Defending ABB FIA Formula E World Champion in the right place at the right time in America’s ‘Sunshine State’, as title rivals are left ruing late stoppage.
Pascal Wehrlein kicked his ABB FIA Formula E World Championship title defence firmly into gear in Florida today (12 April), as a late red flag played perfectly into the TAG Heuer Porsche star’s hands and paved his way to victory in an action-packed Miami E-Prix.
Norman Nato lined up on pole position for the first time in the all-electric single-seater series, and the Nissan Formula E Team driver was a factor throughout the race around Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Frenchman boldly snatched first place from Wehrlein at the finish line – the pair separated by a scant 0.119s, the second-closest winning margin in the championship’s history – but his success would be short-lived.
When the chequered flag fell, Nato had not used up all of his Attack Mode – the legacy of a lap 20 chicane contretemps between NEOM McLaren Formula E Team’s Taylor Barnard, Maserati MSG Racing’s Jake Hughes and Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans. The clash proved to be particularly costly for Barnard, who had occupied second spot in the points table entering the event.
It also prompted a stoppage to allow for the removal of debris, and when the E-Prix resumed, there were only four laps remaining – not enough time for almost a quarter of the field to complete their Attack Mode deployments.
Nato was duly handed a ten-second post-race penalty for the infraction, dropping him down the final classification, with Wehrlein gratefully inheriting the win. If one Porsche driver was happy, however, the other was left lamenting his misfortune. António Félix da Costa put not so much as a wheel out-of-place, running consistently up at the sharp end while simultaneously conserving more energy than his immediate rivals. His destiny looked to be in his own hands – until the red flag flew…
The interruption wiped out the majority of da Costa’s six-minute Attack Mode activation, and meant the Portuguese ace was powerless to prevent his adversaries from coming past in the closing stages. After taking the flag seventh, he ultimately wound up third once all penalties had been applied, with the Porsche pair split by fellow former champion Lucas Di Grassi. Having reached the qualifying ‘Duels’ for the first time for Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team, the Brazilian continued to hold his own and deservedly celebrated a first podium finish in more than two years.
Nico Müller converted a lowly 18th on the grid into a fourth-place finish on Andretti Formula E’s home turf, even briefly snatching the top spot at mid-distance, with countryman Edoardo Mortara another to shine as the Swiss star took fifth for Mahindra Racing. That provided some consolation for the Indian outfit after stablemate Nyck de Vries – who thrilled fans by leading on multiple occasions – came to a halt on lap 17. By the time the Dutchman rejoined, any chance of a good result was gone.
Nato ended up a frustrated sixth ahead of Dan Ticktum, who produced a strong performance for CUPRA Kiro, while Robin Frijns – another to fall foul of unused Attack Mode – slipped from third on-the-road to eighth. The top ten was rounded out by Season 9 title-winner Jake Dennis (Andretti) and Oliver Rowland.
A 10th position on what was a disappointing day for Nissan – as he too picked up a ten-second penalty for Attack Mode mismanagement – means the Brit’s advantage in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship standings has been cut from 17 points to 14 going next to Monaco for rounds six and seven of the 2024/25 campaign on 3-4 May.
Pascal Wehrlein, No. 1, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, said: “We were lucky with the Safety Car to be honest, but I think we’ve had enough bad luck so we can also be lucky for once. Great job by everyone for bringing home this result. I knew that all the cars behind still had an Attack Mode to do – some of them six minutes – and my team kept me informed who was within six minutes. I still wanted to finish the race in P1 over the line, and I tried, but I knew that there was a penalty coming for [Norman] Nato and it is what it is.”
Lucas Di Grassi, No. 11, Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team, said: “Amazing day! We started the day with a good qualifying, P7, which was the best of the year. And then in the race, honestly it was a combination of a very good strategy, being there at the right time, in the right moment, then the Safety Car came and I had an ATTACK MODE to finish the race so I didn’t have to fight the people around me. P2 – my first podium in two years, so I’m very very pleased for myself but also for the Lola Yamaha ABT team. They worked so hard during the break so I’m very very happy for them, they really deserve this and it’s going to be a massive boost for us for the rest of the season.”
António Félix da Costa, No. 13, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, said: “I’m just angry. The rules are the rules and we got done today by being too good. We were that good on energy that I could split my ATTACK MODES in the aggressive way to have the six minutes at the end to go away and win the race, and when we did that we already had a two or three-second gap, and then the Safety Car came out and the others had ATTACK MODE left to take. It hurts; you go to the factory for two or three days in the sim, you fly all the way here, we did the perfect race today, we executed the perfect day and then you lose the win like that. Again, it’s still P3, I’m happy for the team, but it is what it is.”
