Diriyah ePrix 2024 – Race 1: Jake Dennis is imperial, Jean-Eric Vergne in second place

For the second round of Season 10 of Formula E, the drivers were going to have to face hot and dusty conditions in the outskirts of Riyadh. After a Mexico ePrix dominated by Pascal Wehrlein’s Porsche, the rivals of the German team were eager to return to the front of the pack.

Author of his first pole position since the Jakarta ePrix in 2022, DS Penske driver Jean-Eric Vergne had a great opportunity to climb up the driver’s standings. Having a great start, the Frenchman managed to keep the advantage ahead of Mitch Evans and Jake Dennis, with Andretti’s car narrowly avoiding a collision with Sergio Sette Camara’s ERT.

After just four laps, the leader activates his first two-minute Attack Mode and drops down to 3rd place. In the following lap, it’s Evans’ Jaguar’s turn to move off the racing line to collect its energy boost. While rejoining the ideal racing line, the New Zealander makes slight contact with Vergne’s DS, allowing the latter to regain 2nd place. The driver from the Île-de-France region even manages to reclaim the top spot when Dennis also activates his first Attack Mode. The reigning champion makes a clever move, as he successfully keeps Evans behind him.

Between the seventh and ninth lap, Vergne, Dennis, and then Evans each get rid of their excess power one after the other. The big winner of these different maneuvers is Jake Dennis, who takes the lead. A leading position that the Englishman will not let go of until the finish line. A battle then emerges for the two other podium spots between Vergne and Evans.

On the twelfth lap, the New Zealander launches his attack on the Frenchman and takes second place. Two laps later, a little too optimistic, the Jaguar number 9 goes straight at the chicane while trying to overtake Dennis. Evans is then threatened by Vergne’s DS. It will only take three laps for the champion of seasons 4 and 5 to pass Evans again, who once again misses his mark while trying to defend his position. Vergne then chases behind Jake Dennis, who has taken advantage of the fights between his pursuers to pull away in the lead.

The podium was fiercely contested until the last lap.

Behind, Nick Cassidy overtakes Norman Nato for 4th place. The two Jaguars then start chasing Vergne. Instructions are given within Jaguar to allow Cassidy to try to overtake Vergne.

The vice-champion of season 9 activates his second Attack Mode with five laps to go. He finds himself in 4th place behind Vergne and his teammate Mitch Evans, and just ahead of Sam Bird’s McLaren. These four drivers engage in an intense battle for podium positions. The entire pack has regrouped behind Vergne for the final laps. The Frenchman defends his position very well, while Evans becomes impatient just behind him.

In the final lap, in a somewhat desperate attempt, Evans positions himself inside Vergne’s DS but fails for a third time at the chicane and loses two positions. He ultimately finishes 5th behind his former teammate Sam Bird’s McLaren.

On the podium, we find Jake Dennis who, after a disputed initial few laps, executed his plan perfectly to allow him to win his first race this season. Jean-Eric Vergne follows, author of a heroic defense towards the end of the race, and Nick Cassidy, third for the second time in a row.

Ranking of Diriyah ePrix 2024 – Race 1

Ranking of driver championship

Team rankings