Formula E: Mortara returns to winning ways at Berlin E-Prix

ROKiT Venturi’s Edoardo Mortara claimed his second win of the season as he capitalised on his first ever Formula E pole position in Berlin.

As Season 8 of the all-electric motorsport series reached the halfway point, Mortara had seen his early success in the season fade away over the last few rounds, but the Swiss-Italian hit the ground running with victory in the qualifying duels, before expertly managing a tactical race to put him right back into Championship contention.

His pole position was his first in his Formula E career, a result that even surprised ROKiT Venturi team principle Jérôme d’Ambrosio. There were more surprises in qualifying, as Mahindra’s Alex Sims and DS Techeetah’s Jean-Éric Vergne setting the exact same time, down to a thousandth of a second. As Sims went first in the duels, he went through to the finals, much to the frustration of JEV.

A few hours later and the race was underway, with Mortara making a quick start off the line to lead the race as positions chopped and changed behind him. Like most Formula E races, the activation of the Attack Modes was crucial, and they were once again the story of this race.

With each driver having to take two Attack Mode’s throughout the 45 minute plus one lap race, Mortara held off before triggering his, even though every other driver in the top six places had activated theirs.

Even though he had managed to qualify in eight, current Championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne of Mercedes-EQ was working his way into the fight for a podium finish, using his Attack Mode to work his way into fourth place.

As a battle intensified throughout the latter stages of the race, Vandoorne had managed to get the better of Porsche’s André Lotterer to secure second place, but the action was far from over.

With only a few laps remaining, Vergne has pushed his way past Vandoorne and into second place thanks to his Fan Boost. With his eyes on Mortara, the Frenchman attacked the leader and had momentarily taken the lead heading into Turn 1 before Mortara, desperately defending his lead, wormed his way back up the inside to take first place back instantly.

In the melee, Vandoorne saw his opportunity and made his move for second place. Vergne was over-defensive and soon found himself looking at the back of Lotterer’s car, who had crept in front of him during all the drama.

Mortara peeled away with Vandoorne behind him, and although it looked as though he had blown his chances of a podium finish, Vergne wrestled third place back off Lotterer on the final lap to keep his hot run of form going.

With Mortara, Vandoorne and Vergne occupying the podium places, the rest of the top ten consisted of Lotterer (Porsche), Evans (Jaguar), Werhlein (Porsche), Bird (Jaguar), Da Costa (DS Techeetah), Sims (Mahindra), De Vries (Mercedes).

At the end of Round 7, Mercedes EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne keeps his place at the top of the drivers’ standings, with a narrow three point leader over Vergne. Mitch Evans, who started the race all the way back in eight, battled hard to claim a fifth placed finish, which puts him third in the Championship.

The Berlin E-Prix double-header continues on Sunday 15th May with Round 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.