Lucas Di Grassi seized his first Formula E win for Lola Yamaha Abt in Shanghai, taking the head‑to‑head battle after Mitch Evans endured a start‑line failure.
Race start shrouded in rain
Heavy rain forced a safety‑car retreat and a standing start, truncating the initial laps and throwing morale into chaos, as Evans’ engine hiccup left him in the Jaguar garage at liftoff.
Pole‑position holder Felipe Drugovich launched into a fragile lead that was soon challenged by Pascal Wehrlein and Nico Müller, who found space as the track dried.
Energy tactics collide
Racing teams split on when to deploy the single free Attack Mode available in the race. Those launching early, including the top three cars, opted for the first mode upon the track’s first clear patch.
Alternative crews, holding back to conserve power for later, anticipated optimal conditions after the rain subsided, aiming to out‑cycle rivals in the latter stages.
Unforeseen setbacks and a neutralised field
On lap 24, Zane Maloney’s Lola‑Yamaha wrecked after a rear‑wheel failure, pulling the car off the circuit and prompting a Full‑Course Yellow that neutralised every driver in Attack Mode.
Grassi, positioned third, was untroubled by the break‑away and still possessed a second Attack Mode, which he strategically stored until the opening of the final three laps.
The decisive final move
Sleekly overtaking Joel Eriksson and Jean‑Eric Vergne, Di Grassi stole the front‑row position on the last lap’s first turn, handing the Citroën driver the lost rhythm.
Vergne held second place, while Eriksson’s drive marked his inaugural podium finish in the series.
Championship ripples and the continuing battle
Wehrlein, though limited to fourth, captured the championship lead, extending his advantage by nine points over Evans.
Sebastien Buemi, unable to match Di Grassi’s final Attack Mode, rounded the field in fifth place, behind Drugovich and Müller’s closing-out caress.
Oliver Rowland capitalised on a mid‑race pit stop under the FCY, regain order and finish eighth, trimming DS Penske’s Taylor Barnard and Cupra’s Dan Ticktum to lower positions after a wide grass run early in the race.
With the triumph, Di Grassi not only marks a milestone for Lola Yamaha Abt but also sets a clear precedent for the looming championship climax.
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