Formula E isn’t the easiest series to get to grips with for a rookie, what with all the challenges of driving an electric car and managing the battery usage.
But Edoardo Mortara was doing a great job in just his second ePrix, having comfortably led most of the way. With little more than two laps to go it looked like Mortara and the Venturi team were set to celebrate their first win, but then this happened.
This is where it all went wrong for @edomortara 😔 #HKEPrix pic.twitter.com/W0jV3lGSlN
— FIA Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) December 3, 2017
He recovered to finish third – still a great result, and after the race a devastated Mortara said that he’d been having issues with his brakes. However, he also admitted it was his own fault as despite having the win in the bag, he was feeling confident and was trying to go for fastest lap (and the extra point that carries) and made the mistake by pushing too hard.
Mortara’s loss was Daniel Abt’s gain as the Audi driver claimed his maiden Formula E victory, and on his 25th birthday, too – not a bad present!
Mortara wasn’t even the only driver to spin out of the lead. On the very first racing lap (the race started behind the safety car because the starting lights weren’t working) pole-sitter Felix Rosenqvist made a right meal of turn one and dropped to 11th.
We go green in Hong Kong for the second time! #HKEPrix pic.twitter.com/sG65hhXMrX
— FIA Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) December 3, 2017
He managed to recover to finish second in the end.
