While the team is competing in its second season in the Formula E championship, McLaren scored its first success on Saturday at the São Paulo circuit, thanks to Sam Bird. Arriving in the off-season from Jaguar who left him free, the 37-year-old Briton was all the happier on arrival as he defeated his former teammate, Mitch Evans, with a daring attack, from the outside, two turns from the finish. “I wasn’t going to not go, you know that,” joked with his team the one who now has twelve victories in Formula E. Oliver Rowland (Nissan) completed the podium, his second in a row, after a superb comeback in the second part race.
For their part, DS-Penske did not manage to do well despite starting in 2nd and 3rd positions. They managed the two safety car exits in the first part of the race less well than their opponents. Jean-Éric Vergne took 7th place and his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne eighth. The Frenchman, double world champion in the discipline, nevertheless achieved a rather positive operation by getting into the points for the fourth time in four races this season since the championship leader arriving in Brazil, Nick Cassidy, was forced to retire. abandonment mid-race, causing the second safety car to exit.
The New Zealander from Jaguar reportedly saw a piece of front wing lodge under his wheels, depriving him of direction and sending him into the wall. He still remains at the top of the Championship with 57 points ahead of Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche), pole-sitter and fourth on Saturday. Evans is now tied for third with Vergne at 39 points. The defending champion Jake Dennis (Andretti) has 38 and the winner of the day, Bird, 37. No additional points for Sacha Fenestraz (Nissan) who takes 11th place and Norman Nato (Andretti), 18th after being caught in a collision. The next race will take place on March 30 with a grand premiere in the streets of Tokyo.
