Review: The worst accidents in Formula E history

In its virtually nine-year historical past, Method E has skilled a lot of dramatic races and severe accidents. Motorsport-Magazin.com appears again on the electrical racing collection’ most memorable crashes since its debut in September 2014.

Rome 2023: Fowl triggers mass collision

Sam Fowl brought about what is maybe probably the most severe accident within the historical past of Method E with a spin at Saturday’s Method E race in Rome, by which thankfully no driver was injured. Within the blind high-speed curve 6 (approx. 210 km/h), the Jaguar driver stopped in the course of the lane after a spin and needed to watch as Sebastien Buemi hit him badly on the rear and a little bit later Edoardo Mortara rammed him into his aspect . Six vehicles have been destroyed within the Rome accident, and 4 needed to have their chassis changed in a single day.

Seoul 2022: Eight vehicles crash on the season finale

Saturday’s race on the 2022 season finale in Seoul (South Korea) was overshadowed by a mass collision as early because the second lap. In flip 21, Sam Fowl’s substitute Norman Nato flew off along with his Jaguar and crashed into the limitations. Seconds later he was adopted by a gaggle of seven riders! Dan Ticktum, Sebastien Buemi, Nyck de Vries, Nick Cassidy, Oliver Turvey, Andre Lotterer and Oliver Askew brought about loads of scrap within the nook. The race management determined to cease the race quickly with purple flags. The race solely continued after a 43-minute break.

New York 2022: mass crash within the rain

A sudden rain bathe brought about chaos on the Saturday Method E race in New York 2022. Aquaplaning on the momentary circuit within the Brooklyn waterfront triggered a number of severe accidents, which the drivers concerned survived with out damage. The drivers, with their all-weather tires, have been powerless within the face of the situations.

Particularly at Flip 6, the place first the chief Nick Cassidy flew off and crashed into the limitations. The New Zealander, who was thought of the winner when the race was stopped, was fortunate when the longer term world champion Stoffel Vandoorne and Lucas di Grassi have been solely passengers proper behind him and sped into the Envision vehicles at excessive pace. In the meantime, behind the sphere, Pascal Wehrlein crashed into the rear of a number of vehicles.

Diriyah ePrix 2021: Violent rollover by Lynn

Initially of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia, Alex Lynn brought about what might be probably the most severe accident in Method E historical past to this point. The Mahindra driver climbed over the rear of Mitch Evans Jaguar, rolled over and slid headfirst throughout the observe. His automobile was in all probability fully destroyed. Mahindra workforce boss Dilbagh Gill stated: “The monocoque was smashed. The roll bar was broken, the halo is dented and has deep scratches.” Lynn was taken to a hospital for examinations, which he was in a position to go away after a couple of hours.

Diriyah ePrix 2021: Entrance brakes fail at Mortara

There had already been a severe accident initially of the seventh season of the electrical racing collection. After the third free observe, Edoardo Mortara hit the TecPro limitations at 140 km/h. The Venturi driver was doing a observe begin when the entrance brakes failed on the way in which to the primary nook. A security mechanism that’s speculated to activate the rear brakes on this case didn’t work. A software program drawback was recognized as the reason for the accident. On impression, the Venturi bolide decelerated with 50G. After investigations, Mortara acquired the go-ahead for the race, however was unable to participate in it as a result of the automobile was not repaired in time.

Mexico Metropolis ePrix 2020: From the racetrack to the hospital and again

Virtually precisely one yr earlier, Daniel Abt had already had an accident of this sort. A software program drawback additionally meant that the automobile didn’t brake as common. He hit the limitations at round 180 km/h. His Audi decelerated with 20G. After that, the person from Kempten had to deal with a veritable marathon. He was taken to a hospital by helicopter. After the examinations he was discovered to be match to race. Actually, he made it again to the Mexico Metropolis circuit in time for the beginning of the ePrix. He began from the final beginning place and completed in 14th place.

Mexico Metropolis ePrix 2019: Piquet flies over Vergne

The Mexico ePrix 2019 was interrupted for 26 minutes after a violent collision between Jean-Eric Vergne and Nelson Piquet. However what occurred? Piquet wished to cross Vergne earlier than the ultimate chicane, however the Frenchman delayed sooner than Piquet anticipated. The Brazilian flew spectacularly over Vergne’s Techeetah in a Jaguar and in addition cleared Alexander Sims’ BMW earlier than he lastly crashed into the wall. Vergne blamed Piquet for braking too late. His opponent within the accident, alternatively, blamed Vergne. The race management penalized neither of them.

Paris ePrix 2018: Crossing the end line on three wheels

Techeetah virtually clinched one other one-two on the 2018 Paris ePrix. Whereas Vergne confidently led the race, Lotterer needed to preserve his power within the struggle for second place. A number of corners earlier than the tip, the German ran out of juice and rolled in the direction of the end line. Audi driver Lucas di Grassi nonetheless managed to swerve. However Sam Fowl rear-ended the Techeetah automobile and made for a spectacular sight as he trudged throughout the end line in third place on solely three wheels.

