Formula E | London E-Prix | Race 1 | Cassidy controls race to win - Motorsport

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Nick Cassidy wins the first Formula E race of the London E-Prix this weekend, ahead of Nyck de Vries and Pascal Wehrlein after an exciting 37 laps including the pit boost!

Race start: Safety car right to the start

The five red lights out, away we go! And we got pure chaos as the drivers go outside. Into Turn 1 and 2, three drivers went through with a lot of contact. Günther was involved but continued, as he has been pushed into the outside wall of Turn 5 by Mortara who didn’t receive a penalty.

The DS Penske driver had suspension damage and held up a few cars who tried to overtake other cars on the outside of Turn 7. Safety Car deployed. Hughes, who was also held up had to retire in the pit lane due to damage to his car. Barnard reported he would have no grip, asking if he has a puncture.

As the third lap came to an end, the safety car has come in, and we are back to racing. With 6 laps completed, no one took attack mode yet. Wehrlein is told that Evans is around 2 seconds off the average pace, probably to save energy and keep the field together, before the pit boost.

The energy reveal showed that the drivers were quite even. With Evans keeping the field on this narrow track together, not much is happening, not even overtakes. After 12 laps, still no one is on attack mode.

Quiet race and first pit boost stops

Mahindra told de Vries that the pit window would open soon. So far is’s a quiet race since the safety car phase. Meanwhile, Barnard and Buemi were given a 5-second time penalty for a safety car infraction. He is 18th, as first pit boost stops are taken, before more came in. Beckmann was first to take attack mode.

De Vries took attack mode and emerged right behind Cassidy, who slightly blocked him for Evans. Cassidy then pitted and left de Vries for Evans. The Mahindra driver overtook the Jaguar, who proceeded to battle Wehrlein, but had no chance on the straight. Evans then took his first attack mode.

Cassidy, leading all drivers who took pit boost, was able to stay ahead of the likes of Vandoorne and Bird, who all were on attack mode. A strong help for Evans. Drivers in the Top 10 then finally went into the pits, as Ticktum was very inpatient behind Vergne, even going into the rear of the DS Penske.

It’s all kicking off

Finally, also Evans and those behind him came in. De Vries stayed in front due to his second use of attack mode. He was the net leader by lap 26, while Evans lost out a lot! The pole sitter is down to P7, 8.8 seconds of the lead at this point. Cassidy instead, takes his first attack mode, being second!

And it has come as expected, Cassidy overtakes de Vries after a great battle, which included some contacts. A strong strategy by Jaguar again, pitting Cassidy early and let him drive in clean air without attack mode, as everyone else were yet to pit. Front wing damage to Da Costa, which needs to be changed… and Evans spins at Turn 16! It’s all kicking off right now, as drivers start to be aggressive.

Yellow flag, as Ticktum is in the barrier at Turn 9, after trying to overtake another car! It’s a safety car, ruining the races from a few drivers including race leader Cassidy, who had a big gap. Those on attack mode – including Wehrlein – are in trouble. Frijns still has one.

Final few laps

The safety car has come to the pits, and we are back racing, as one lap has been added. And brief yellow flag, as Müller goes straight at Turn 17. He reserved out, but he has damage to the front wing.

The final lap has started, and Cassidy cruised to the chequered flag with a 2-second gap to de Vries.