Formula E: Edoardo Mortara broke his back in Berlin Shunt

Edoardo Mortara has a hairline fracture in his back after the 2nd Berlin Formula E race this weekend.

The Swiss-Italian entered the season finale second in the drivers’ table with a three-point deficit to Nyck de Vries, but Mortara and Evans were eliminated in a major early crash.

Evans suffered a suspected driveshaft failure and lurched forward off the line but then Mortara ran over the rear of Evans’ car, pitching the Jaguar into the air and a spin.

Mortara was taken to hospital for precautionary checks, which revealed that he suffered a microfracture to his fourth vertebra.

Although this does not require surgery, he told Autosport it will keep him out of action for six weeks.

Mortara told Autosport: “I’m not great. I’ve got a broken vertebra.

“It was a pretty big impact. I’m obviously sore. It’s not a major, major injury.

“It’s going to take me pretty much like six weeks [to recover].

“I am going to take my time anyway because that was the last race. That’s my plan.

“I’m very grateful that I don’t need an operation or have a more serious injury.”