Formula E returns to Mexico City in 2022″>Pascal Wehrlein gave himself and Porsche their first victory in Formula E. During a demonstration of power by the Stuttgart team in Mexico, teammate Andre Lotterer completed the one-two by finishing second. After a thrilling race in front of packed grandstands, Jean-Eric Vergne completed the podium in third place.
At the start, pole sitter Pascal Wehrlein moved early to the right lane to prevent Edo Mortara from attacking. So he claimed the lead. Behind them, the order remained the same – Andre Lotterer entered the first corner in third place. Alexander Sims’ race came to an early end again: The Briton had to park his Mahindra in the first lap at the former “Foro Sol” baseball stadium.
After a little more than five minutes, Lotterer got his first of two obligatory attack modes and claimed third place. Behind the leading group, Robin Frijns attacked his compatriot Nyck de Vries and passed the Mercedes driver. One lap later Mortara reacted to Lotterer and got his first attack mode, another lap later Wehrlein too.
Immediately afterwards, however, the German was surprised by Mortara on the start and finish straight, who courageously pulled alongside the Porsche driver on the inside lane and passed – change of leadership in Mexico! Meanwhile, De Vries also had to let Nick Cassidy’s second envision pass. A little later, Stoffel Vandoorne also passed his Mercedes team-mate. Lucas di Grassi was already putting pressure on him from behind and also overtook de Vries.
OUT OF NOWHERE @edomortara takes the lead of the Mexico City E-Prix! Full send activated ⚡️
Follow LIVE timing here ? https://t.co/NqfsxKU5B4
?? 2022 #MexicoCityEPrix | @VenturiFE pic.twitter.com/0ZbIoCG21t
– ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) February 12, 2022
Vergne fights his way forward
After almost a quarter of an hour, the two DS pilots put the pressure on and beat Lotterer in attack mode. The Porsche driver is now only fifth. And his team-mate Wehrlein also had to let Jean-Eric Vergne pass, who was only second, a little later. Vandoorne gained another position against Cassidy in Attack mode.
Then Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa came into contact in the stadium: the Portuguese touched the rear of the German as he turned into the attack zone. Felix da Costa slightly damaged the front during the action and fell back two places as a result.
Nowhere to go for @afelixdacosta…
The @DSTECHEETAH driver is currently running P5!
Follow LIVE timing here ? https://t.co/NqfsxKU5B4
?? 2022 #MexicoCityEPrix https://t.co/piMxSjoL7O pic.twitter.com/ofCF8egwvZ
– ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) February 12, 2022
The leading group now got their second attack modes, and initially the old order remained: Mortara in front of Vergne, Wehrlein and Lotterer. Cassidy, the only one who hadn’t activated Attack Mode yet, snapped back his seventh position from Vandoorne. Frijns picked up his second attack mode, losing a spot to Felix da Costa in the process. At first, the DS driver fended off an attack by Frijns using FANBOOST, but the Envision driver bravely asserted himself on the start and finish straight.
Porsche plays off the energy advantage
Behind them, di Grassi and Cassidy clashed. Both lost ground as a result, as Vandoorne passed both of them and Cassidy also had to let de Vries go. Then the “Kiwi” finally got its first attack mode. In the meantime, the two Porsche drivers drove in the slipstream of Vergne for efficiency. They used this energy advantage fifteen minutes before the end: first Wehrlein passed Vergne, and a few corners later Lotterer too. Frijns also put the Frenchman under pressure and overtook for fourth place.
Two minutes later, the Porsche duo also attacked the leader: Wehrlein overtook World Championship leader Mortara on the start/finish straight, Lotterer a little later – double lead now for Porsche! Lotterer went into the final ten minutes of the E-Prix with a slight energy advantage over his teammate. Meanwhile, Cassidy fought his way forward with his second attack mode. His team-mate also launched an important attack: Frijns Mortara conceded in turn 9 and was only on course for the podium.
It’s a @PorscheFormulaE 1-2 with 12 minutes + 1 lap to go as @PWehrlein RETURNS to the lead of the race, followed by @Andre_Lotterer ?
Follow LIVE timing here ? https://t.co/NqfsxKU5B4
?? 2022 #MexicoCityEPrix pic.twitter.com/s6pNbbJRKT
– ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) February 12, 2022
In the final minutes, an exciting Porsche duel developed for victory. Lotterer put Wehrlein under pressure. Mortara, meanwhile, had to look backwards. Both DS passed the overall leader. Vergne is now fourth behind Frijns. However, the Dutchman snatched the place back a little later. But then Frijns had to be demolished. First Felix da Costa overtook him, then Mortara.
Gripping final phase
When time ran out, the two Porsches just crossed the line, adding an extra lap to the race. This should make some rivals run out of energy a little later. However, Porsche was prepared. Lotterer was instructed not to attack Wehrlein again and thus remained behind him in the last lap in order to bring the double victory to the finish. Wehrlein therefore won his first Formula E race. Lotterer made the day perfect for Porsche – with a lead of more than nine seconds.
Wehrlein and Lotterer now occupy positions 3 and 4 in the drivers’ championship. Mortara continues to lead ahead of de Vries. Vergne climbed to sixth place. In the teams, Porsche has made a big leap and is now third overall. Venturi and Mercedes are still in front here. Nissan took its first points of the season, leaving only Dragon and Nio without a point after three races.
Formula E is now expecting a longer break: the 2022 season will not continue until April 9th and 10th with a “double header” in Rome.
Results & Times
Overall ranking (drivers & teams)
