Jack AmeyEnvision Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird has been given a five-second time penalty for the collision with Andre Lotterer in the closing stages of the Hong Kong E-Prix.
It means Venturi’s Edoardo Mortara has claimed his maiden win in the series despite finishing second on track, with Lucas di Grassi moving into second and Robin Frijns into third.
However, the results are still listed as provisional.
DS Techeetah’s Lotterer had led the race from the early stages and, despite pressure from Bird for the entire duration, had held the lead.
On the penultimate lap, Lotterer was defending into the 90-degree right hander of Turn 2 when Bird hit the back of Lotterer’s car.
Lotterer was left with a puncture and was eventually classified in 14th place while Bird won the race on track.
However, with the five seconds added to his race time, it means Bird finishes in sixth place.
Bird does still lead the championship but by one point instead of 18 to Mahindra’s Jerome d’Ambrosio, who failed to finish the race. Mortara’s win now puts him in fourth place in the drivers’ championship on 52 points – just two points behind Bird.
Mortara had been classified in second place ahead of Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler’s Lucas di Grassi, who now finishes second.
Bird’s Virgin Racing team-mate Robin Frijns is promoted to the podium from fourth place while Daniel Abt and Felipe Massa move up to fourth and fifth respectively.
Bird’s penalty means Formula E marked its 50th E-Prix by crowning its fifth different winner of the season in the fifth race, with all five winners from different teams.
Bethonie Waring
