Drama unfolded during Formula E’s return to Sanya for Round 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
Envision Racing endured a frustrating return to Sanya as a promising qualifying performance failed to translate into points during a chaotic Round 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Both Sébastien Buemi and Joel Eriksson secured top 10 starting positions and looked well placed to challenge inside the points throughout the race.
However, a combination of strategic disruption, a red flag and multiple race interruptions ultimately derailed the team’s afternoon. Despite showing competitive pace in qualifying, neither driver was able to capitalise, leaving Sanya without reward ahead of the next stop on the Formula E calendar.
QUALIFYING
The Envision Racing duo of Buemi and Eriksson both demonstrated strong pace during the extremely hot qualifying session – with track temperatures over 40 degrees and humidity 70%.
First up on track was the #16 of Buemi in Group A who set a fast-opening push lap which put him up in P2 provisionally. Ultimately, the Swiss driver narrowly missed out on a spot in the duels, with hot tyre temperatures not allowing for improvement on his final push lap. P5 was the conclusion of the session – 0.01 seconds away from progressing.
A similar story for team-mate Eriksson in Group B, who also had a solid first attempt, but was then shuffled down to P5 – where the Swedish driver ended the session. With Andretti Formula E’s Jake Dennis making it through the group and taking pole position, this put Group B drivers ahead, and enabled Eriksson a P8 start with Buemi just behind in P9.
THE RACE
A clean start was had for both Envision Racing drivers, with Buemi showing his intentions from the get-go, moving forward to P7, with Eriksson slotting into P13. With an incredibly narrow circuit, there were plenty of tense moments during the opening laps with cars racing wheel to wheel.
On Lap 14, Buemi took the first of his two Attack Mode activations, with four minutes of 350kw power, followed two laps later by Eriksson opting for Attack Mode as well. The duo gained places to keep themselves in the front pack.
Shortly after, Buemi’s side of the garage opted to take the second Attack Mode, however disaster struck when the Red Flag was brought out due to a multi-car pile up whilst the Swiss driver was working his way through the field.
This meant the remaining Attack Mode was no longer usable and hampered his chances of making an impact.
On the restart Eriksson lined up P4, with Buemi P9 – but with seventeen cars, including Eriksson, left to take Attack Mode, it left Buemi with not much he could do. He had a good start up to P8, with Eriksson slotting down to P10, before a Full Course Yellow for a broken down Nissan of Norman Nato.
Once the lights went green again, Eriksson took his final Attack Mode and the Swede exchanged places with his team-mate. Unfortunately, there wasn’t the pace to progress any higher and he finished in P12 with Buemi just behind in P13.
