Bird dedicates win to Bianchi

Sam Bird dedicates his impressive victory at Putrajaya to former teammate Jules Bianchi

Sam Bird has dedicated his victory in the Putrajaya ePrix to his friend and former team-mate Jules Bianchi, who remains in a critical condition following his crash in Japan last month.

After dominating the second round of the FIA Formula E championship to give Virgin Racing its first win, Bird said: “I have to dedicate this win to a good friend of mine who is very ill. It’s very sad what’s happened to him and this one is for Jules."

Bird started the race from second on the grid and pulled off an excellent overtaking move on pole sitter Oriol Servia (Dragon Racing) to take the lead. Once ahead he was able to establish a comfortable advantage, which he maintained to the end.

“The first stint I was able to get a very good gap which meant we could take it easy and not make any silly mistakes, do some lift and coasting, and coast to the finish," he said.

Bird, like all the drivers, was full of praise for the work that had been done in creating the Putrajaya street circuit.

“Well done to everyone who has helped this track happen. It was extremely challenging and a great layout and made for some exciting racing. The weekend went really well, we were quick from the first outing and we were quickest in practice. Qualifying didn’t quite go our way as I think we were not in the best group for doing a fast lap time but we put that right in the race."

Victory means Bird in now second in the championship, three points behind Audi Sport Abt’s Lucas di Grassi, who finished second in Putrajaya.