portugal track safety after Espargaro incident MotoGP riders critical of Portugal track safety after Espargaro incident
Miller "as surprised as you" at Portugal MotoGP lap record in practice
Miller "as surprised as you" at Portugal MotoGP lap record in practice Miller "as surprised as you" at Portugal MotoGP lap record in practice
Frijns: "No pain" ahead of Formula E Sao Paulo return after wrist break
Frijns: "No pain" ahead of Formula E Sao Paulo return after wrist break Frijns: "No pain" ahead of Formula E Sao Paulo return after wrist break
The fumble that inadvertently aided da Costa in Formula E's Cape Town classic
The fumble that inadvertently aided da Costa in Formula E's Cape Town classic The fumble that inadvertently aided da Costa in Formula E's Cape Town classic
How Vergne kept his cool to triumph in spicy Indian Formula E encounter
How Vergne kept his cool to triumph in spicy Indian Formula E encounter How Vergne kept his cool to triumph in spicy Indian Formula E encounter
Why the Hyderabad E-Prix is only a first step in India's motorsport emergence
Why the Hyderabad E-Prix is only a first step in India's motorsport emergence Why the Hyderabad E-Prix is only a first step in India's motorsport emergence
The key factors behind Porsche's strong start to Formula E's new era
The key factors behind Porsche's strong start to Formula E's new era The key factors behind Porsche's strong start to Formula E's new era
How Wehrlein's Diriyah double reveals Formula E's form book shake-up
How Wehrlein's Diriyah double reveals Formula E's form book shake-up How Wehrlein's Diriyah double reveals Formula E's form book shake-up
The first impressions of Formula E's brave new era
The first impressions of Formula E's brave new era The first impressions of Formula E's brave new era
How Dennis dominated Formula E's new generation opener
How Dennis dominated Formula E's new generation opener How Dennis dominated Formula E's new generation opener
Is this a Formula E 'nearly man's' best chance yet at title glory?
Is this a Formula E 'nearly man's' best chance yet at title glory? Is this a Formula E 'nearly man's' best chance yet at title glory?
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.