It looked like it was running out of steam with a few corners to go, but António Félix Da Costa has managed to cross the finish line to achieve victory in the second round of the New York ePrix. The DS Techeetah driver thus adds his first victory of the season in an agonizing race that, on the other hand, he has dominated at all times. Hard-working podium for Stoffel Vandoorne and Mitch Evans, two of the candidates for the title. In fact, Stoffel is the new leader of Formula E with this result.
António Félix Da Costa was in no hurry to maintain the first position at the start before a cautious Alexander Sims. Behind, Stoffel Vandoorne managed to climb to third place, while his teammate Nyck de Vries also gained two places to move up to fifth place in a very quiet start to the race. There was only a small touch between Jake Dennis and Mitch Evans in the fight for sixth placealthough the two gave each other their space and there was no damage to the single-seaters.
Loading tweet…
1548723409789526016
Nyck de Vries gained an extra position to place fourth with a great overtaking of Sérgio Sette Câmara. Maneuver that preceded the first activations of the ‘attack mode’, in this case available only once and with a duration of eight minutes. Edo Mortara in full comeback saw how the pilots just ahead of him were the first to activate the extra power modeso he had to resign himself to lengthening his first ‘stint’ while waiting to use the ‘attack mode’ later.
In the leading group, the first to use attack mode were Nyck de Vries and Sérgio Sette Câmara, with worse baggage for the Penske driver as he lost position to Mitch Evans. On the next lap the leader António Félix Da Costa and Alexander Sims did the same, allowing Stoffel Vandoorne to climb to first position. Provisional lead, as the Mercedes EQ driver passed through the activation zone one lap later. Mitch Evans imitated Stoffel Vandoorne, so the first six used the ‘attack mode’ in parallel.
In this ‘dance’ of strategies, Mitch Evans managed to win the fourth position to the Dutchman Nyck de Vries, all after consolidating his overtaking of a Sérgio Sette Câmara who in turn lost steam and fell behind Jake Dennis. In the blink of an eye, he was already tenth. With everything, nobody managed to impose their law and the top five classified were separated by just a second and a half with still 20 minutes of racing to play. Stoffel Vandoorne managed to place second after overtaking Alexander Sims.
Loading tweet…
1548726407118954496
Behind, Nyck de Vries and Mitch Evans engaged in a tough battle in which even the Mercedes driver hit Alexander Sims. However, the most critical moment came one lap later, as De Vries closed too aggressively on Evans, who took one of the bumps on the outside of the track and did a semi-spin. The Jaguar driver managed to retain fifth place despite the scarealthough he lost contact with the front group and was just ahead of Robin Frijns.
Nyck de Vries was trying to use the ‘FanBoost’ to get past Alexander Sims, but he was not betting on the correct line and he was not able to get any profit from the manoeuvre. More accurate was Edo Mortara with the ‘attack mode’ to climb to 13th place after overtaking three rivals almost consecutively. However, the fight for victory monopolized the spotlights, even if Nyck de Vries lost control of his car in his new attempt to overtake Alexander Sims and access podium positions and ended up falling behind Mitch Evans himself.
Loading tweet…
1548729459909562374
De Vries entered a negative spiral and he also looked outmatched by Sam Bird. Ahead there were new movements, since Mitch Evans did manage to climb to third place after beating Alexander Sims. It seemed then that the expected duel between Vandoorne and Evans was going to take place, but a touch between Jean-Eric Vergne and Lucas Di Grassi at the back of the group caused a small montonera that took the race to a decaf finish under yellow flag.
António Félix Da Costa rushed the last kW of his car to get the victory nine tenths ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne. For his part, Mitch Evans took third position, giving Vandoorne very little income, even if the Belgian has positioned himself as the new leader of the contest. Alexander Sims and Sam Bird have completed the ‘top 5’ in a chaotic finish that saw Nyck de Vries drop to seventh place, behind even Robin Frijns. For its part, Edo Mortara has saved a point by being tenth.
2021-22 Formula E New York ePrix Results (II)
Photos: FIA Formula E