Felix Rosenqvist holds on to final point in late Montreal drama
Felix Rosenqvist was in contention for another Formula E podium when the first race of Montreal’s double-header finale took place on Saturday, but dropped down to tenth on the final laps after a late brush with the wall.
On Formula E’s first-ever visit to Canada, Rosenqvist was immediately on frontrunning pace, making it through to the top five Super Pole cut in qualifying and lining up third on the grid for the 35-lap race.
The Mahindra Racing Swede maintained third place throughout the opening stint, sandwiched between Techeetah pair Stéphane Sarrazin and Jean-Eric Vergne, but lost one spot to the latter in the pit stops and rejoined in fourth.
A late safety car period then ensured a dramatic conclusion with the field bunched up, and at the restart, Rosenqvist put Sarrazin – who’d previously been passed by team-mate Vergne – under big pressure for the final podium position.
With just five laps to go, however, Rosenqvist glanced one of the Montreal street track’s many unforgiving barriers, damaging his suspension and making him easy pray for his most immediate pursuers.
Despite being forced to nurse his Mahindra Racing M3Electro across the line, Rosenqvist clung on to tenth place, salvaging the final point on offer as the battle over third in the Formula E standings intensified further still.
With just one final race to go in the all-electric series, Rosenqvist has now dropped behind Britain’s Sam Bird to fourth in the standings – but with just three points separating the duo ahead of Sunday’s all-important finale, drama is set to be guaranteed in the brawl for bronze.
Also in contention for the position are Vergne, Nicolas Prost (FRA) and Nick Heidfeld (GER).
“It was looking good for a long time today, but unfortunately I made a small but costly mistake and just touched the wall a little bit,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “It cost us a lot of points and I’m sorry. I’m not entirely sure what happened – it did feel strange – but I think I was probably a little too close to Sarrazin and lost a bit of downforce. The rear axle took a big hit and I’m glad to have at least saved one point. It’s going to be a massive fight with Sam and the others over P3 tomorrow, but my plan is to get it back. That’s what I will be aiming for and it means I have a very clear target.”
With one race still to go, Felix Rosenqvist is now confirmed as the 2016-17 FIA Formula E Championship rookie of the season.
Sunday’s final leg of the Montreal ePrix will also see the Formula E title race being settled.
RESULTS (top five)
FIA Formula E Championship
Montreal ePrix, Canada (Race 1)
1: Lucas di Grassi (BRA), 35 laps
2: Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA), +0.350s
3: Stéphane Sarrazin (FRA), +7.869s
4: Sébastien Buemi (SUI), +8.256s
5: Daniel Abt (GER), +8.592s
—
10: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), +16.764s
View complete results
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)
FIA Formula E Championship
After 11/12 races
1: Lucas di Grassi (BRA), 175 p.
2: Sébastien Buemi (SUI), 169 p.
3: Sam Bird (GBR), 108 p.
4: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), 105 p.
5: Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA), 92 p.
View complete standings
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