Misano debuted with a great show, but also with controversy, after Saturday’s winner, António Félix da Costa of the TAG Heuer Porsche team, was disqualified for a technical infringement following an FIA investigation.
Oliver Rowland of the Nissan Formula E team, who crossed the finish line in second place, will inherit the victory to make it his first since Season 6.
Following inquiries by the FIA, Formula E issued the following considerations regarding Felix da Costa’s disqualification. “The Team Manager and the manufacturer’s representative explained that since the start of season 9 they have not changed the throttle damper spring.”
“The Team Manager accepted that the sealed part, as shown in the attached Technical Report 13, was mounted on Car 13 and was sealed in the presence of the team’s Chief Mechanic. The Team Manager also stated that on the Spark list (pedals) the sealed part is not listed.”
“He explained that normally changes in the Spark catalog are highlighted so that everyone can see the changes, but not the deletions.”
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Appeal
The FIA Technical Delegate confirmed this procedure. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team, meanwhile, declared its intention to appeal and has 96 hours to confirm this.
With a disqualification of Da Costa, Rowland retains the top spot, marking both the British driver and the team’s first Formula E win since the 2020 Berlin E-Prix.
As the drivers move up the final race standings, Maximillian Günther also moves up to the final podium position.
The next ABB FIA Formula E ABB World Championship race is the second leg of the 2024 Misano E-Prix double title on Sunday, April 14, with more information available here.
Sunday’s Race Day
In another dramatic turn of events at the Misano E-Prix, Pascal Wehrlein of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team emerged triumphant after an intense battle.
In the second leg of the inaugural E-Prix Misano doubleheader, it was the German who made amends for a painful Saturday for TAG Heuer Porsche.
His first-place trophy in Round 7 is the sixth of his Formula E career, following a heartbreaking miscalculation on the final lap that resulted in then-race leader Oliver Rowland running out of energy and retiring.
Reigning ABB FIA Formula E ABB World Champion Jake Dennis of the Andretti Formula E team took a commendable second place, while Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy took third place.
Throughout the 26 laps of the Misano E-Prix, the TAG Heuer Porsche driver maintained a significant power reserve over his competitors, including early leader Jake Hughes and contenders Jean-Eric Vergne and Nico Müller.
Wehrlein’s win leaves him tied with Dennis at the top of the drivers’ standings, while previous leader Rowland drops to third. Meanwhile, Jaguar TCS Racing leads the team standings by a significant margin.
