Wehrlein Returns To Winning Ways In Jakarta Round 10 -2023 Gulavit Jakarta E-Prix Report
- Wehrlein wins in Jakarta as ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Indonesia following last season’s debut
- Jake Dennis finishes second but vents frustration at Wehrlein for early race move
- Maximilian Günther finishes third in searing heat of Jakarta with second race of the double-header tomorrow, Sunday
A cool and collected drive by Pascal Wehrlein delivered a win in the soaring heat of race one in the Gulavit Jakarta E-Prix double-header, propelling his TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team back to the top of the Teams’ championship.
Wehrlein led home Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team), who reacted strongly after the race claiming the Porsche driver made a “ridiculous” maneuver forcing Dennis to take evasive action.
Maserati MSG Racing driver Maximilian Günther stayed in the leading pack throughout the race, finishing third. He started in Julius Bär Pole Position, the first Maserati pole in single-seater motorsport since 1958.
In the first race of the double-header in Jakarta, Wehrlein started third and traded places for the lead with polesitter Maximilian Günther over the opening third of the E-Prix, having first made his way by his compatriot on Lap 4.
From Lap 12 and the second ATTACK MODE activation, Wehrlein was able to manage things comfortably in the most trying conditions on a hot and humid afternoon where temperatures reached the mid-30s Celsius.
Dennis started second and finished second, with not enough in his Avalanche Andretti to overpower Wehrlein’s factory Porsche 99X Electric. His push for the front was compromised by a late-race push from Günther, who pressured the Brit for second, allowing Wehrlein some breathing room.
अंततः, गुंथर को कोई रास्ता नहीं मिल सका। डीएस पेन्सके के साथी स्टॉफेल वांडोर्न और जीन-एरिक वर्गेन क्रमशः चौथे और पांचवें स्थान पर रहे, जबकि गुंथर के मासेराटी एमएसजी रेसिंग के साथी एडोआर्डो मोर्टारा छठे स्थान पर रहे।
Standings leader Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) tried his best to outdo defensive maestro Vergne mid-way through the race. He had a lucky escape as he made a move from a long way back on an unsighted Vergne on Lap 20, narrowly avoiding damage to both front corners of his car, finishing seventh.
सीज़न 6 के चैंपियन एंटोनियो फ़ेलिक्स दा कोस्टा (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) कैसिडी से लगभग 15 सेकंड पीछे आठवें स्थान पर रहे। रॉबिन फ़्रीजन्स ने नौवें स्थान पर रहते हुए ABT CUPRA Formula E Team के लिए सीज़न के पहले अंक हासिल करके अपने प्रभावशाली क्वालीफ़ाइंग प्रदर्शन को दोगुना कर दिया।
Jake Hughes rounded out the top 10 for NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, earning him the ABB Driver of Progress Award for making up the most places in the race after starting back in 20th on the grid.
However, it was another frustrating outing for Jaguar TCS Racing as their cars came to blows again, as they did in Hyderabad, with Sam Bird sending Mitch Evans spinning out of eighth position and crucial points late on in the race.
Two victories and a second place on the first three races of Season 9 put Wehrlein to the top of the Drivers’ championship. However, since his last win in Round 3, Wehrlein failed to make the podium until today while Cassidy hit form and took the lead in the standings with his win in Monaco, the race before Jakarta.
आज की जीत का मतलब है कि वेहरलेन कैसिडी से सिर्फ दो अंक पीछे हैं, जो स्टैंडिंग में 128 अंकों पर हैं, जबकि TAG Heuer Porsche ने 198 अंकों के साथ नौ अंकों की बढ़त के साथ एनविज़न रेसिंग को पछाड़कर टीमों की सूची में शीर्ष स्थान हासिल कर लिया है।
Pascal Wehrlein, No. 94, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, said:
“It feels awesome obviously. An exceptionally good race, qualifying was much better than in previous races. Thanks a lot, to the team, the car was awesome today, I was leading almost the whole race. It was not so easy on energy for me, I knew that the guys behind had a little bit more, and driving in the slipstream helps. But I think we defended well and are happy to be back on top. The team definitely deserves it and now we are looking forward to tomorrow.
“The last couple of races we were not where we wanted to be, had not scored the points we wanted, and qualifying was an issue for us. Today with P3 we qualified in the best position so far this season. A big turnaround for us in the last couple of weeks, and like I said thanks a lot to the team for all their hard work. Still a long way to go.”
Jake Dennis, No. 27, Avalanche Andretti Formula E, said:
"ईमानदारी से कहूँ तो बहुत नाराज़गी हुई। अगर आप दूसरे स्थान से नाराज़ हैं तो जाहिर है कि आपका सीज़न अच्छा चल रहा है, लेकिन शुरुआत में ही मैं रेस हार गया, धूल पर हमारे व्हीलस्पिन बहुत ज़्यादा हो गए और हम चौथे स्थान पर आ गए। पास्कल के साथ चाल हास्यास्पद थी, मुझे उसके पीछे से टकराने से बचने के लिए बहुत ज़्यादा दबाव डालना पड़ा। मुझे नहीं पता कि ईमानदारी से कहूँ तो वह इससे कैसे बच गया - यह हास्यास्पद है। अन्य दो लोगों ने इसे पूरी तरह से किया, उन्होंने एक कार पर सिर्फ़ हमारे लिए जगह छोड़ी, जो कि नियम है, और फिर पास्कल पूरी तरह से दीवार की ओर मुड़ गया और मुझे सीधे आधे रास्ते में ब्रेक लगाना पड़ा। उसने पहले ही लिफ्टिंग करने का वादा किया था और उस समय आपको जगह छोड़नी चाहिए, और उसने ऐसा नहीं किया। हम उनके खिलाफ़ विरोध नहीं कर सकते क्योंकि उनके पास भी पोर्श पावरट्रेन है। थोड़ा हास्यास्पद।
"[कल, हमें] ग्रिड के साफ किनारे से शुरुआत करनी होगी। क्वालीफाइंग बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है; मुझे उम्मीद नहीं थी कि रेस इस तरह से आगे बढ़ेगी, यह शुरू से ही सपाट थी। हमारे पास एक तेज़ क्वालीफाइंग कार है - मैक्स की तरह तेज़ नहीं - लेकिन अंततः अगर हम आगे की दो पंक्तियों से शुरुआत कर सकते हैं, तो हम कल की रेस ज़रूर जीत सकते हैं। 18 अंक बहुत बड़ी बात है, हमने अपने कुछ मुख्य प्रतिद्वंद्वियों को हराया है, और हम कल फिर से दौड़ेंगे।"
Maximilian Günther, No. 7, Maserati MSG Racing, said:
“I am happy. For sure we always want to win, as a racing driver when you start on pole you want to win. We were leading for a few laps, but we just did not have enough to beat the two Porsche guys. From the beginning they did a fantastic job, congratulations to Jake and Pascal. I had a few small issues, the car was not as perfect as it was the rest of the weekend, but still a good race car underneath me and happy with what we achieved today and this weekend, fantastic to be on the podium again. It was the maximum today, and we try to keep improving.”
Tomorrow, Sunday 4 June, it is Round 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the second race in the 2023 GulaVit Jakarta E-Prix double-header at 3pm Indonesia time (9am UK).
Find out where to watch here: www.fiaformulae.com/en/ways-to-watch
…notes from SP
