It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Envision Racing team. Robin Frijns delivered an outstanding performance in challenging wet conditions, securing a front-row start in the shootout with the #4 car. In contrast, team-mate Sébastien Buemi faced a difficult morning, unable to participate in qualifying and handed both a grid drop and a 10-second stop-and-go penalty during the race due to enforced technical component changes.
The race brought plenty of action on the damp Tempelhof circuit, and despite his best efforts, Frijns missed out on scoring points after running at the front for the majority of the race and finished P13.
Buemi charged through from the back of the grid to bring home points, finishing in P7 after using his Attack Mode activations during the closing stages of the race.
The team go again tomorrow for the second race of the double-header which brings a new opportunity to score more points and continue to move up the championship order.
QUALIFYING
Buemi’s crew worked tirelessly all morning to change the parts on his car – which were showing signs of failure once again, however, it was not possible to be repaired in time for the start of qualifying. The Swiss driver also had to take a grid penalty regardless due to the part changes, but missed out on a chance to learn in the wet conditions, after FP3 was cancelled earlier that morning.
This left all eyes on Robin Frijns, who hit the Tempelhof circuit in Group B. The Dutchman dominated the 12-minute session, repeatedly setting fastest laps and putting himself at the top of the leader board. His lap times continued to drop, despite the rain falling harder, and he qualified top of the group. Combined with the first group, this put Frijns in P2 overall, just behind Mitch Evans by 1 tenth of a second.
THE RACE
The 39-lap race begun with an immediate Safety Car, after Jake Dennis failed to get off the line at the start. This was cleared quickly and the race got going, with Buemi serving his 10-second penalty in the opening laps.
Meanwhile, Frijns battled in the front pack, with places swapping throughout as the field took various Attack Mode activations and Pit Boost stops. He was slightly hampered from the Safety Car which was deployed on Lap 29, as he missed out on the final 15-seconds of his Attack Mode.
Once the race resumed, Frijns was held up from back-markers and suffered from the closing pack behind him taking Attack Mode and using the extra power to pass him during the final laps. It was a disappointing finish for the Dutchman, who crossed the line in P13.
Team-mate Buemi, on the other hand, was able to capitalise on his late race Attack Mode and used this wisely to climb up the order to P7. A valiant effort from starting dead last and serving a penalty.
Driver Standings (after Rd13)
- Oliver Rowland, 172pts
- Pascal Wehrlein, 122pts
- Taylor Barnard, 104pts
- Antonio Felix Da Costa, 99
- Dan Ticktum, 82pts
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10. Sebastien Buemi, 69pts
20. Robin Frijns, 17pts
Team Standings (after Rd12)
1. TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, 221pts
2. Nissan Formula E Team, 191pts
3. DS Penske, 153pts
4. Mahindra Racing, 136pts
6. NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, 135pts
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9. Envision Racing, 86pts
