A word from… Lucas di Grassi
We are quite used to fightback drives from you, but was this the most spectacular so far? 15th on the grid, last after two laps and first at the checker?
Lucas di Grassi: “Before we talk about my performance, I have to say a big thank you to my team for this strategy – it was bloody good. When the safety car was deployed for the third time and I lost my advantage, I was briefly frustrated. Under normal circumstances we would have lost the race. But just like in Hong Kong: we never give up, we went to the limit on every lap. And in the end it paid off. A really fantastic win that will now be celebrated.”
What was the key to victory?
“What definitely helped me were the battles behind me. And that Jérôme D’Ambrosio kept the chasing pack busy. In the end this is what tipped the balance, but without the third safety car stage we would never have needed this support.”
How did you manage to drive five or six laps more with the energy available than your rivals?
“A lot of work and plenty of experience. After all I’ve been racing for a few years. In addition of course lots of hard work with the team, for example also simulations of such scenarios. We are very good at adapting to new circumstances. In Formula E you have to master this, because it is a one-day event. We look what happens and react – and in the end this is exactly what will be celebrated.”
Formula E now comes to Europe. The next round in Monaco is your home race …
“Yes, the finish line is 100 meters from front door. We will fight and see what we can do. As far as pure speed is concerned, Renault is perhaps a step ahead, but we are again in a better situation. We’ll work even harder and try to make very few or no mistakes.”
– End –