Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s Daniel Abt took home his first career victory in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship on Saturday’s Mexico City ePrix.
Abt seized control of the race during the mid-race car swap, with Audi performing their swap quicker than NIO Formula E Team with driver Oliver Turvey, who had been the leader at the time.
Following the swap, Abt was able to cruise to victory without a challenge, leading Turvey home by more than six seconds at the finish.
. @Daniel_Abt wins the 2018 #MexicoCityEPrix pic.twitter.com/F2B15ksHuj
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) March 3, 2018
Previously, Abt had finished first in Race 2 at Hong Kong back in December, but a technical infringement saw him get disqualified, giving the win to Mahindra Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist.
Turvey managed to hang on to second following a close battle with Sebastien Buemi, Nelson Piquet Jr., and Jean-Eric Vergne, while Buemi rounded out the podium ahead of both Piquet Jr. and Vergne.
Mahindra Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist looked set to take his third win of the 2017-18 season, leading the opening 14 laps after starting on the pole. However, his car ground to a halt exiting the final corner on Lap 15, dropping him to the back of the field. While he tried continuing on, Rosenqvist was eventually forced to retire the car after it stopped on two more occasions.
.@FRosenqvist stopped on track, handing the lead to @OliverTurvey. Rosenqvist is back underway #MexicoCityEPrix pic.twitter.com/yCw3m5Kuyw
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) March 3, 2018
Rosenqvist’s troubles see Vergne increase his championship lead to 12 points (81 to 69). Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird, who finished 17th, sits in third on 61 points, while Abt moved up to sixth in the standings with 37 points.
Full results can be found here. Formula E next heads to Uruguay for the Punta del Este ePrix on March 17.