McLaren will be down to one car for the first Rome Formula E race on Saturday afternoon due to Jake Hughes’ heavy qualifying crash.
Hughes was third-fastest in his qualifying group when he lost control over a bump and slewed into the wall, before spearing back across the circuit for a second impact – unable to control the car due to the initial suspension damage.
A nasty smash for @McLarenFE’s @JakeHughesRace with the Group B session ending under a Red Flag. @mitchevans_, @Sebastien_buemi, @ReneRastRacing and @edomortara progress to the Duels ⚔️@Hankook_Sport #RomeEPrix pic.twitter.com/px6CO2aPPb
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 15, 2023
Though the medical crew was instantly deployed due to the size of the crash – and Hughes was initially silent on team radio – he was soon declared to be unhurt.
“Must have hit a bump slightly different to the lap before but it was all a bit sudden,” Hughes wrote on social media.
“A shame as we had strong pace by the looks of it.”
But McLaren faced an immediate problem because it shares a spare chassis with its powertrain supplier Nissan, and that had already been claimed by factory Nissan driver Norman Nato following an incident in Friday practice.
Soon after qualifying it ascertained that there was no way Hughes’ damaged car could be repaired in the three-hour gap before the race – which was the only option with no spare available.
“Unfortunately, a combination of high damage to the car, and our shared spare manufacturer chassis already being taken up earlier this weekend by the Nissan Formula E team, leaves us in a position where we are unable to repair the car in time for the race,” said a McLaren statement.
“The team has started the hard work ahead to ensure we are back tomorrow with both cars.”
Hughes’ team-mate Rene Rast starts fifth behind the all-Jaguar front row of Mitch Evans and Sam Bird, works Nissan driver Sacha Fenestraz and Envision Jaguar runner Sebastien Buemi.
