Formula E: Evans Grabs Jakarta E-Prix Win; Vergne's Win Draught Continues

Mitch Evans managed the race brilliantly to win the 2022 Jakarta E-Prix from the DS Techeetah of Jean-Eric Vergne, who held on to second place ahead of Edoardo Mortara. The Jaguar TCS Racing driver started the race in P3, and moved up to P2 in the early stages of the race. He then cleverly held on to his final attack mode and deployed it towards the end of the race, helping him into the lead.

Jean-Eric Vergne is yet to win a race this season despite being just 5 points off the championship lead.

The race got underway without much drama, until a wheel came loose off Oliver Rowland's Mahindra, which forced him to retire and brought out an early safety car. As the race resumed, both the DS Techeetah cars locked up their wheels in the same corner, and Mitch Evans capitalized on this by overtaking Antonio Felix Da Costa, who started in second place.

We're back racing! @mitchevans_ immediately makes a move up into P2, following this double lock up from the @DSTECHEETAH drivers ????

LIVE timing ???? https://t.co/UA9ig2D3Mc

???????? 2022 #JakartaEPrix pic.twitter.com/0Ows30jP5t

— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) June 4, 2022

A little while later in the race, both the DS Techeetah cars activated their attack modes on the same lap, and Da Costa attempted to get past Evans, but wasn't successful in doing so. He later lost P3 to Edouardo Mortara, and had to battle with championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne's Mercedes to keep 4th place. After losing the race lead while activating his second attack mode, polesitter Jean-Eric Vergne retook the race lead from Evans using the 13 per cent extra power available in the attack mode duration. However Mitch Evans still had an attack mode left in the bag which he reserved to use deeper in the race.

Evans only triggered the second attack mode once he was a decent amount of time clear of Mortara in 3rd place, and came out in front of him by the smallest of margins to retain P2 after activating attack mode. This left him with plenty of energy and a clear road up ahead to go on the chase after the race leader. He eventually caught Vergne and made a dive-bomb move on him to grab the race lead.

WHAT A MOVE from @mitchevans_ ????

He swoops down the inside of @JeanEricVergne for the lead in Jakarta!

LIVE timing ???? https://t.co/UA9ig2D3Mc

???????? 2022 #JakartaEPrix pic.twitter.com/FhsyJaftQ6

— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) June 4, 2022

Vergne applied tons of pressure on the New Zealander - especially in the last 2 laps - which allowed Mortara to close into the battle for the lead. It could have gone either way between the 3 of them in the closing stages, but Vergne ended up aggressively defending instead of attacking Evans as he ran out of battery and the top 3 finished as is, with only 1 second separating the trio. While Vergne is still to win a race this season, this result saw him inch that much closer to championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne. Mitch Evans now sits in P3 behind Vergne, and Mortara in P4, with only 12 points separating the 4 drivers.

THIS ENDING, THOUGH?! ????????@mitchevans_, @JeanEricVergne & @edomortara all battling it out to the line, for the win - absolutely incredible!

If you need us, we'll be watching this on repeat...

???????? 2022 #JakartaEPrix pic.twitter.com/AiMRAmDMRL

— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) June 4, 2022

Race Result - 2022 Formula E Round 9 Jakarta E-Prix

Formula E World Driver's Championship Standings After Round 9