Post Berlin win, Sebastien Buemi cuts di Grassi’s lead to 1 point

“I’m very happy, I started eighth, it was a very tough race,” he said, adding that “Everything against me, including Jean-Eric Vergne on the in-lap and the safety car, but we managed to pass Prost, who made it difficult to overtake but we managed to do another podium and stay in the lead by one point. It couldn’t be closer than that going into London. Now everything is open. London, and London weather, will decide how the championship goes.”

Prost held on to fourth to help Renault e.dams extend its lead in the teams’ championship. Vergne damaged his front wing on the chicane, requiring it to be changed, which dropped him to fifth. After a poor qualifying, Andretti’s Robin Frijns drove a great race to fight his way into sixth place. Nick Heidfeld started at the back after his Mahindra Racing entry had its qualifying times removed for incorrect tyre pressures. Like Frijns he charged forward, collecting seventh place in the process. Mike Conway recorded his best Formula E result to date for Venturi, while Simona de Silvestro was in the points again for Andretti in ninth. Despite being forced to start from the pitlane due to an electrical problem, Stephane Sarrazin maintained his record of scoring points at every race by taking 10th for Venturi.

Mahindra’s Bruno Senna, who lost his best-ever qualifying position of fourth for a similar tyre pressure infringement to Heidfeld’s, bagged the two bonus points for the Visa Fastest Lap. The sell-out race was deemed a huge success, especially given the incredible short period in which it was arranged.

Berlin Senator Cornelia Yzer said: “The FIA Formula E Championship electrified and won Berlin over with an acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in three seconds. The race in the heart of the city was a spectacular event that not just excited the thousands of fans on Karl-Marx-Allee, but it also thrilled the millions of spectators in front of the TV screens all over the world.”

The championship concludes in London on July 2 and 3.

2016 BMW I BERLIN EPRIX (RD 8) - RACE RESULTS

1. Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams, 53:46.086s (25)

2. Daniel Abt, Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport, +1.767s (18)

3. Lucas di Grassi, Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport, +2.381s (15)

4. Nico Prost, Renault e.dams, +3.328s (12)

5. Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Virgin Racing, +4.927s (13)

6. Robin Frijns, Andretti Formula E, +6.501s (8)

7. Nick Heidfeld, Mahindra Racing, +7.700s (6)

8. Mike Conway, Venturi, +8.305s (4)

9. Simona de Silvestro, Andretti Formula E, +12.473s (2)

10. Stephane Sarrazin, Venturi, +13.241s (1)

11. Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing, +1 lap

12. Oliver Turvey, NEXTEV TCR, +1 lap

13. Nelson Piquet Jr, NEXTEV TCR, +1 lap

14. Ma Qing Hua, Team Aguri, +1 lap

15. Bruno Senna, Mahindra Racing, +2 laps

16. Jerome D’Ambrosio, Dragon Racing, +3 laps

17. Rene Rast, Team Aguri, DNF

18. Loic Duval, Dragon Racing, DNF

DRIVER STANDINGS

Lucas di Grassi, Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport - 141

Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams - 140

Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing - 82

Jerome D’Ambrosio, Dragon Racing - 64

Nico Prost, Renault e.dams - 62

Stephane Sarrazin, Venturi – 59

Source: FIA Formula E