Di Grassi takes championship lead with Montreal win
Lucas Di Grassi has taken the lead of the Formula E championship with a race win in Montreal.
The Brazilian controlled the race from lights to flag, defending from Jean-Eric Vergne in the closing stages of the race.
Championship rival Sebastien Buemi started 12th after a penalty for a battery change following his crash in free practice. The Renault e.dams driver was caught in an opening lap incident with Robin Frijns, which knocked his steering.
Buemi spent the rest of the stint picking his way up through the order with the broken steering. He was running just inside the top 10, behind Daniel Abt, when the full course yellows neutralised the race to clear Nick Heidfeld’s stranded Mahindra.
In the pit lane, Buemi was left frustrated, running behind a slow moving Abt. Buemi then exited his pit into the path of Abt, causing the German to jump on his brakes. Abt tapped the back of Buemi’s car as they left the pits.
Buemi was investigated for an unsafe release, but no further action was warranted.
Now up to eighth and ninth, Buemi and Abt climbed up through the field together. They finished fourth and fifth, just behind the Techeetah of Stephane Sarrazin.
Sam Bird took sixth, climbing from the back of the field after a difficult qualifying.
After his best qualifying of the season, Nico Prost fell down the order to finish seventh, just ahead of Mitch Evans and Robin Frijns.
Felix Rosenqvist had been on for a top four finish when he clipped the wall in the closing stages of the race, damaging his steering and dropping down through the order.