The green light was given to the drivers for the second time in Shanghai, marking Round 13 of the Formula E Championship.
An Unusual Start
Due to the wet weather conditions, the race began under a safety car. Lap 4 concludes the safety car stint, and Felipe Drugovich sets the pace for the standing start. A great start off the line kept Drugovich in P1, defending his position from Taylor Barnard.
Early attack modes were taken by the drivers, a strategic call during the wet. Barnard used his attack mode to his advantage. With his tyre temperature in a good place, he takes the lead from Drugovich.
Battle of the Porsche Powertrains
Attack mode proved successful for the Porsche team, with Pascal Wehrlein taking the lead. Following closely behind, his teammate, Nico Müller, plays defence against the Andrettis.
The battle of the Porsche powertrains was interrupted when António Félix da Costa took his attack mode. Storming through the grid, he wedges himself behind the Porsches, closing the gap in every corner.
The Battle for the Lead
Porsche remained strong up until the Envision of Sébastien Buemi challenged him for the lead. With both Buemi and Joel Eriksson catching the Porsches, a strategy call by Porsche was triggered. Muller takes his attack mode. However, by Lap 21, Buemi and Eriksson pulled the move and overtook Muller. A chance for Eriksson to apply pressure on Wehrlein, and soon he took the lead.
Jean-Éric Vergne challenges Wehrlein for P2, soon overtaking him. Lucas Di Grassi joins in on the action and is rewarded with P3.
Maloney’s Yellow Flag
A technical failure causes Zane Maloney to retire his car. With damage to his right rear suspension, the call for a full course yellow poses a problem for the race leader, Eriksson. His attack mode was cut short, with Vergne and Di Grassi following closely behind.
The green flag is shown, and Di Grassi took his attack mode. A three-way battle during Lap 27 showed Eriksson falling back to P3 with Vergne taking the lead and Di Grassi closely behind. Di Grassi attacks for the race lead and is successful, leading in the Lola Yamaha. An intense final lap battle between Di Grassi and Vergne concludes the race.
Race Results
For the first time with Lola Yamaha, Di Grassi wins the Shanghai E-prix. Vergne returns to the podium and takes P2, and for the first time in the Envision, Eriksson sits on the podium in P3.