Rosenqvist leads Formula E championship after Marrakesh win
Ref. NG/D689Felix Rosenqvist won the 2018 Marrakesh ePrix on January 13, 2018, taking the lead in the FIA Formula E Championship drivers’ standings after a late-race overtake. The Mahindra Racing driver started the event third on the grid and executed a strategy centered on energy conservation to pass the long-time race leader, Sebastien Buemi, in the closing laps.
Buemi’s Control from Pole Position
The race at the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan initially appeared to be under the firm control of Sebastien Buemi. Driving for the Renault e.dams team, Buemi had secured pole position and was the defending race winner from the previous season’s event in Morocco. He established a comfortable lead from the start, holding off attacks from Sam Bird of DS Virgin Racing and Rosenqvist.
Buemi’s performance in qualifying was a significant recovery for the Season Two champion, who had a difficult opening weekend of the season in Hong Kong, failing to score any points. He controlled the pace for the first half of the 33-lap race, managing the gap to his pursuers ahead of the mandatory mid-race car change.
A Strategic Mid-Race Phase
The race dynamic began to shift around the pit stop window. A full-course yellow flag was deployed following an on-track incident, which altered the strategies for several teams. The timing of the caution period reportedly disadvantaged some drivers, including Jaguar’s Mitch Evans, who had just made his stop and consequently lost track position relative to the leaders who pitted under the yellow flag conditions.
Throughout this phase, Rosenqvist maintained his position behind Buemi and Bird, focusing on saving more energy than his rivals. This disciplined approach was critical for the second half of the race, as it provided him with a significant advantage when the cars returned to green flag racing. Several other drivers encountered technical problems, with Andre Lotterer of Techeetah and Oliver Turvey of NIO both failing to finish the race due to mechanical issues.
The Decisive Overtake for the Lead
In the final ten laps, Rosenqvist used his energy surplus to close the gap to Buemi. The Renault driver was forced into a defensive posture, but Rosenqvist’s pace was superior. With four laps remaining, Rosenqvist made a decisive move to take the lead, pulling away from Buemi who did not have sufficient energy to mount a counter-attack.
The pass was a culmination of a perfectly executed race plan by the Mahindra Racing team, which had instructed Rosenqvist to conserve battery power during the early stages. This victory was Rosenqvist’s second of the young 2017-18 season, adding to his win in the second race of the Hong Kong double-header.
Final Standings and Championship Implications
Rosenqvist crossed the finish line to secure the win, with Sebastien Buemi finishing second. Sam Bird completed the podium in third place, a result that saw him lose his championship lead to Rosenqvist. The victory put the Swedish driver four points clear at the top of the standings.
The points finish was Buemi’s first of the season, marking a turnaround for the Renault e.dams team. The Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler team, however, had a difficult race, with neither of its drivers scoring points in Marrakesh. The championship fight was left finely poised, with Rosenqvist and Bird emerging as the early title contenders heading into the next round of the season in Santiago.
Questions about this record
Why was Felix Rosenqvist's victory in Marrakesh significant?
The win was his second of the 2017-18 Formula E season and propelled him to the top of the drivers' championship standings for the first time. It demonstrated his and the Mahindra Racing team's ability to challenge established front-runners like Renault e.dams through superior energy management and late-race strategy, overtaking the pole-sitter in the final laps.
Who was on the podium with Rosenqvist at the 2018 Marrakesh ePrix?
Felix Rosenqvist was joined on the podium by Sebastien Buemi of the Renault e.dams team, who finished in second place after leading for most of the race from pole position. In third place was Sam Bird, driving for DS Virgin Racing. Bird had been the championship leader entering the event in Morocco.
Where did the 2018 Marrakesh ePrix take place?
The race was held at the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, a semi-permanent street circuit located in the Agdal district of Marrakesh, Morocco. The track was known for its mix of long straights and tight, technical corners, which placed a high demand on both outright speed and efficient energy conservation from the all-electric race cars.
How did Sebastien Buemi lose the lead of the race?
Sebastien Buemi led the majority of the race from pole position but came under increasing pressure from Felix Rosenqvist in the final stages. Rosenqvist had managed his car's energy more effectively, allowing him to close the gap and execute a decisive overtake with only four laps remaining. Buemi could not mount a counter-attack before the checkered flag.