Pascal Wehrlein, a German-Mauritian driver of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, scored a double victory in the 2023 CORE Diriyah E-Prix over the weekend to take the lead in the World Championship. It was an emotional win for the 28-year-old, who once again credited his team with a monumental amount of work off-track.
Wehrlein steered his 99X Electric GEN3 car to a second win once again pipping Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team driver Jake Dennis to the line, while René Rast secured a first podium for NEOM McLaren in Formula E.
Wehrlein made things easier on himself ahead of Round 3, qualifying fifth rather than the ninth he managed a day prior. From there, he always looked a threat to those ahead. Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing had taken the lead from polesitter Jake Hughes (of NEOM McLaren) through the first corner on the opening lap, before Hughes and Rene Rast made it by the Jaguar TCS Racing driver during ATTACK MODE.
Rast then briefly took the lead through his first round of 50kW boosts before Wehrlein stepped up a gear, having bided his time behind the lead trio and managing his energy. Dennis and Jaguar TCS’s Sam Bird were making moves of their own as Wehrlein clambered into the lead. The Avalanche Andretti driver took fifth from Edoardo Mortara (Maserati MSG Racing) on Lap 21, while Bird following suit thanks to an audacious trademark manoeuvre at the final corner.
Just a lap later, pre-race standings leader Dennis sliced by Hughes for fourth and in quick succession saw off Evans and made it three on the spin by taking second from Rast – with the Jaguar of Bird matching Dennis up to take third.
Wehrlein had by then drawn out a lead and looked peerless. A late-race Safety Car could have thrown a spanner in the works but there were no such problems for the Porsche driver who stretched his legs again to win by a margin of just over a second and become only the fifth driver to take to the top step of the podium in both races of a Formula E double-header.
Sacha Fenestraz produced the best drive of his rookie season to-date with eighth for the Nissan Formula E Team, while Edoardo Mortara got points on the board with ninth – something to show for Maserati MSG Racing's tireless efforts on a testing race weekend. Dan Ticktum brought home his NIO 333 in 10th for his first points of the season – well deserved given the squad's pace over a lap in Diriyah.
It was also a day to remember for NEOM McLaren as the British team secured its first podium in Formula E with Rene Rast holding off relentless competition from Sam Bird to finish third.
Sam Bird was overjoyed to make the podium for the first time since winning in New York City in Season 7 – calling it a “mini victory” for himself and Jaguar after a tough Season 8 for the Brit – the only season he has failed to claim Formula E silverware.
The Riyadh Street Circuit saw 35,000 fans attend the race and saw the Middle-Eastern debut for the all new GEN3 car – touted as the world’s “fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car”.
Formula E returns in a fortnight for its first trip to Hyderabad, India, for Round 4 of the season on 11 February.
The championship’s return to Diriyah, a historical and cultural destination in Saudi Arabia, marks a ground-breaking move as it continues to prioritise sustainability and shift the paradigm in the sports industry.