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It was an incredible finish to Formula E’s second visit to São Paulo, as NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird went for a brave and ambitious move on former teammate Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) on the final lap to claim his 12th career victory.
Despite Bird being given warnings by his team about the temperature of his car on the final few laps, the 37-year-old saw a gap and went for it to claim the team’s first victory since they joined the all-electric championship at the start of the GEN3 era. It was his first win since New York in 2021, and brought an end to his 37 race winless streak.
“What a race that was, that was great,” Bird exclaimed after the race. “It means so much for everybody at NEOM McLaren. I think everybody can now see the progress that is slowly happening.”
As well as Bird, Nissan’s Oliver Rowland jumped from fifth to third on the final corner to claim his second consecutive podium finish. The Yorkshireman started 11th but managed to play the game perfectly to work his way up the grid. It means that it was a double-podium for the Nissan powertrains, the first time this has happened in their Formula E history.
“I mean, a double podium for Nissan. They haven't done that in years and years, so I'm delighted for that group,” Bird added. “Also for my guys at NEOM McLaren. You know, podiums have been sparse. I hope that this opens the floodgates a little bit.
“I had to target the beginning of the year to get a couple of podiums. I didn't expect to win. It was a great race between me and Mitch, my old teammate, it was really fair.”
Rene Rast got the first podium for the team in Diriyah last season, but since then they managed two Julius Baer Pole Positions with Jake Hughes.
“I said on the radio “I think Mitch is struggling more than me with the temperatures”. I was told to cool the car, then I saw the lift points and I thought ‘look, it's now or never, I've got to go’. He defended the inside and gave me just enough room on the outside to have some kind of move. I don't know how close it was to the wall, but it was fair racing and got it done.”
Bird is now the second-oldest Formula E race winner at 37 years and 67 days – behind ABT CUPRA’s Lucas di Grassi – with the Brit claiming “there's still life in the old dog yet, but I think I have used all my talent up there.”
Joining Bird on the podium was Stephen Lane, his Race Engineer, and someone that has worked with him since the DS Virgin and Envision Racing days. Joking on the radio, Bird told Lane that it was his turn next to bleach his hair, after Bird debuted his new blonde locks in Diriyah in January.