Britain’s Sam Bird won the opening race of the Formula E campaign as the season got underway in Saudi Arabia.
The Envision Virgin Racing man took the victory at Diriyah by 1.3 seconds from Andre Lotterer – putting the Tag Heuer Porsche team on the podium in their very first Formula E outing.
Bird took the race after being fifth on the starting grid, while Lotterer fought his way up from seventh.
BMW’s Alexander Sims has started on pole, but could only limp home in seventh place.
Stoffel Vandoorne took the final podium place for Mercedes Benz.
Here is how the race went down:
A good clean start as we go green for the first time this season #DiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/pqf2aX3ZoU
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
Your top 🔟 with 36 minutes + 1 lap to go #DiriyahEPrix
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
1️⃣ @AlexanderSims
2️⃣ @svandoorne
3️⃣ @nyckdevries
4️⃣ @edomortara
5️⃣ @sambirdofficial
6️⃣ @thereal_JDA
7️⃣ @Andre_Lotterer
8️⃣ @oliverrowland1
9️⃣ @maxg_official
🔟 @JeanEricVergne
.@LucasdiGrassi on the charge #DiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/M0EUMN3Wyc
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
This is going to be a close one! @AlexanderSims, @svandoorne, @nyckdevries and @sambirdofficial are all hunting for victory #DiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/zgpsEl6Edh
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
Reigning, defending ABB FIA Formula E Champion @JeanEricVergne is into the pits! #DiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/hyzD53qOme
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
All the drama! @svandoorne is now leading the race ahead of @sambirdofficial and @Andre_Lotterer #DiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/1Bi5KlLuJL
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
All change again! Your top 5️⃣ with 10 minutes + 1 lap to go #DiriyahEPrix
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
1️⃣ @sambirdofficial
2️⃣ @svandoorne
3️⃣ @Andre_Lotterer
4️⃣ @AlexanderSims
5️⃣ @oliverrowland1
A big crash for @Daniel_Abt brings out the safety car with five minutes + 1 lap to go #DiriyahEPrix
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
.@sambirdofficial WINS the opening race of the season as he finishes first at the 2019 SAUDIA #DiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/rEk0NAPuOp
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 22, 2019
This is what winning feels like! 😂😃
— Envision Virgin Racing Formula E (@EnvisionVirgin) November 22, 2019
Once again the only team and driver to have won in every @FIAFormulaE season to date!#DiriyahEPrix #ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/fzG26DbxTN
