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Double points as Cassidy pulls off fight-back to finish fourth after Buemi grabs record pole

22 April 2023

ENVISION RACING EMERGED FROM A DRAMATIC OPENING RACE IN BERLIN WITH A SOLID POINTS HAUL AND FRONT-RUNNING PACE  

In qualifying for the Berlin E-Prix, Envision Racing’s Sébastien Buemi made history and beat them all, scoring a record breaking 16th career pole position, more than any other driver in the history of the series.

In the race, the Swiss driver ran at the front until the final laps, being forced to settle for fourth, after losing out on a podium in a near photo finish.

For Buemi’s team-mate Nick Cassidy it was a case of what might have been. Fresh from a podium finish last time out in Brazil, the New Zealander recovered from a mid-race pit-stop to repair damage to come from last to fifth at the flag, and recover some vital championship points to ensure he sits second in the Drivers’ Championship standings ahead of the weekend’s second race. 

QUALIFYING

Both Envision Racing drivers hit the track in qualifying Group A and immediately showed strong pace. Running near the top of the times throughout the opening session, Buemi ended up second with Cassidy third, ensuring that both would make another appearance in the knock-out phase of qualifying.

After a brief pause, it was time for the duels. The first quarter final consisted of an all Envision Racing battle, with Buemi taking on Cassidy. After a hotly contested lap, it was Buemi who emerged quickest, and subsequently progressed to the semi-finals, beating Cassidy in a close battle, meaning the Kiwi racer would have to settle for a solid sixth.

In the first semi-final, Buemi took on reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne. After a tight head-to-head, the Envision Racing driver triumphed, proving to be quicker than the DS Penske driver, ensuring a front row start and his second final appearance this season.

The final saw an all-Jaguar-powered draw as Buemi took on Sam Bird. The Swiss driver immediately established his authority in the early part of his lap, surging to a second pole position of the season.

THE RACE  

On the baking hot concrete apron of Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, under Berlin’s bright blue skies, Buemi lost out to a rapid-starting Dan Ticktum, relegating the polesitter to second, as Cassidy followed his team-mate, losing one position, and dropping to seventh on the opening lap.

Buemi elected to take an early Attack Mode on lap five, dropping to fourth, as Bird cycled to the lead ahead of Jake Dennis and Ticktum. One lap later it was all change as Bird took his first Attack Mode of the afternoon, allowing Buemi to retake second place.

By lap eight, Buemi found himself in fourth, behind Vandoorne, the man he beat in qualifying. Further back, Cassidy found himself in a multi-car battle with the likes of Pascal Wehrlein and the two McLarens.

In what was shaping up to be a thrilling Berlin E-Prix, the Maserati of Edoardo Mortara briefly led on lap 12, losing out to Dennis, before a safety car was called to clear up debris from a collision between Rene Rast and Sérgio Sette Câmara. With the pace slowed, Buemi held third, the Envision Racing driver clearly adopting a waiting game in the first half of the race.

By the halfway point of the E-Prix it all started to come together for Envision Racing. Buemi found himself in the lead, whilst Cassidy made his way up from 11th to seventh, seemingly with damage.  

As Buemi lost the lead to Mitch Evans a four-car coming together, featuring early-race leader Ticktum, Vaandorne, Norman Nato and Rast, triggered a second safety car. Significantly, as the race was neutralised, Cassidy was forced to pit to deal with some damage, dropping the Kiwi to the back of the pack.

At the restart, on lap 23, Buemi quickly snatched the lead from Evans, who in turn was passed by Maximilian Günther, who then passed the leading Envision Racing machine to hit the front. It was all change two laps later as Buemi dropped to fourth, then fifth, but remained in the hunt with strong energy figures.

By lap 27 it was a Jaguar-powered top three, with Evans leading Bird and Buemi, as for the first time in the weekend’s opening race, the field started to spread out slightly. A lap later that order was shuffled as Buemi cycled to the lead once more and pulled away from Bird. Approaching the final 10 laps it was Bird’s turn to lead from Buemi as the focus on remaining energy intensified. 

As the race entered its closing laps, Buemi’s quest for the victory also intensified. The Envision Racing man started feigning to overtake leader Bird, and eventually made his move for the lead on lap 36, successfully claiming the lead ahead of the two Jaguar cars. Whilst all eyes were on Buemi, his team-mate Cassidy was driving superbly, recovering from his earlier mishap to run in ninth with vital championship points on the cards.

With three laps added to the initial 40-lap race distance it was all to play for in a four-car battle for the win. Starting lap 40, Buemi was forced to defend from Bird, and then from Evans as the Jaguars swapped places and held each other up, allowing Günther to join the fight.

Evans quickly surged into the lead, passing Buemi and placing him in the crosshairs of team-mate Bird. By the time the final lap came around, Buemi was under intense pressure from Bird, forcing the Envision Racing driver to call upon all his defensive driving experience.

Buemi’s valiant defence ended on the final lap, as Bird snatched second. In what proved to be a frustrating lap for the pole-sitter, Buemi was passed by Günther on the line to end up fourth. As Evans made it two wins in a row ahead of Bird and Günther, Cassidy capped an incredible comeback drive to end up fifth and will look to a less frantic second race of the weekend to underline his title challenge.

Drivers’ standings (after Rd 7):
1. Pascal Wehrlein, 94pts
2. Nick Cassidy, 71pts
3. Jean-Éric Vergne, 66pts
4. Mitch Evans, 64pts
5. Jake Dennis, 62pts
8. Sébastien Buemi, 57pts

Teams’ standings (after Rd 7):
1. Porsche Formula E Team, 152pts
2. Envision Racing, 128pts
3. Jaguar Racing, 126pts
4. DS Penske, 88pts
5. Avalanche Andretti, 85pts