This was an exciting first race of the fifth electric Championship with the debut of the Gen2 (second generation) single-seaters as well as the debut of former Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Stoffel Vandoorne.

This was also the first race where we have been able to see the ‘attack mode’ system in action. A feature that offers a momentary power boost to competitors. 

A clean start

It was a clean start at the front with Da Costa, ‘Pechito‘ López and Sebastien Buemi keeping their leading positions at the Riyadh ePrix. Three minutes in, however, and Vergne was taking the third place from Lopez.

The very determined French driver would actually manage to take the lead of the race at 26 minutes to go, with Da Costa and Lotterer close behind. By that point, Buemi was back in fourth place and Lopez in fifth. Vergne’s steady pace and experience, however, was not enough to keep Da Costa and his BMW at bay.

The crash 

“Pechito”, frustrated after losing his initial advantage, was trying his hardest to come out of fourth place, and he actually did manage to climb up to second before having to retire.  

The Argentinian driver miscalculated the ‘attack mode’ zone, falling to fifth place again. In an attempt to make up for the lost positions during the next turn, he lost control and crashed against the wall. 

After the yellow flag triggered by the incident, the race resumed with just 3:19 minutes to go. A new competition started … the sprint at the Riyadh ePrix.

By then, tables had completely turned. The golden cars of Vergne and Lotterer had been given drive-through penalties for using too much energy.

It was goodbye to the hoped-for 2-1, with a defeated Frenchman rejoining the track in fifth position while his teammate Lotterer was doing so in seventh.

Da Costa inherits the lead and the victory

Da Costa inherited the lead at that crucial point and kept it right until he crossed the checkered flag at the Riyadh ePrix.

A disappointed but resolute Vergne climbed up to finish in second place. D’Ambrosio, took third after a very solid performance at the wheel of the Mahindra and Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) came in fourth before Lotterer, who was fifth.

A discreet performance from team Abt Audi with Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi, eighth and ninth respectively. Nelson Piquet, from Jaguar Racing, closed the top 10.

 The ex-F1 drivers and other news

Regarding the ex-Formula 1 debutants, Felipe Massa (Venturi) kept close to the tenth position during most of the race until a drive-through relegated him to a fourteenth place finish. Three places down came in the HWA of Stoffel Vardoorne at the Riyadh ePrix.

The former F1 drivers will apparently need some more time to adapt to the heavier, less powerful and all-around different behaviour of the electric cars.

BMW has defended its favourite status, although with some help from the golden cars’ misfortune. 

Da Costa has also benefited from the ‘fan boost’, that somewhat unfair extra power received by those who get the most votes in social networks.

This is it until the next date in the calendar, the ePrix of Marrakech on January the 12th next year.

ePrix Riad Images: Formula E & BMW.