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Stoffel Vandoorne exploited an aggressive energy management strategy in today’s Tokyo E-Prix (17 May) to claim his first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship victory in almost 50 races, as Maserati MSG Racing extended its unbeaten record in the ‘Land Of The Rising Sun’.
From 14th on the grid – with starting positions determined by FP2 lap times, after qualifying was washed out in the Japanese capital – Vandoorne and Maserati opened up their Pit Boost window sooner than anybody else.
The Belgian was duly the first driver to dive into the pit-lane for the mandatory 30-second rapid recharge on lap 11, and when the red flags flew just two laps later, he suddenly found himself in the pound seats.
The reason for the stoppage was the DS Penske car of Maximilian Günther – last year’s winner in Japan, when the German had been competing for Maserati himself – which came to a halt with the red light illuminated. The Race Director had no option but to interrupt the action, and when it resumed, Vandoorne – as the lone driver to have completed Pit Boost – had a substantial advantage.
As his rivals peeled progressively into the pits, the 2021/22 champion cycled his way to the front of the field, taking the lead with ten laps remaining. A spin at Turn Two on the drying track surface was the only blot on his copybook, but with no damage done, Vandoorne continued on untroubled to take the chequered flag a shade over eight seconds clear of his closest pursuer.
His first triumph since Monaco just over three years ago has vaulted the Kortrijk native up into the top ten in the title standings, but the driver at the top of that table – Nissan Formula E Team’s Oliver Rowland – ended the day having increased his margin to 60 points, the largest-ever championship lead at the midway stage of the campaign in the all-electric single-seater series.
Rowland arrived in Tokyo 48 points ahead of TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team’s António Félix da Costa, and from pole position, the Briton looked to be on-course to tally a fourth win from eight starts in Season 11 as he pulled away to the tune of four seconds. While the red flag ultimately scuppered his victory hopes, the runner-up spoils have nonetheless bolstered Rowland’s bid for a maiden Drivers’ crown.
The championship leader found himself under pressure late on from countryman and former protégé Taylor Barnard (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team), the young Brit bouncing back from a crash in FP1 to run up at the sharp end throughout the E-Prix. Climbing the order courtesy of a bold overtake on Mahindra Racing’s Nyck de Vries and a flurry of fast laps, Barnard’s fourth podium appearance of the campaign has elevated the 20-year-old to third in the overall classification.
Envision Racing’s Sébastien Buemi – the winner two weeks ago in Monaco – placed fourth after making the most of an early Attack Mode strategy, with Dan Ticktum producing a stellar effort to secure CUPRA KIRO’s finest Formula E finish to-date in fifth.
Mahindra’s Edoardo Mortara was left to rue a late issue that dropped him out of the fight for the rostrum positions, as the Swiss star wound up sixth. Da Costa, Jean-Éric Vergne for DS Penske, Envision’s Robin Frijns and Nick Cassidy for Jaguar TCS Racing rounded out the top ten points-scorers. Having started down in 17th, defending champion Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) was only able to improve to 13th, leaving the German empty-handed.
Round nine of the season follows tomorrow (Sunday, 18 May) at 15:05 local time (08:05 CEST).
Stoffel Vandoorne, No. 2, Maserati MSG Racing said:
“Super happy that our plan actually worked! It was a very bold and aggressive strategy decision to burn a lot of energy at the beginning so we could open our pit window early. Then obviously we were the first ones to pit and we got a bit lucky with the red flag, and the field got bunched up again. After the restart, it was very difficult to bring the car home – a lot of management to do, giving comms to the team and making sure I had enough energy to make it to the flag. I knew exactly what was going on, I knew that I would inherit the lead at some point and I just had to bring it home. I was probably a little bit too safe at some points, and made a couple of mistakes that shouldn’t have happened. In the end we brought it home and I’m just super happy our plan paid off.”
Oliver Rowland, No. 23, Nissan Formula E Team said:
“We did everything we could, this is part of the game – it happens sometimes; we knew there was a risk that people would try to pit early – a bit like Nico [Mueller] in Monaco – but you obviously can’t do it from the front. There’s maybe some tweaking to do on the way we manage the pit stop stuff, but honestly from my side I felt like I got the most out of the car. I was super quick in the first half of the race, I struggled a little bit more in the last 10 laps, but I can’t complain to be honest. The fact that it was only one that got away, I’m pretty happy. Tomorrow will be different without Pit Boost, I think qualifying will be quite important and then it’ll just be about positioning yourself for the Attack Mode for the race. I haven’t even thought about tomorrow yet!”
Taylor Barnard, No. 5, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team said:
“To be honest, FP2 this morning was great – it was not expected and I’ve not really driven that much in the rain. Of course that was my first session in the wet, so to be honest the turnaround from yesterday was incredible. We didn’t really expect any racing this afternoon – the weather was really bad – so for it to dry off enough that we could race was really surprising, and to get another podium was incredible. I can’t thank the team enough – it’s nice to be back on the podium for sure.”
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