SHANGHAI — Lucas di Grassi secured victory on the final lap in an enthralling Shanghai E-Prix Round 13; a first for the Lola Yamaha ABT outfit in its current guise.
Drying conditions favored the brave as those that gambled with the setup on their cars were able to slice through the field to the podium, and none profited more than the ultra-experienced Brazilian who had started the race in 18th position.
Joel Eriksson (Envision Racing) had led the pack away from a late caution with Jean-Eric Vergne (Citroen Racing) and di Grassi in close company – the trio all up 16 spots from the start at this stage. Crucially, that Full Course Yellow had neutralized Eriksson and Vergne’s ATTACK MODE activations, with di Grassi’s still in-hand.
The 2016/17 champion duly used his remaining 50kW, all-wheel drive boost once the FCY ended to make up ground on the pair ahead, passing Eriksson at the hairpin on the penultimate lap as Vergne fought through to the lead – before dispatching the Citroen driver half a lap later at Turn 1, on the final lap, for the win.
That was a first trip to the top step of the podium since 2022 for di Grassi, who also won the very first Formula E race, also here in China back in 2014. He remains Formula E’s oldest race winner at now 41 years 328 days old and he sets a new record as the series’ oldest podium finisher.
Vergne came home second in the end with Eriksson following for his best finish yet, and a maiden podium. Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein had led early on but could managed only fourth at the flag – plenty for the standings lead, though, as prior Drivers’ World Championship pacesetter Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) failing to make the race start due to a technical issue with his car.
Sebastien Buemi rounded fifth for Envision Racing with polesitter Felipe Drugovich (Andretti) winding up sixth.
All that saw Wehrlein leave China atop the standings, overturning Evans’ pre-weekend 19-point lead to head the Kiwi by nine. Jaguar TCS Racing head Porsche in the Teams 243 points to 237. Porsche lead Jaguar in the Manufacturers’ – 384 plays 334.
