Formula E: Sam Bird dominates 2nd half of NY doubleheader
After picking up pole position for Round 11 of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in New York City, Sam Bird bounced back for a dominant win around the challenging Brooklyn street circuit, repaying Jaguar Racing’s efforts from a difficult Saturday that saw the team rebuild his car.
The win puts Bird atop of the Drivers’ standings with 81 points as the all-electric racing series heads to his home race in London. However, on the other side of the Jaguar garage, the team were left ruing a potential one-two finish after Evans suffered severe damage to his car whilst trying to defend second position.
Evans misfortune lead to second podium for Envision Virgin Racing’s Nick Cassidy, the Kiwi rounding out a solid weekend in New York City after finishing third on Saturday.
WHAT A START!
New York City, you do not disappoint. Round 11 is on ⚡️
Click here for live updates 👉 https://t.co/3p66k7GK3d
🇺🇸 2021 ABB #NYCEPrix #DriversOfProgress @ABBgroupnews pic.twitter.com/EaFSuzpMaF
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 11, 2021
On the final step of the podium was DS TECHEETAH’s Antonio Felix da Costa. The reigning champion stealthily making his way up from seventh on the grid to secure vital points for his title defense as the series heads towards the final four races of the season.
Bird crossed the line with a comfortable four-second lead, jubilantly singing “it’s coming home” and congratulating the team after bouncing back from a difficult race on Saturday.
With his second win for 2020/21, Bird heads to his home race in London in the lead of the Drivers’ standings.
Behind Bird it was another podium in New York City for Cassidy, topping off a competitive weekend for the rookie. On the final step of the podium was Da Costa claiming some vital points for his championship defense, moving up to second in the standings after picking up third and the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap.
Next up it is London’s calling for the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the Heineken London E-Prix Rounds 12 and 13 in two weeks on July 24 and 25.
Quotes
Sam Bird
“You’re never giving up, always pushing with the team, always believing in yourself, believing in the equipment underneath here, and just executing the plan. And we did that. Just absolutely perfect today. So proud of everybody.”
NICK CASSIDY (NZL)
“The team has been working incredibly hard all year, in the factory and at the track. The hours they put in are second to none. In this championship, it’s just really tough and I’ve had the luxury of being in group 3, group 4. Under no illusions, I’m just happy how things are coming together and the work we are doing there”
ANTONIO FELIX DA COSTA (POR)
“I’m really happy that we put in the hours of work last night before going home. The guys, all the engineers and mechanics made sure we were a little bit better today. You know, we qualified 7th, the car was amazing and we were able to come through the field. I felt like I was really strong but as soon as I got super close to the car in front, I struggled a little bit with energy”
Race Results
Sam Bird | Jaguar Racing | 46:15:909 |
Nick Cassidy | Envision Virgin Racing | +4.167s |
Antonio Felix da Costa | DS TECHEETAH | +4.840s |
Pascal Wehrlein | TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team | +7.154s |
Andre Lotterer | TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team | +7.762s |
Alexander Sims | Mahindra Racing | +16.286s |
Norman Nato | ROKiT Venturi Racing | +24.983s |
Robin Frijns | Envision Virgin Racing | +25.084s |
Alex Lynn | Mahindra Racing | +25.405s |
Maximilian Guenther | BMW i Andretti Motorsport | +26.009s |
Sergio Sette Camara | DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT | +26.341s |
Stoffel Vandoorne | Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team | +30.781s |
Mitch Evans | Jaguar Racing | +30.957s |
Lucas di Grassi | Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler | +31.970s |
Sebastien Buemi | Nissan e.dams | +32.985s |
Jake Dennis | BMW i Andretti Motorsport | +35.692s |
Edoardo Mortara | ROKiT Venturi Racing | +35.924s |
Nyck de Vries | Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team | +36.339s |
Oliver Rowland | Nissan e.dams | +51.384s |
Rene Rast | Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler | +59.694s |
Tom Blomqvist | NIO 333 FE Team | +1.05.327s |
Joel Eriksson | DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT | +1.07.701s |
Oliver Turvey | NIO 333 FE Team | 29 Laps |
Nyck de Vries | Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team | 0 Laps |
Driver Standings
Sam Bird | Jaguar Racing | 81 |
António Félix da Costa | DS TECHEETAH | 76 |
Robin Frijns | Envision Virgin Racing | 76 |
Edoardo Mortara | ROKiT Venturi Racing | 72 |
Nick Cassidy | Envision Virgin Racing | 70 |
Jean-Éric Vergne | DS TECHEETAH | 68 |
René Rast | Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler | 61 |
Mitch Evans | Jaguar Racing | 60 |
Pascal Wehrlein | TAG Heuer Porsche | 60 |
Nyck de Vries | Mercedes-EQ | 59 |
Oliver Rowland | Nissan e.dams | 59 |
Lucas di Grassi | Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler | 54 |
Stoffel Vandoorne | Mercedes-EQ | 54 |
Maximilian Günther | BMW i Andretti Motorsport | 54 |
Jake Dennis | BMW i Andretti Motorsport | 54 |
Alexander Sims | Mahindra Racing | 44 |
Alexander Lynn | Mahindra Racing | 34 |
André Lotterer | TAG Heuer Porsche | 32 |
Nico Müller | DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT | 30 |
Sébastien Buemi | Nissan e.dams | 20 |
Norman Nato | ROKiT Venturi Racing | 17 |
Oliver Turvey | NIO 333 FE Team | 13 |
Sérgio Sette Câmara | DRAGON / PESNKE AUTOSPORT | 12 |
Tom Blomqvist | NIO 333 FE Team | 5 |
Joel Eriksson | DRAGON / PESNKE AUTOSPORT |
Team Standings
Envision Virgin Racing | 146 |
DS TECHEETAH | 144 |
Jaguar Racing | 141 |
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler | 115 |
Mercedes-EQ | 113 |
BMW i Andretti Motorsport | 108 |
TAG Heuer Porsche | 92 |
ROKiT Venturi Racing | 89 |
Nissan e.dams | 79 |
Mahindra Racing | 78 |
DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT | 42 |
NIO 333 FE TEAM | 18 |