Formula E’s inaugural visit to Misano was marked by disappointment for the leaders of both races on the final lap. Sam Smith’s latest winners and losers list highlights the individuals involved in these heartbreaks and triumphs. Porsche had a dramatic weekend in Italy, with Antonio Felix da Costa’s sensational win on Saturday being taken away due to an odd incident involving a seemingly insignificant component. There was also a crash for Pascal Wehrlein followed by a win and an escalation in Porsche’s relationship with the FIA. It was a weekend filled with drama and excitement.
Porsche’s Formula E director, Florian Modlinger, expressed his mixed emotions about the weekend. While the team suffered a net loss in points to Jaguar, Modlinger emphasized the importance of scoring good points with both cars. He also acknowledged the motivation to prove themselves after the events with the FIA on Saturday. Despite the challenges, Porsche demonstrated their strength on the track and showed that they have the quickest and most efficient powertrain.
Oliver Rowland has emerged as a strong contender in this season’s championship. His consistent performances and impressive qualifying skills have caught the attention of his rivals, who believe he will be a title contender. Monaco presents another opportunity for Rowland and Nissan to earn valuable points, as the team had a strong qualifying performance in the previous race.
Alexander Dennis faced a tough race in Misano, starting from 11th place and struggling with issues inside the car. However, he executed a remarkable recovery to finish in second place. Dennis acknowledges that there is still a lot of work to be done by him and the Andretti team. Despite the challenges, he is pleased with the points earned and remains focused on improving.
Antonio Felix da Costa had a roller-coaster weekend in Misano. Despite his disqualification from Saturday’s race, he conducted himself with composure and demonstrated his skill on the track. While the disqualification was a disappointment, da Costa’s performance earned him recognition as a moral winner. Da Costa and Porsche still have work to do in terms of qualifying, which will be crucial in Monaco.
Mueller and Abt Cupra had a successful weekend in Misano, earning their best points haul of the season so far. Mueller led a significant portion of Sunday’s race and finished in third place. The team’s performance was a reward for their hard work and marked a significant improvement in their overall package. They are optimistic about their future performance and hope to be competitive again in Monaco.
The team known for its inconsistency, but also for its ability to surprise, had its best-ever points haul in Misano. Dan Ticktum achieved his best-ever Formula E result with a fourth-place finish on Saturday. The team’s unique strategy paid off, and Ticktum expressed satisfaction with their performance. Sergio Sette Camara’s sixth-place finish on Sunday further contributed to the team’s success.
The disqualification of Antonio Felix da Costa from Saturday’s race left a bitter taste for him and the championship as a whole. The incident raised questions about the outdated approach of black-and-white rules in motorsport. While the stewards had to follow the rules, the decision was met with disappointment and frustration. Da Costa conducted himself with dignity throughout the ordeal and gained respect from his peers.
Nissan and Oliver Rowland experienced a disappointing end to their race in Misano. Due to a last-minute emergency on the grid, Rowland’s race ended prematurely due to energy exhaustion. The team acknowledges that it was a sequence of unfortunate events that led to this mistake. Despite the disappointment, Rowland was poised to be the clear points leader heading into Monaco.
Reigning teams’ champions, Nissan e.dams, have had a disastrous start to the season. They have scored only four points in the last four races and are far behind Jaguar in the standings. The team’s poor pace and incidents in Misano further highlighted their struggles. However, Monaco presents an opportunity for them to bounce back and defend their former charge Nick Cassidy’s victory from last season.
McLaren had a different kind of disappointment in Italy compared to their previous race in Tokyo. While they had a quick car, missed opportunities prevented them from achieving better results. Jake Hughes showed impressive pace during Sunday’s qualifying but struggled with energy management during the race. Sam Bird also faced challenges, with contacts during battles leading to a retirement and a delayed finish.