Pascal Wehrlein strikes back with Formula E victory in Jakarta
Pascal Wehrlein took his third win of the Formula E season in Jakarta in a return to form after leading the championship earlier in the year.
Pascal Wehrlein celebrates victory in the Jakarta E-Prix. (LAT Images / Formula E)
The German driver held on to the lead of the championship after two wins and a podium in the opening three rounds of the season, despite falling off in a series of races dominated by energy management and peloton-style group racing.
Kiwis Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy have taken back-to-back wins in recent history, with Cassidy finally taking the lead of the standings from Wehrlein after the Monaco E-Prix.
Wehrlein started third and traded places with Maximilian Guenther and Jake Dennis in the opening laps as the lead trio leapfrogged through the Attack Mode activation zone and pulled away from the chasing pack.
Resolute defending from the Porsche driver pushed neutralised a late push from Dennis, with the Andretti driver having to defend from Gunther and Stoffel Vandoorne as he slowed to avoid the leader.
“It feels awesome,” said Wehrlein
“A very good race, already qualifying was much better than the previous races. Thanks a lot to the team, the car was awesome today”
“I was leading almost the whole race, so it wasn’t so easy on energy for me. I knew that the guys behind had a little bit more, and also driving in the slipstream the whole time helps. I think I defended well, the team definitely deserves it.”
“Looking forward to tomorrow now.”
Maximilian Gunther, Pascal Wehrlein, and Jake Dennis battle at the start of the Jakarta E-Prix. (Sam Bagnall / Formula E)
Cassidy maintains a narrow lead of the championship after finishing seventh, having to abort a move on Jean-Éric Vergne on lap 20 after running deep, making contact with the Frenchman but coming away without damage.
The same couldn’t be said for fellow Kiwi Mitch Evans, retiring from the race after being collected by Jaguar TCS Racing teammate Sam Bird.
McLaren rookie Jake Hughes put on a show for the crowd in Jakarta, crossing the line tenth after starting 20th and making his way through the field.
The ABB FIA Formula E championship returns for the second Jakarta E-Prix Sunday at 6.00pm (AEST).
2023 FIA Formula E World Championship - Round 9 Jakarta Race
- Pascal Wehrlein
- Jake Dennis
- Maximilian Gunther
- Stoffel Vandoorne
- Jean-Eric Vergne
- Edoardo Mortara
- Nick Cassidy (NZ)
- Antonio Felix da Costa
- Robin Frijns
- Jake Hughes
- Nico Muller
- Norman Nato
- Dan Ticktum
- Lucas Di Grassi
- Rene Rast
- David Beckmann
- Sergio Sette Camara
- Roberto Merhi
- Sacha Fenestraz
- Sebastien Buemi
- Sam Bird
- Mitch Evans (NZ) - DNF
