Monaco ePrix – Race: Sébastien Buemi, Prince of the Monaco ePrix

The sun and the unique setting of the Principality of Monaco welcome the 20 drivers for the start of the seventh round of this first Formula E season.

As a reminder, Sébastien Buemi secured Pole Position in his eDams-Renault ahead of Lucas Di Grassi, who was criticized by Nelson Piquet for blocking him during his final qualifying attempt. Salvador Duran, Jean-Eric Vergne, and Nelson Piquet received public favor: they will have the “Fan-Boost” during the event.

The 20 drivers set off for 47 laps of the race. As often in Monaco, the start is chaotic. The long straight after the Sainte-Dévote corner becomes the scene of a pile-up between several cars. Bruno Senna is the cause of the collision. The other drivers behind him cannot avoid it. Bruno Senna, Daniel Abt, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Scott Speed have to retire. The safety car comes out for two laps.

In the fourth round, the 17 remaining drivers go back on the attack.

In the standings, Sébastien Buemi held the lead, ahead of Di Grassi, D’Ambrosio, and Piquet Junior. Stéphane Sarrazin made a good deal with a provisional 5th place. Piquet Junior went on the attack on Lap 6 and made a great overtaking move on D’Ambrosio at the chicane at the Tunnel exit.

After 10 Laps, the Top 10 is as follows: Buemi still leads in front of Di Grassi, Piquet Junior, D’Ambrosio, Sarrazin, Prost, Bird, Trulli, Heidfeld, and Da Costa. After setting the fastest lap, the leader is slowed by backmarkers (Vergne and Duval), allowing the World Championship leader to catch up. Behind, Nelson Piquet is more than a second behind. Struggling with his car, he has to fend off the pack led by D’Ambrosio.

After 15 Laps, the standings remain unchanged among the top 10. Scott Speed is noted for damaging his front wing on the curb in the Pool sequence. Nick Heidfeld, on the other hand, tries to force his way past Jarno Trulli, their wheels touch but both drivers can continue.

The situation comes to life at the 25th lap of the race with the first stops for the mandatory car change. Lucas Di Grassi stops, as do Sarrazin, Nico Prost, Heidfeld, and Da Costa. One lap later, D’Ambrosio, Bird, Trulli, Chandhok, and Pic also make their compulsory stop. Sébastien Buemi, Nelson Piquet Junior, and Scott Speed stay on track. They finally come in at lap 27. Sébastien Buemi exits just ahead of Lucas Di Grassi. The Brazilian attempts a bold overtaking maneuver on the outside of the hairpin after the Tunnel. Buemi nevertheless retains the lead. Behind them, Nelson Piquet has taken 3rd position, ahead of Sam Bird, who is making an impressive comeback.

At Lap 30, the former Toro Rosso driver is still leading the standings ahead of Di Grassi, Piquet Junior, and Bird. D’Ambrosio has fallen to 5th place, Nicolas Prost in the other eDams is 6th. Sarrazin, Da Costa, Pic, and Speed round out the Top 10. The Virgin Racing driver is putting pressure for the gain of 3rd place. Jérôme d’Ambrosio has also closed in.

The development in this second part of the race is favorable to Buemi. At the start of Lap 38, that is, 10 Laps from the finish, he continues to pull away by tenths from Di Grassi, who sees Nelson Piquet coming up in his rearview mirrors. After having discussed matters in the Qualifying Parc Fermé, the two Brazilians find themselves on track. A little further back, there is a successful overtaking maneuver by Scott Speed on Charles Pic for the gain of 9th place.

At 5 laps from the finish, Piquet attempts an overtake at the hairpin after the tunnel exit. Failure for the winner of the Long Beach ePrix.

Lucas Di Grassi is clearly threatened by Nelson Piquet. Nelson Piquet uses his Fan-Boost on Lap 42, and his speed gain allows him to attempt an overtaking before the hairpin at the Tunnel exit: without success once again. The attention in the final laps focuses on this duel for 2nd place, as the positions behind remain unchanged.

Sébastien Buemi enters the final lap of this Monaco ePrix. Hardly troubled in the second part of the race, the eDAMS driver crosses the finish line as the winner!

After his success in Punta del Este, the Swiss secures his second victory of the season!

On this occasion, he becomes the only driver with 2 victories to his name.

Like the winner of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the boats in the Port of Monaco honk in honor of his success.

Lucas Di Grassi held on, his efforts are rewarded with a 2nd place, ahead of Nelson Piquet who completes the podium.

Behind this winning trio, we find Sam Bird in 4th place ahead of Jérôme d’Ambrosio. Nicolas Prost finishes in a disappointing 6th place as it causes him to lose valuable points from the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings.

For their home weekend, the Monegasque team Venturi places Stéphane Sarrazin in 7th position. Scott Speed, initially 8th, was penalized for exceeding his allowed electric consumption. Charles Pic thus benefits from his position. The former Marussia and Caterham driver returns to the points after his 4th place in the inaugural race in Beijing. Antonio Félix da Costa for Amlin Aguri brings back the 2 points from 9th place while Nick Heidfeld in the second Venturi retroactively benefits from the point for 10th place.

Author of the fastest lap of the race, Jean-Eric Vergne saves the day by collecting 2 points.

In the World Championship Drivers’ Standings, Lucas Di Grassi extends his lead over his closest competitor, Nelson Piquet.

The successful operation of the weekend is clearly for Sébastien Buemi who passes his teammate Nicolas Prost. The Pole-Victory double brings him to just 16 points from the top of this Championship. Behind Nicolas Prost, the gap widens: Sam Bird is now more than a win away with his 29-point deficit.

At the Constructors, the situation is clearer, with eDams-Renault’s dominance growing with each meeting: the team of Jean-Paul Driot and Alain Prost now has a 45-point lead over its closest rival, Audi Sport ABT. Behind them, the Virgin Racing team maintains its 3rd position but is now closely followed by the Nextev Tcr team (formerly China Racing).

Next appointment with Formula E on Motors Inside is on Saturday, May 23rd in Berlin, at the heart of the German capital.