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Piquet takes inaugural Formula E Championship

Nelson Piquet in the Brabham BMW BT52. Photo: GEPA pictures/ Christian Walgram
Roar Guru
30th June, 2015
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Nelson Piquet Jr took an against-the-odds championship win starting from 16th on the grid at the final Formula E round at Battersea Park, London.

The heavens opened up in the during morning qualifying, as title favourite Sebastien Buemi was drawn in the second qualifying group, sparing him from the precipitation that followed.

Normally sixth place on the grid would be a cause for concern for a driver, but with the elements forcing a jumbled grid the Swiss driver was in prime position compared to championship rival Lucas di Grassi and Nelson Piquet. They endured the worst of the weather to record a time an excruciating three seconds slower than Lucas di Grassi – the quickest of the wet runners in 11th.

Formula E rookies Oliver Turvey and Simona de Silvestro caused an upset in the form guide by out-qualifying their regular teammates in 12th and 13th respectively, with Jean-Eric Vergne and Nicolas Prost providing yet more work for Piquet mired down in 16th place.

Pole-sitter Stephane Sarrazin jumped away to an early lead as Piquet made hay early, vaulting four places into 12th during the opening lap chaos while his championship rival di Grassi found himself stuck behind the gearbox of Salvador Duran in eighth. Sebastien Buemi meanwhile was making little impression on the lead in fifth, facing a horde of drivers hoping to make a late season stamp on the championship.

That said, fifth would’ve been enough to take the championship if things stayed as they were.

If Piquet was hoping to receive a team assist from Oliver Turvey he would have to help himself, having lost time on his less experienced teammate. The Brazilian appeared to be losing power early in the piece, however he may have been playing his usual trick of conserving power for a late attack.

As it was, Nelson was conserving in the hope of squeezing out an extra lap in order to jump the order in the pit-stop window.

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As it was, the extra 12 per cent energy he saved bought the Brazilian an extra two laps in reserve and a clear track in which to gain crucial time. He would re-join after the stops in 10th under pressure from Buemi’s teammate Nicolas Prost.

A potential safety car situation was averted when Amlin Aguri driver Sakon Yamamoto took an ultra-late braking move on Jarno Trulli and found himself making the acquaintance of the concrete wall. Some brave work from track marshals, however, removed the debris without interrupting proceedings.

13 laps in and Buemi clocked the fastest lap of the race, potentially netting the Swiss driver a bonus two points and some insurance in the championship fight. Despite being in the box seat, the pressure inevitably pushed Buemi into an unforced error, spinning at one of the slowest corners on the makeshift circuit and lose crucial places with di Grassi now in tow.

Piquet was now behind teammate Turvey again, setting up a crucial strategy situation; if Turvey was to let Piquet past and record fastest lap, he would win the championship by two points…

A crash from Fabio Leimer disrupted Piquet’s run as the safety car was deployed. Piquet was immediately on the radio imploring his team to talk to the lapped car of Nick Heidfeld to allow a clear path. Piquet deployed Fanboost in the hope of achieving a fastest lap. The Brazilian slung past Turvey and gained an outside run on Salvador Duran to slot into eighth and into championship contention.

Meanwhile, a clearly rattled Buemi made a fist of attempting to pass Bruno Senna as local boy Sam Bird was challenging Sarrazin for the win up front, his car literally dancing in the breaking zone to distract the Belgian driver.

The same could be said of Buemi, growing increasingly frustrated behind Senna, with the Brazilian driver doing Sebastien no favours. As it was the order remained unchanged with Piquet taking the championship by a solitary pointl the first for a Chinese team in a FIA-sanctioned championship.

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“I don’t know what to say”, said Piquet.

“In the team briefing I was told to just concentrate and go as fast as I can…. My God I’m so relieved. I just knew I had to push. Luck was on our side.”

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