Jean-Eric Vergne, a two-time Formula E champion, meticulously ended a nearly two-year victory drought with a masterful performance at the inaugural Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix. The highly anticipated first Formula E race on the vibrant streets of Hyderabad, India, delivered an electrifying spectacle, characterized by fierce on-track battles, strategic gambles, and unexpected twists that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last lap.
The DS Penske driver, known for his cunning race craft and exceptional energy management, started the race from the front row of the grid. He lined up alongside pole-sitter Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing, setting the stage for what promised to be an enthralling contest between two of the championship’s most formidable contenders. However, for Evans, the dream of a home-soil victory quickly unraveled into a frustratingly brief and ultimately disappointing affair.
Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix: A Thrilling Inaugural Street Race
The Hyderabad Street Circuit, a new addition to the Formula E calendar, proved to be a challenging yet exhilarating venue. Its tight corners and narrow sections, particularly the notorious Turn 3 hairpin, were identified as potential flashpoints for action and drama even before the race began. The circuit’s layout demanded pinpoint accuracy and bravery from the drivers, setting the stage for an unpredictable race day that lived up to all expectations.
Race Start and Early Drama: Navigating the Hyderabad Gauntlet
As the lights went out, Evans launched brilliantly, immediately moving across the track to vehemently defend his lead and deny Vergne any opportunity to lunge down the inside into the crucial Turn 3. The initial scramble saw the top five drivers—Evans, Vergne, Sébastien Buemi, Sacha Fenestraz, and Maximilian Günther—maintain their grid positions, carefully navigating the opening sequence of corners. However, the midfield was already alight with action.
Further back, Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy showcased his exceptional skill with a superb overtake on Sam Bird for sixth position. The jostling didn’t stop there. Moments later, Edoardo Mortara, in his Maserati MSG Racing machine, misjudged his own attack on Bird, leading to contact with Cassidy. While Cassidy’s Envision car remarkably continued without significant damage, Mortara bore the brunt of the incident, dropping back through the field with a damaged front wing, signaling an early end to his hopes for points.
Strategic Shifts and the Jaguar Calamity
The race’s first decisive strategic moment arrived on lap seven. Race leader Mitch Evans opted to activate his two-minute Attack Mode by taking the wide line through Turn 3. This momentary loss of track position was a calculated risk, but it played perfectly into the hands of his rivals. In a swift and opportunistic move, third-placed Sébastien Buemi masterfully dived down the inside of Vergne, snatching both second place and, crucially, the lead as Evans navigated the Attack Mode activation zone.
A visibly frustrated Evans, now with higher power, found himself behind Buemi, Vergne, and Fenestraz. Although his boosted power allowed him to reclaim a position from Nissan’s Fenestraz within a lap, both Buemi and Vergne successfully maintained their newly gained track positions after they subsequently activated their own Attack Modes, solidifying their advantage over the erstwhile leader.
However, Evans’ already darkening mood plunged further on lap 13, in an incident that dramatically altered the entire complexion of the race and sent shockwaves through the Jaguar garage. In an ill-judged lunge for position at Turn 3, Sam Bird, Evans’ own Jaguar teammate, overshot his braking point. He sailed past Fenestraz and, in a moment of sheer disaster, collided heavily with Evans. The pole-winner’s car was severely damaged, forcing him to limp back to the pits and retire from the race – a cruel blow to his championship aspirations. Both Bird and Fenestraz were also badly delayed, as was Maximilian Günther, who was unfortunately passing through the Attack Mode loop precisely when the incident occurred, further highlighting the chaos.
Mid-Race Reordering and Safety Car Interruption
The immediate beneficiary of this multi-car incident was Nick Cassidy, who capitalised brilliantly to leap into third place. He was closely followed by Rene Rast of McLaren and Avalanche Andretti’s Jake Dennis. Despite the significant disruption to the running order and the visible damage to several cars, all involved vehicles were able to move away from the scene under their own power, allowing the race to continue uninterrupted by a Safety Car, a testament to Formula E’s robust car design.
As the race approached its halfway point, Vergne demonstrated his experience by executing a well-timed and successful attack on Buemi to seize the lead. Buemi then peeled off to activate his second Attack Mode, which briefly promoted his teammate Nick Cassidy to second place, setting up what would become a thrilling crescendo to the race.
The intense pace briefly stabilised until disaster struck for Jake Hughes. The McLaren driver, who had secured pole position just two weeks prior in Diriyah but started from the back row in Hyderabad after a difficult qualifying, speared his car into the barrier on the inside approaching Turn 4. This incident brought out the Safety Car, ending a challenging weekend for Hughes and extending the race distance by one lap, bringing the total to 33 laps.
