Mitch Evans wins third Rome E-Prix after high-speed crash pauses race
Mitch Evans won his third successive Rome E-Prix after a high-speed crash led the race to be red-flagged.
Mitch Evans celebrates after taking his third successive Rome E-Prix victory. (FIA Formula E)
The Kiwi won both legs of the Rome double-header last year and was in the box seat for race one of the 2023 event after besting teammate Sam Bird in the final duel.
The pair held a steady lead in the early stages, until Bird spun on the rear straight after activating attack mode, triggering a violent multi-car accident.
Sacha Fenestraz led after the restart, but Evans managed his energy usage and cycled back to the lead to take yet another victory in Rome, ahead of countryman Nick Cassidy and Maserati driver Maximilian Günther.
“It was almost two races that we had today," said Evans.
"First of all it was good to see everyone was fine after that shunt, it was pretty big and obviously Sam had a pretty scary moment, so good to see everyone is fine."
"After that I was a little bit down on energy compared to Nick [Cassidy] and Jake [Dennis], so I had to try and equalise that, the energy targets dropped a lot after the safety car, so it became much more of an energy race than we were expecting.
"But I managed it well, and the team helped guide me through like always, and then leave the rest for me."
Mitch Evans and Sam Bird lead the Formula E field around the streets of Rome. (LAT Images / FIA Formula E)
Evans and Bird were inseparable from the race start, with Bird into the lead as the Kiwi tucked under his rear wing to conserve energy.
The Briton had just activated his attack mode on lap nine and dropped down through the lead pack, but spun after losing traction over the bump at turn six, losing control in a high-speed section of track and unsighted by the following field.
He was clipped at by multiple cars before Edoardo Mortara slammed into his Jaguar TCS Racing car at high speed.
The violent collision between Sam Bird and Edoardo Mortara brought out the red flag. (Stan Sport)
Sacha Fenestraz led the field at the restart but lacked the pace to keep up with the leaders, passed by Jake Dennis and soon falling behind Kiwis Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy.
Dennis took attack mode earlier than the chasing pair and the Avalanche Andretti driver was unable to defend as the final laps closed in.
Evans confidently held the lead but had time in attack mode remaining, missing the activation zone and losing ground to Cassidy, one "little scare" on the path to victory.
"I missed it at the last loop, I was going through super slow and I still missed it!" said Evans.
"I need to practice that tomorrow."
The Jaguar driver made the loop on the next attempt and held off Cassidy to take victory.
Cassidy moves into the lead of the Drivers' standings on 171 points, five clear of previous leader Jake Dennis.
Evans moves up third after a thrilling second half to his season, now just 20 points behind Cassidy.
"A huge result today, maximum points, which was what I needed," said Evans.
"Only a small dent into Nick's lead, but its better than nothing."
The FIA Formula E field returns on Sunday for the second half of the Rome weekend, with qualifying at 6.30pm before the E-Prix at 10.30pm.
2023 FIA Formula E World Championship - Round 13 Rome E-Prix I
- Mitch Evans (NZ)
- Nick Cassidy (NZ)
- Maximilian Gunther
- Jake Dennis
- Jean-Eric Vergne
- Nico Muller
- Norman Nato
- Sergio Sette Camara
- Pascal Wehrlein
- Sacha Fenestraz
- Stoffel Vandoorne
- Roberto Merhi
- Dan Ticktum
- Rene Rast - DNF
- Sam Bird - DNF
- Sebastien Buemi - DNF
- Antonio Felix da Costa - DNF
- Edoardo Mortara - DNF
- Lucas Di Grassi - DNF
- Robin Frijns - DNF
- Andre Lotterer - DNF
Jake Hughes did not start after crashing in qualifying.
