Envision Racing delivered a determined performance at the ExCeL London circuit, with Sébastien Buemi converting a P10 start into an impressive P4 finish and a valuable points haul for the team. Despite narrowly missing out on the podium, the #16 showed strong race pace and capitalised well on strategy as the field navigated a tense, closely controlled race.
The day carried a positive and resilient tone for the team, particularly through Buemi’s strong drive and opportunistic use of the Full Course Yellow period to maximise Pit Boost strategy. There was frustration on the other side of the garage, as Joel Eriksson’s promising qualifying performance did not translate into race progress following contact and vibrations that left him P14 at the flag.
With one race remaining in Season 12, Envision Racing will look to carry forward the momentum from Buemi’s successful result while giving Eriksson the chance to reset and fight back on the final day. The team heads into tomorrow encouraged by its pace and execution, with everything still to play for as the season reaches its conclusion.
QUALIFYING
Both Envision Racing drivers faced Group B for qualifying. After strong practice sessions, the team were full of confidence ahead of the timed shootout. All drivers spent several laps preparing for the push laps around the ExCel circuit.
After the initial push laps, both drivers were in the top four, with Eriksson P2 and Buemi in P4. Lap times were incredibly close, as the 10 drivers in the group begun their final lap. Eriksson solidified himself into the top four and a spot in the duels, finishing P3, with Buemi just missing out by 0.08 of a second and finishing P5.
Eriksson faced Mitch Evans from Jaguar TCS Racing in the quarter-finals, however he wasn’t able to offer an answer to the Kiwi driver and ended his qualifying session there. This would line Eriksson up on P6 on the grid and P10 for Buemi.
THE RACE
The 38-lap race started full of tension, with championship battles up for grabs. Off the line Eriksson slotted back one position to P7 with Buemi up one spot to P9.
All 20-cars then formed an orderly procession, with not much overtaking action with front-runners controlling the pace. Lap 7 brought out the first intervention, with a Full Course Yellow for a stopped Zane Maloney in the Lola Abt. This was brought in after just one lap, with Eriksson in P8 and Buemi just behind in P9 at this stage.
The race steadied out for the two Envision Racing drivers until Lap 18 where the action begun with Eriksson stopping for his Pit Boost, whilst on the track, team-mate Buemi activated his 6-minute allocation of Attack Mode. Two laps later, the Full Course Yellow was brought out for the second time, for Lucas Di Grassi making contact with the wall.
Despite this hampering Buemi’s Attack Mode, the team used the FCY period to it’s advantage, by opting to pit the Swiss driver for his Pit Boost, which contributed to him emerging in P5 after all pit stops had been taken. Eriksson meanwhile was in P15 but with an Attack Mode still left to take – which he did on Lap 35.
However, after some contact and suffering from vibrations, he was unable to make progress with the extra available power.
Meanwhile back at the front, the battle for P3 & P4 was intensifying – with Buemi rapidly catching up to Dan Ticktum and Antonio Felix da Costa. He was able to make a bold but successful move on Ticktum to secure P4 which he held to the line – narrowly missing out on a podium position.
Overall, a very strong race for the #16, climbing from P10 to P4 and a solid points haul. Eriksson crossed the line in P14 and will be aiming to bounce back for the final race day of Season 12 tomorrow.
