With Nick Heidfeld claiming the podium at the season opener in Hong Kong and the third place of Felix Rosenqvist in Marrakesh, Mahindra Racing scored their second podium finish in two races.
“This is the strongest start we have had in Formula E”, said Team Principal Dilbagh Gill and continued “it’s very satisfying to be able to check off another first for the team. Felix’s pole lap was really impressive at only his second event and also really shows how much work we have put into the new M3Electro.” The Swede was leading the race from pole for 27 laps.
“Starting the race from pole, if you had told me before the race that I would finish third, I would have signed up for it immediately! There was great communication with Andres [Castillo – race engineer] on the radio; the team was there all the time supporting me and I think we nailed the race as well as we could have done. The first stint was fantastic, and in the second stint there were a combination of small things that meant we weren’t quite as competitive”, Rosenqvist recapped.
Photo: Marta Rovatti Studihrad/ Mahindra
Heidfeld was caught up in the initial mêlée but still managed to collect two points: “It was a very difficult race for me, especially in the first stint. There was quite a bit of contact from the start that cost me time and maybe caused some damage, I am not quite sure but the balance of the first car was quite poor. One of the drivers apologised to me after which I really appreciate. I completed a reasonably long second stint compared to the others and while that made it very difficult to gain many positions, the pace including regen was still competitive.”
The combined drivers’ results have elevated Mahindra Racing to joint second in the Teams’ Championship. One of the final ‘firsts’ for the team, a race win, will have to wait until 2017 when the Formula E Championship continues with the Buenos Aires ePrix on February 18.
