Formula E: De Vries first winner of the season at Diriyah

A first for Nyck de Vries.

The Dutchman claimed his first Formula E victory on Friday to open Season 7 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Mercedes is entering its second FE season by securing its position among the favorites, having finished the previous one with a first victory, third place for constructors and second for drivers, thanks to De Vries' Belgian teammate Stoffel Vandoorne.

From there to predict a world championship dominated by the Silver Arrows, as in Formula 1?

"There is too much going on in Formula E," said the winner, who led from start to finish after also dominating the two free practice sessions.

“It’s going to be regularity, probably in the last race.

Today everything went well.

It's encouraging, but we must remain humble.

Tomorrow is another day."

"I think we have to get a little angry in the team and show our teeth"

Jean-Eric Vergne

Formula 2 champion in 2019, De Vries (26) started in Formula E with Mercedes in the 2019-2020 season and signed his first podium (2nd) in the last race in Berlin (Germany) in August.

The Swiss Edoardo Mortara (Venturi, customer team of Mercedes) and the New Zealander Mitch Evans (Jaguar), clocked at 4 seconds, completed the podium.

For the Sino-French team DS Techeetah, reigning driver and constructor champion, the game was complicated by an unfavorable starting order at the start of qualifying, and above all by a lack of performance in the race.

Defending Portuguese champion Antonio Félix da Costa, 18th on the grid, and his French teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, 19th, the only double FE champion, climbed to only 11th and 15th places.

“We weren't where we should be.

I don't think it's just the engine (which his team hasn't changed yet this season, unlike most of its competitors, editor's note), I think we need to get a little angry in it. 'team and show our teeth,' then urged Vergne, sacred in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

A revenge is indeed scheduled this Saturday, after a final practice session and new qualifications.

It will be the second ePrix in history to be contested at night, after the premiere this Friday.

Ranking of the 1st ePrix of Diriyah (Saudi Arabia), 1st round of the season:

1. Nyck de Vries (NED / Mercedes) 32 laps

2. Edoardo Mortara (SUI / Venturi) at 4''119

3. Mitch Evans (NZL / Jaguar) 4''619

4. René Rast (GER / Audi) 4''852

5. Pascal Wehrlein (GER / Porsche) 7''962

(...)

15. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA / DS Techeetah) 18 402

Read also

• Jean-Éric Vergne: "At DS, we work like crazy"