The Formula E season opener at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit promised excitement and competition, with high hopes for Envision driver Robin Frijns as Jaguar powertrain users dominated the top positions over the weekend. However, Frijns’ weekend took a turn for the worse as he faced numerous challenges on the track. Alongside Frijns, other drivers also encountered technical issues, resulting in a disappointing day for several participants.
Despite topping his qualifying group, Frijns faced setbacks in his quarter-final duel, leaving him starting the race from the seventh position on the grid. His troubles continued as he experienced a problem off the line, causing him to drop even further down the field. Frijns expressed his frustration, stating, “Struggling with the handling and tried to overtake Edo [Mortara, who had taken his Attack Mode], maybe I put one wheel in the dust, not sure, but I completely lost the rear and it caught me by surprise.” This incident ultimately led to a collision with the barrier, forcing him out of the race. The handling issues he encountered during the race were unexpected, complicating his performance even further.
Technical Faults Add to Frijns’ Woes
Frijns’ race was compromised from the very start as he struggled to get off the line due to a technical fault. Despite having no warning on the dashboard, Frijns experienced a complete loss of drive, which the team believes was the result of an unknown technical issue. Frijns expressed his confusion, saying, “I had no warning on the dash, it just stopped. Not restart it, I just went off power and back on and went again. We don’t know what the problem was, still don’t.” These issues hampered Frijns’ overall performance and added to his disappointment.
Lucas di Grassi: A Day of Braking Problems
Frijns was not the only participant facing challenges during the Formula E season opener. Lucas di Grassi, driving for Abt Cupra, was forced into retirement on the opening lap due to a braking issue. The problem was evident from the first corner of the race, as di Grassi’s car veered into the run-off area at Turn 12. Despite attempting to solve the issue and make a comeback, di Grassi confirmed that it was unsolvable, resulting in his withdrawal from the race. Di Grassi summarized his experience, saying, “We’re going to look at the data, strip the car apart but shit day in the office.” The unexpected braking problem ruined di Grassi’s chances of a successful race and left him frustrated.
In addition to Frijns and di Grassi, Sergio Sette Camara encountered a technical problem that prevented him from even starting the race. Set to begin from the 18th position, Sette Camara’s car experienced a loud noise, followed by smoke, prompting the car to shut down during the installation lap to the grid. Sette Camara described the situation, stating, “There was a very loud noise coming from the back of the car and then some smoke and then the car shut down by itself. I saw the red light which means the car is unsafe, I jumped out and then the FIA said I could not continue.” This unexpected technical issue ended his race before it even began, causing frustration and disappointment.
The Formula E season opener at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit was marred by misfortune and technical problems for several drivers. Robin Frijns, Lucas di Grassi, and Sergio Sette Camara all faced their fair share of challenges throughout the race weekend. From handling issues to unknown technical faults and braking problems, these drivers experienced setbacks that ultimately hindered their performances. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and if the drivers can rebound from their disappointing start.
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