Santiago ePrix 2018: Techeetah inner workforce scramble

On the 2018 Santiago ePrix, Techeetah driver and later champion Jean-Eric Vergne began from pole place, whereas his teammate André Lotterer began the race from fourth place. Midway by way of the race, Lotterer had labored his approach as much as second place and was chasing victory – and with nice braveness. 4 laps earlier than the tip, Lotterer all of the sudden crashed into the again of the person in entrance, Vergne, on the finish of the lengthy straight! Each vehicles briefly wedged into one another. Confidently, they fell by the wayside and Techeetah surprisingly scored the primary one-two by a workforce in Method E.

Hong Kong ePrix 2017: Vergne backwards to pole place

The tremendous pole initially of the 2017/18 season in Hong Kong was one of many closest selections in Method E qualifying. Sam Fowl and Nick Heidfeld have been solely separated by two thousandths of a second. When Jean-Eric Vergne went on his quick lap, issues bought even tighter and fully insane! The Frenchman touched the wall within the final nook and spun at excessive pace. Because of this, he crossed the end line backwards – but it surely was nonetheless sufficient for him to take pole place with a lead of just some thousandths.

Hong Kong ePrix 2017: Fowl’s pit lane drama

A spectacular accident additionally occurred throughout the race in Hong Kong. The pit lane performed a decisive function on this. Sam Fowl was within the lead for the automobile change that was mandatory on the time, however missed the doorway to his workforce tent as a result of slippery floor. The Brit virtually hit a workforce member who was in a position to save himself with a diving dive on the final second. Fowl subsequently acquired a drive-through penalty. However not due to the damaging state of affairs, however as a result of he had parked his automobile in entrance of the tent and never inside it.

Montreal 2017 ePrix: qualifying departure from Buemi

Earlier than the final two races of the 2016/17 Method E season in Montreal, Sebastien Buemi was battling for the title with Lucas di Grassi. The weekend bought off to a foul begin for the Renault driver from Switzerland. In observe, Buemi touched the inside barrier of the observe at excessive pace in a quick chicane. The wheel suspension broke and he slammed into the wall with out braking. With the automobile unable to be repaired in time for qualifying, Buemi needed to begin the Montreal ePrix from the again. In the long run, the title went to his competitor di Grassi.

Mexico Metropolis ePrix 2017: Mahindra crash in Mexico

A number of laps from the tip of the race, Nick Heidfeld was fifth on the 2017 Mexico ePrix when Renault driver Nico Prost turned him round within the stadium part. First Mitch Evans after which Heidfeld’s teammate Felix Rosenqvist crashed into the standing Mahindra vehicles. Whereas Evans was in a position to end the race within the factors, the 2 Mahindra drivers concerned within the accident remained pointless. The Renault press launch after the race acknowledged that Prost narrowly prevented the collision. Nick Heidfeld referred to as this “various fact”…

London ePrix 2016: title resolution after begin crash

Within the 2015/16 season, Lucas di Grassi and Sebastien Buemi fought for the Method E title. On the finale in London, Buemi began the ePrix from first place forward of his team-mate Prost. Title rival di Grassi lurked in third place. When braking for the primary nook, the Audi driver in entrance Buemi crashed into the rear. Had di Grassi braked too late or the Swiss too early? The pilots have been and are divided on the query of guilt. After the crash, each switched to the second automobile, in spite of everything they have been aiming to set the quickest race lap and thus obtain two further factors. These introduced in regards to the resolution within the title race. In a late present of energy, Buemi drove the quickest lap and thus gained the championship.

Monaco ePrix 2015: Massencrash in Monaco

In 2015, Method E made its debut in Monaco. The electrical racing collection nonetheless makes use of a shortened model of the Method 1 circuit there as we speak. The route is designed to not drive over the hill within the course of the on line casino after St. Commit, however downhill within the course of the port chicane. Initially of the race, this space brought about a spectacular crash. Nico Prost collided with Daniel Abt, Bruno Senna climbed over the Kemptener’s Audi and virtually rolled over. Behind them, half a dozen drivers crashed into the scene of the accident. Fortunately, nobody was damage within the pile-up.

Beijing ePrix 2014: Heidfeld rollover in Beijing

The primary second of shock got here on the debut of Method E. Nico Prost led the Beijing ePrix in 2014 and, in Nick Heidfeld, had an formidable pursuer behind him. Earlier than the final nook, Heidfeld dared to assault and pulled alongside Prost. He realized the state of affairs too late and hit the aspect of the Venturi pilot. Heidfeld misplaced management and was levered out on the curb, in order that he hit the security fence at an incredible top. The previous Method 1 driver later stated of the departure: “One thing higher than such a spectacular accident couldn’t have occurred to Method E within the first race.”