F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Di Grassi hails 'best Formula E race of my career'

Mexico City ePrix winner Lucas di Grassi reckons his epic triumph on Saturday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was the best race of his career in the all-electric series.

The Audi Sport driver defeated an energy drained Pascal Wehrlein at the checkered flag, having hounded the Mahindra driver for all his worth in the closing stages of a race that had the Mexican crowd on its toes from start to finish.

"I have to say, [it was] probably the best Formula E race of my career today because it was a mixture of having the patience to save energy in the beginning," said an elated di Grassi when all was said and done.

"Then because it was difficult to overtake, I had to make the moves in the correct moment. I managed to overtake Rowland when he went into attack mode [on lap 35 of 45]."

Indeed, after getting the upper hand over the Nissan e.dams driver, di Grassi hounded down Wehrlein but found himself fighting a man desperate to defend his position at all cost despite his fast depleting energy level.

©AudiSport

"I knew he was running out of energy. I was putting pressure on him, trying to overtake him all of the last five laps," added the Brazilian.

“And then, in the chicane coming out of Turn 3, I could see every corner he left he was defending, closing the door, and was going to the outside.

"On the last lap I was behind him and pretended to go to the outside and he left a door, a door small enough to go down the inside between the wall and the kerb and I went there.

“I went side-by-side with him and then he cut the chicane [at Turn 4]. Probably he would get a penalty anyway, but that was the move [that was key].

"After that he was closing the door, Antonio [da Costa] was coming behind so I had to look in the mirror and try to overtake him so it was a crazy last lap.

"Then on the start/finish line I closed and at the last corner he was closing the door, I went side close to the wall and managed to win it. I couldn’t believe it!"

It was one crazy race folks, check out the video of the race's best moments here.

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Michael Delaney

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