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In Numbers
Free Practice One // 6th
Free Practice Two // 12th
Qualifying // 12th [1:09.536, Group B]
Race // 6th
Positions Gained // +6
Fastest Lap // 1:09.480
Strategy //
Attack Mode One: Lap 14
Attack Mode Two: Lap 24
Championship // 6th [8 points]
Free Practice One // 9th
Free Practice Two // 13th
Qualifying // 8th [1:09.617, Group A]
Race // 5th
Positions Gained // +3
Fastest Lap // 1:10.117
Strategy //
Attack Mode One: Lap 14
Attack Mode Two: Lap 18
Championship // 5th [10 points]
Championship // 2nd [18 points]
In Detail
ROKiT Venturi Racing kick-started Formula E’s eighth season in style as Edoardo Mortara and Lucas di Grassi powered to a double points performance in the first part of the 2022 Diriyah E-Prix.
Ahead of the first race of the 2021/22 campaign, Edo and Lucas completed a productive practice programme in preparation for the first edition of Formula E’s new duel-based qualifying format.
Split across Groups A and B, both drivers narrowly missed out on the quarter-finals, with Lucas qualifying ninth overall while Edo lined up in 12th after crashing at the end of the second part of the session.
As a result of a grid penalty for Oliver Rowland, Lucas started from eighth on the grid but with a good getaway, passed Nick Cassidy, Robin Frijns and Maximilian Günther to ascend to fifth.
Edo, meanwhile, also made inroads by overtaking Rowland and Pascal Wehrlein on lap one to move into the top 10.
After clearing Sam Bird and duelling with André Lotterer, Lucas again challenged for a place inside the top five before the Safety Car was deployed with 34 minutes + one lap remaining which led to a five-minute time extension.
Continuing to battle with Lotterer, Lucas passed the Porsche driver in the closing stages but despite chasing Bird up until the line, secured fifth to score ten points on his ROKiT Venturi Racing debut.
Behind, Edo utilised a masterful strategy to gain six positions and overtook Envision Racing’s Cassidy on the final lap to secure sixth at the flag, netting a further eight points.
In Their Words
“Edo and Lucas delivered a strong first race today and we can be pleased with our performance. We did quite a good job in qualifying but it was in the race that our package for this season really came together. Taking fifth and sixth is a positive result for the team and it reflects all of the hard work that we have been doing over the winter. I’m extremely proud of everyone. Ahead of Race Two, we need to try to optimise our pace in qualifying but evidently, the car is good and we know that we can fight at the front. If we can qualify further up the grid, we have potential to fight for a place on the podium. Today was a great way to start the new season.”
“From my side, I had quite an eventful race and as soon as we got underway, I was in the middle of the action. At the start, I made contact with the wall which damaged my steering so the car was quite difficult to drive but fortunately, I managed to adapt well. Because of the fights, I had to make the most of everything happening around me which I think I did well and I’m very happy to take sixth after starting in 12th. We have another race tomorrow, and if we can perform better in qualifying, I think we should be in a good position to achieve more.”
“I’m very happy to score points in my first race with ROKiT Venturi Racing. We started from eighth and I managed to overtake a few cars at the start to be in a good position to score points. I tried to overtake Sam [Bird] in the final part of the race but wasted too much energy when I was fighting with him so fifth was the best we could realistically achieve. Taking home ten points is a great start and a solid first race. The car is in one piece, we made no mistakes and we were very adaptable strategically so I’m pleased. I think if we can do better in qualifying tomorrow and start inside the top five, we should be in a position to fight for a place on the podium. At this stage, it is clear that we have the performance to contend for the title – we just need to get the most out of the car and deliver consistent results.”
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