Formula E's best moments in Diriyah

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Formula E's best moments in Diriyah

Ever since the inaugural race in Saudi Arabia in Season 5, Diriyah has become synonymous with the start of a new ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season. Over the years, the historic city has witnessed plenty of action.

Mortara diriyah overtake

From close contact racing and cunning overtakes, to smashes, clashes and unexpected victories. Here are the most memorable moments from Formula E's history in Diriyah. 

Championship challenger chase: Season 5, Round 1

Back in Season 5, Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) was fresh from his second title while then-BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver Antonio Felix da Costa was still two full seasons away from claiming his crown.

Despite then becoming teammates, the partnership did nothing to settle the pair's wild competitive spirit, which first bubbled up to the surface in the opening round of Season 5. With da Costa starting the race from pole, it wasn't long before the pair were at the front jostling for first and second in a frenzied fight to the finish. With Vergne launching numerous attacks, da Costa held on to take the win but an almost identical battle would rage again, two seasons later, when the pair became stablemates at TECHEETAH.

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Brit Bird brings it home for Jaguar Racing: Season 7, Round 2

Sam Bird's first win for Jaguar TCS Racing was a dream come true for both the team and the seasoned Formula E driver, as the British pairing pulled onto the top step of the podium in Saudi.

As one of the only drivers to have won a race in each season of Formula E since its inception, this marked Bird's second victory in Saudi Arabia after he placed first in the opening race of Season 6 when racing for the former Envision Virgin Racing outfit. Despite the subdued finish under a Red Flag, Bird admitted he was emotional in the car and after the race. "It was a big step for me leaving what was my family at Envision but joining a new team, they welcomed me with open arms. I'm just so happy I can give them a result."

Mercedes and Stoffel's double podium: Season 6, Rounds 1 & 2

Fresh to Formula E in Season 6, Mercedes-EQ was eager to make an impact and the performance in the opening round in Diriyah certainly didn't disappoint. ]

Behind the wheel was frontman Stoffel Vandoorne who piloted his Silver Arrow 01 to a third-place podium finish in both Rounds 1 and 2 of the double-header. Sadly, his streak of podium finishes would come to an end after Diryah, before his teammate Nyck de Vries went on to steal the show - and the season - the next year, starting his World Championship-winning campaign with a race win in Saudi's historic city. 

Edoardo Mortara's overtake: Season 7, Round 1

While there's no shortage of skilled drivers in Formula E, Maserati MSG Racing driver Edoardo Mortara's precision overtake in Saudi in Season 7 was something very special indeed.

With added pace from his ATTACK MODE, the Swiss came from behind Jaguar's Mitch Evans, passed him and slipped through an impossible gap to overtake TAG Heuer's Pascal Wehrlein.

"It was so close to disaster," said commentator and former racer Dario Franchitti at the time. After pulling off one of the finest examples of precision driving in motorsport, Mortara went on to rightfully find his place on the podium.