---
title: "London ePrix: A recap of the first championship finale"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/06/30/london-eprix-2015-recap/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Tim Lumb"
section: "Formula E"
published: "2016-06-30T14:04:54Z"
modified: "2016-06-30T14:04:54Z"
---

# London ePrix: A recap of the first championship finale

It’s been a year since the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship concluded at the London ePrix, the Drivers’ Championship decided in the final laps.

Sebastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi were also two of the three contenders going into the final rounds at Battersea Park, but it was Nelson Piquet Jr. leading the latter by 17 points. It was ready to go down to the wire.

The Saturday became the set up for a thrilling final race. Buemi took the pole position convincingly, and set off into the distance at the start. Early on there was a moment between Di Grassi and Piquet Jr., with the two touching when Piquet Jr. tried to pass. He had to miss the chicane, which gave Jean-Eric Vergne the chance to go around the outside of him at Turn 13 and into Turn 14. The Frenchman later on also got past Di Grassi.

![Charles Coates/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/06/478862526.jpg)

The two Brazilians fought later into the first London ePrix, but finished fourth and fifth while Buemi took another 25 points. The results meant that the 17 point gap between first and second in the standings had shrunk to 13 points between all three of them. Renault e.dams wrapped up the Teams’ Championship on the Saturday.

The next day saw rain during qualifying, which threatened to make things more difficult.Buemi was one of the first drivers out while the track was dry, and had already missed out on the Super Pole group after the second group concluded. It didn’t look good at all for the Swiss driver, but the rain came out before Di Grassi and Piquet Jr. had their chance to qualify. They ended up starting the race 11th and 16th respectively.

The final race had many twists. While both Piquet Jr. and Di Grassi were pushing up to get near the top, Buemi was having to make sure he didn’t go backwards. A defining moment came on Lap 16 when Buemi span his car and lost a position. On Lap 24 the three challengers were sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, which put Piquet Jr. just one point ahead in the Drivers’ Championship over Buemi.

![Mark Thompson/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/06/478757782.jpg)

It looked like Buemi would get another chance on the final lap of the race. He tried to pass Bruno Senna at Turn 14-16, with Loic Duval just in front of them, but he wasn’t able to make it through. The Drivers’ Championship went to Nelson Piquet Jr.

We could well be in for another tense end to a Formula E Drivers’ Championship. Di Grassi goes to Battersea Park with the lead, but Buemi is only just one point ahead. It could still come down to one last attempt at a pass or even the fastest lap of the race. We will be covering the action all weekend.