.jpg)
Edoardo Mortara
Practice 3 // P6
Qualifying // DNP
Race // DNS
Championship // P4 [18 points]
Norman Nato
Practice 3 // P16
Qualifying // DNP
Race // P15
Championship // P21 [0 points]
ROKiT Venturi Racing
Championship // P5 [18 points]
After commencing Formula E’s seventh season in style one day earlier, ROKiT Venturi Racing returned to the Riyadh Street Circuit on Saturday to contest Race 2 of the 2021 Diriyah E-Prix.
A promising start to the day was overshadowed by an accident for Edoardo Mortara when, at the close of Free Practice 3, the Swiss-Italian driver was involved in a frontal collision in Turn 18 as a result of brake failure.
Conscious and talking, Edo was immediately extracted from the car and taken to hospital for precautionary assessments, in-line with FIA safety regulations, before being declared fit. With extensive damage to his car, however, Edo was ultimately unable to start the race.
As part of an investigation into Edo’s accident, all Mercedes-Benz powered vehicles were held in the pit lane during qualifying. This meant that Norman Nato was unable to contest the classification session, with the Frenchman starting the race from P23.
Over the course of the 45-minute + 1 lap affair, Norman made progress throughout and gained eight positions to take P15 when the chequered flag, alongside the red flag, was waved.
“After the highs of yesterday, today was a tough day. I’m glad that Edo is okay after his accident and I’m completely in line with the FIA’s decision to hold us in the pit lane during qualifying. Safety always comes first in motorsport. Our eyes and attention will now switch to the race in Rome this April.”
“I feel okay overall after this morning, but I would be lying if I said I was perfectly fine. I still have some pains from the crash but I’m thankful and grateful that I don’t have anything more serious. I was a passanger, and that’s a feeling I want to forget. I would like to thank the marshals and medical team for their response to my accident.”
“Firstly, I’m very happy that Edo is okay after his accident this morning. That’s the most important thing right now. Today has been tough and by starting at the back, we had an uphill battle ahead of us. My first two races in Formula E are now complete, and I’m looking forward to returning to the track in Rome in April.”
.png)
.png){kind=spacer}
