Formula E: Vandoorne beats Evans to take Formula E championship lead

Mercedes-EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne mastered the streets of Monte Carlo with a tactical drive to win the 2022 Monaco E-Prix Round 6 and take the ABB FIA Formula E Drivers’ World Championship lead. The Belgian beat polesitter Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) to the top step, while DS TECHEETAH’s Jean-Eric Vergne came home third.

Vandoorne emerged on the right side of a mid-race Full Course Yellow and Safety Car which threw race strategies up in the air – the Belgian besting Evans after a race-long battle with the help of some measured energy management. Vandoorne had hit the front after then-leader Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) retired from the lead with technical issues on Lap 16. Once at the head of the pack, Vandoorne seized control and made good on both restarts to take the checkered flag first with race pace and energy in-hand.

Evans couldn’t quite capitalize on the searing pace that saw him fly to Julius Baer Pole Position but 18 points and second spot after a Rome win-double sees the Jaguar driver’s hot-streak continue.

Vergne followed in third, sparring for the race distance with those ahead and fending off the late attentions of Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns who came home fourth the Dutchman extending his consistent run of form. That made it a joint-high of three podiums for Frenchman Vergne and he remains the only driver to score points in every race this season.

Antonio Felix da Costa made it two DS TECHEETAHs in the top five, with Lucas di Grassi coming home sixth for a solid haul on home soil for ROKiT Venturi Racing – though Edo Mortara retired late on having run much of the race alongside his teammate in the points.

Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) finished seventh, with Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams), Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) and reigning champion Nyck de Vries rounding out the top 10.

All that left Vandoorne six points clear atop the Drivers’ standings, and Mercedes-EQ 15 points ahead of DS TECHEETAH in the Teams’ running.

Race 1 Results