Under the Safety Car, Vergne continued to lead the pack, but the strategic implications were significant. Crucially, Nick Cassidy, right behind Vergne, had managed to conserve an additional 3% of energy, giving him a distinct advantage for the impending sprint to the chequered flag once the Safety Car exited the track. Behind them, Jake Dennis held a commendable fourth position, having impressively climbed seven places from his starting grid slot. As the second-placed driver in the championship arriving in India, Dennis was well on course to significantly close the six-point gap to championship leader Pascal Wehrlein.
Championship Hopes Dashed: Rast and Dennis Collision
However, Dennis’s hopes of a strong points haul were brutally dashed soon after the Safety Car restart. In a chaotic sequence at Turn 3, Rene Rast’s McLaren made heavy contact with the rear of Dennis’s Andretti, wrecking both their races and forcing them to retire. This devastating collision was a bitter pill for Dennis to swallow, especially as championship leader Pascal Wehrlein was one of the drivers who directly benefited from the incident, moving further up the final finishing order and extending his lead.
A Masterclass in Defense: Vergne Denies Cassidy
In the tense final laps, Jean-Eric Vergne found himself under immense and relentless pressure from Nick Cassidy. The Envision driver, armed with his energy advantage, repeatedly probed Vergne’s defenses, searching for even the slightest opening. However, Vergne, showcasing the grit and defensive prowess of a true champion, steadfastly parked his DS Penske on the inside line approaching the critical Turn 3 hairpin. This decisive tactic consistently denied Cassidy his best chance to make a pass, forcing the Envision driver to explore other options around the circuit.
Despite Cassidy’s creative attempts to find a way past on different sections of the challenging street circuit, Vergne’s defense remained impenetrable. In a breathtaking finish, Vergne crossed the line just as his energy ticked down to zero, securing a hard-fought victory – his first in Formula E since Rome 2021. Cassidy, after a valiant effort, claimed a well-deserved second place.
Post-Race Penalties and Championship Shake-Up
The drama, however, wasn’t over. Post-race, Sébastien Buemi’s brilliant drive to what appeared to be a third-place finish was nullified when race stewards ruled that he had exceeded the permitted power limit. This infraction resulted in a post-race drive-through penalty, which translated into a significant time penalty, dropping him down to a disappointing 15th position in the final classification.
Buemi’s penalty had a profound effect on the podium and points standings. The Porsche pair of Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein were promoted to third and fourth places respectively. This outcome was particularly significant for Wehrlein, who not only salvaged valuable points but also further boosted his championship lead after a race where his closest rival, Dennis, had been forced to retire. Sergio Sette Camara put in an outstanding performance, gaining an impressive 10 places to finish ahead of Oliver Rowland, who had earlier lost a position when he was squeezed into a barrier while battling with Buemi.
The remaining points-scoring positions were filled by Norman Nato, Stoffel Vandoorne, Andre Lotterer, and Edoardo Mortara, who managed to recover to score a single point despite his early incident. As the chequered flag fell, race control confirmed that multiple drivers remained under investigation for potential track limits breaches, hinting at further post-race scrutiny.
Following this action-packed Hyderabad E-Prix, Pascal Wehrlein solidified his position at the top of the Drivers’ Championship, leading with 80 points. Jake Dennis, despite his unfortunate retirement, held onto second place with 62 points, setting the stage for an intense championship battle in the upcoming rounds. Jean-Eric Vergne’s triumphant return to the top step of the podium in Hyderabad injected fresh energy into his championship campaign, proving that the two-time champion is very much back in contention.
Become a RaceFans Supporter
RaceFans is run thanks in part to the generous support of its readers. By contributing £1 per month or £12 per year (or the same in whichever currency you use) you can help cover the costs of creating, hosting and developing RaceFans today and in the future.
Become a RaceFans Supporter today and browse the site ad-free. Sign up or find out more via the links below:
- Become a RaceFans Supporter
- RaceFans Supporter FAQ
Formula E News and Updates
- McLaren to quit Formula E at end of season
- Wehrlein beats Jaguar pair to title in dramatic Formula E finale
- Wehrlein’s London win sets up thrilling three-way title showdown in finale
- Da Costa takes hat-trick of wins in chaotic second Portland race
- Da Costa inherits Portland win from Evans after Cassidy spins lead away
Browse all Formula E articles