Di Grassi becomes a champion driver

Photo: Pedro Ruiz The Duty
In spite of the victory of the French Jean-Eric Vergne, the Brazilian Di Grassi has won on Sunday the drivers ‘ championship Formula E.

The least we can say is that the suspense will not have lasted very long. The Brazilian Lucas di Grassi, who won the first race of the weekend on Saturday, has won the drivers ‘ championship Formula electric (FE) from the start on Sunday.

Under the seventh place of di Grassi in the second race of the weekend for the ePrix of Montreal, he has moved ahead of Sebastian Buemi by 24 points at the top of the drivers ‘ standings. This is the first time that di Grassi, who was a test driver for Formula 1 team Renault in 2010, won the championship of the drivers of FE.

“This adventure began three years ago, recalled di Grassi. We had good results during the first season, and we were fighting for the title, but everything collapsed after my disqualification in London. During the season no. 2, it was the same thing. “

“Eventually, I came here as an underdog of 10 points to Sebastian [Buemi] and I have kept my composure to complete the job, he continued. This championship means a lot to me, and I will be partying very hard tonight [Sunday]. “

Buemi, the defending champion and holder of second place in the drivers ‘ championship before the race on Sunday, was struck in the rear by Felix da Costa from the first corner of the race, damaging a piece of his car. Buemi was not the end of his sentences.

As if that wasn’t enough, there is a communication error between the Renault team e. Dams and Buemi was pushed even further.

“He [da Costa] I was stamped into the turn # 1.A part of the wing move, so I did zig-zags to try to pull it out, ” explained Buemi. I thought I had succeeded, but at the same time, the team asked me to enter the wells. To be honest with you, I’m a bit sad that the problem of communication. […] We fought ourselves. “

For its part, the co-owner of Renault e. Dams, Alain Prost, has identified the decision of Buemi to be absent from the program double in New York two weeks ago to participate in the 6 hours of Nürburgring as being decisive in the outcome of the championship.

“The “clash” in New York has done very poorly ; it was the turning point. We will have to avoid such a situation in the future for the development of the championship and the discipline. This is unacceptable “, has hammered Prost.

The last hopes of comeback Buemi flew two laps of the chequered flag, when Loïc Duval lost control of his car and slammed into a wall of security, resulting in a yellow flag. The drivers have therefore concluded the race under it, and the Swiss had to settle for 11th place.

“One of the race weekends the most difficult of my career.”

Buemi has seen the rug out from under his feet slowly throughout the weekend. He was brought to Montreal with a cushion of 10 points ahead of di Grassi.

“We had a great car this season, so it is difficult to accept [as a result], admitted Buemi. But I would like to congratulate Lucas for his conquest of the title. He has done a good job this season. “

On Saturday, the Swiss believed to have kept his chances to successfully defend his title by finishing fourth after being jumped from the 12th place on the grid because of a penalty of 10 places. Except in the late evening, the commissioners have determined that its second car — the one he had damaged in the morning on Saturday — did not meet the weight limit, and as a result he was disqualified.

The co-owner of Renault e. Dams, Jean-Paul Driot, still seemed to be shaken by this decision on Sunday evening.

“We have done incredible work to give back the car of Sebastian in the state [after his accident], said Driot. The car was ready for the race. But I really regret that we have not been able to send it to the weigh-in before the race. This is the reason why we have lost 12 points yesterday [Saturday]. “

“It was one of the race weekends the most difficult of my career,” said Prost. When things start to go wrong, it seems that it does not stop. “