Monaco Formula E: Sebastien Buemi becomes first repeat winner

The World Endurance champion, whose previous win with e.dams had come in Punta del Este in Uruguay last December, also becomes the first driver to convert an FE pole position into a win.

The start of the race was marred by two crashes on lap one.

Jean-Eric Vergne hit the rear of Andretti Autosport team-mate Scott Speed approaching the first corner, and in the concertina Jaime Alguersuari, who started 17th after a grid penalty, sustained enough suspension damage to retire on the spot.

One corner later Daniel Abt went wide and hit the wall on the exit of Sainte Devote. Bruno Senna was left with nowhere to go and was fortunate not to roll as he was launched over the rear of Abt's car. The safety car was scrambled for four laps, with many drivers requiring bodywork repairs in the pits and Vitantonio Liuzzi losing 10 laps.

As the race unfolded, championship leader Lucas di Grassi tried an alternative strategy from his second place starting slot.

He pitted to change cars first, on lap 24 of 47, whereas race leader Buemi was among the last three drivers to enter the pits when he stopped two laps later.

Buemi rejoined in his fresh car just ahead of di Grassi, who tried to pass at the hairpin that leads into the Formula 1 circuit's harbour-side chicane, but trying to take advantage of the cold brakes on Buemi's car didn't work as the Swiss driver held the inside line.

From there Buemi wasn't under threat, and he went on to win by two seconds.

Di Grassi's championship rival, Nelson Piquet Jr, passed Jerome D'Ambrosio for third with the aid of the fan boost on lap five.

He then conserved his battery power and was amongst the last to pit, on lap 26.

A spirited chase of second-placed di Grassi came close to paying off as he tried a pass on lap 42 of the 47.

But his countryman defended at the inside of the hairpin and Piquet then fell back.

Briton Sam Bird closed the gap to the Brazilian, having recovered from an 11th place starting position. He was aided by the lap one accidents, and ended the first tour in seventh.

He couldn't pass Piquet in the final few laps though and finished fourth, just a tenth of a second behind his rival.

The result means di Grassi extends his championship lead from a single point to three points from Piquet.

"I tried a different strategy," said Di Grassi. "In the end it was very tight when Buemi came out of the pits. But it's the championship that matters."

RESULTS - 47 LAPS:

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: