Bethonie WaringMitch Evans leads Jaguar’s first Formula E 1-2 after a frantic Berlin E-Prix.
Evans snatched the lead from Sebastien Buemi late in the race, with team-mate Sam Bird finding a way past on the final lap.
Two safety car periods disrupted running and multiple drivers who were, at times, at the sharp end of the field dropped out of the race.
Buemi was pipped by Maximillian Guenther.
The race got off to a dramatic start when Dan Ticktum went around the outside at turn one to take the lead from fourth on the grid. It immediately became aparent that leading the race wasn’t going to be an advantage, though. The field was on the limit with energy management and the slip stream would be crucial to finishing the race.
As those at the front of the order moved to take their Attack Mode as soon as possible, Evans was working his way forward. An incident between Sergio Sette Camara and Rene Rast brought out the safety car while the order was still being shuffled by Attack Mode activations, but Evans had managed to get up to sixth by this point, having started ninth on the grid.
When racing resumed, the shuffling continued. At almost every corner there were position changes, but Evans was now firmly in the leading pack. That pack consisted of at least half a dozen drivers at any time.
It was slightly broken up when Stoffel Vandoorne and Ticktum came together. Ticktum had been trying to find a way around the outside of Antonio Felix Da Costa, but couldn’t get the move done. It opened up an opportunity for Vandoorne to get alongside, but Ticktum squeezed him into the wall. The incident took out both drivers and brought out the safety car again.
By this point, Evans was one of the few drivers who hadn’t used all his Attack Mode. He activated the extra power again, slipping back behind Buemi and Guenther. It wouldn’t be long before he was at the front of the order, with Bird following him through.
In the closing stages of the race, it was four for the lead. Buemi reclaimed the lead, with Evans and Bird both close behind and Guenther right on their tail. As they battled, it looked briefly like Buemi might be able to escape, but the Envision driver was running low on energy compared to the two Jaguars behind.
In the final laps, Evans was able to get through to take P1, leaving Buemi to battle with Bird. Bird found a way through on the final lap, but a wide moment almost allowed Buemi to come back through.
As they approached the line, Buemi began to slow, allowing Guenther to come through and shuffling the Envision driver off the podium.
Nick Cassidy, who had a difficult first half of the race, managed to recover to fifth ahead of Pascal Wehrlein, who avoided all the drama to climb up to P6.
It was a frustrating end to the race for Jake Dennis and Antonio Felix Da Costa. Both had been in the lead fight early on but came together while battling for position further down the top 10. Both suffered damage and had to come into the pits to retire.
The result means Wehrlein extends his lead at the front of the order while Nick Cassidy moves up to second in the championship standings. Jean-Eric Vergne, who finished seventh, moves up to third ahead of Dennis.
Andre Lotterer, Mortara and Oliver Rowland completed the top 10.
