TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein became the first double winner in Season 10, when he took a whirlwind victory at the end of Sunday’s Misano E-Prix. The German, who previously won the Mexico City season opener in January, passed Oliver Rowland in the final lap when the Nissan driver ran out of energy from the lead.
In a strange set of circumstances, Rowland suffered a technical issue that gave him false information as to when the race distance was done. The problem, which came at the start of the race, meant that when Rowland crossed the start line on the first lap the car dropped a lap when it shouldn’t have done.
RACE REPORT: Last lap drama sees Wehrlein take victory in Misano
As a result, Rowland ran out of energy and Wehrlein was able to pass the stopping Nissan on his way to his sixth career victory.
“Very happy about the race today,” the Porsche driver stated after the race. “It was quite chaotic again in the beginning until the middle of the race.
“In the end, I wasn't sure if I should stay in the lead or let Rowland through. The pace he had just seemed a bit weird and too fast to try and defend. I didn't defend him hard, and was a bit surprised about his energy. I wasn't sure if the team had the correct information or not but in the end, it proved to be the right thing to do. It was a lot of managing in the end, the energy, the battery, the tires, just everything.”
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The win also makes Porsche the first team to secure two victories over the first seven rounds of the championship, after other first places for Andretti, Jaguar TCS Racing, NEOM McLaren, Maserati MSG Racing and then Nissan yesterday.
The haul of 26 points for the win and the fastest lap also places Pascal at the top of the Drivers’ World Championship standings, but he is tied with Andretti’s Jake Dennis.
“It goes quickly from zero to hero or the other way around; we know that in Formula E. I think we had the pace this weekend to win both races.
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“Unfortunately, yesterday I was a bit of a victim with my front wing and then being at the back, but today was a big redemption for us.”
The team suffered heartbreak only the day before when Season 6 Champion Antonio Felix da Costa had his win disqualified as the throttle damper spring was not found in conformity with one of three optional declared items. Although this win won't bring back the points they lost, it’s a positive end to the weekend.