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Tom Blomqvist’s first Formula E world championship point since April was achieved against the backdrop of a compromising operational issue for the NIO333 team during the Berlin double-header weekend.
Blomqvist had caused a sensation in qualifying by putting his NIO333 001 car in fifth position on the grid for Sunday’s second race.
This was despite seven members of the team having to self-isolate after one tested positive for COVID-19 on the Wednesday before the race.
This meant that the team had to source extra personnel and several utility workers were blended into the team ahead of the weekend. These included staff contracted to the Mahindra and Mercedes EQ teams who were seconded to the Chinese-entered team.
NIO333’s efforts were rewarded with Blomqvist’s point, which came just a day after he was taken out of contention on the first lap of the Saturday race.
“For us, a tiny outfit, competing against these big dogs and to be able to get a point for us is a huge thing.” :: Tom Blomqvist
“Obviously it’s been a tough weekend for the NIO333 team because of the situation we were in, it was super hard on everyone,” Blomqvist told The Race.
“Coming into today [Sunday] we were a bit down anyway from yesterday’s crash where I had another race where I got hit on the first lap and the car was damaged, but we also just lacked pace.”
Blomqvist explained that he took a devil-may-care attitude to the final race of the season after several disappointments where he’s suffered contact and damage in recent previous races.
“In quali we made a few small tweaks and I just said, “oh f*** it, I’ve got nothing to lose,” he said.
“I thought I’m just going to go for it and it’s either going to work out or be a complete disaster and yeah, it really surprised me and I think the team.
“It was a really nice feeling when I crossed the line, and I opened the radio and you can hear all the team clapping.”
Blomqvist was keen to acknowledge the role that rival teams played in the team achieving its best result for five months.
“So I knew that was a big boost for the team but we also have to thank Mercedes and Mahindra as well, like, they lent us a few mechanics which was obviously very kind of them,” he said.
“It is great from the paddock to lend us a hand like that, it’s made our lives a little easier over the last two days.”
Blomqvist’s race had some fortune with the two safety car periods playing into his hands after he’d dropped momentarily out of the points in the closing stages.
But when Jean-Eric Vergne fell back in the closing stages, Blomqvist was able to capitalise and claim the final point.
“I was in 11th on that last lap and I could see it all kicking off ahead of me,” he said.
“It was like a victory for us and I was really happy that we could end the season because it’s been another tough one for the team.
“Although we’ve made progress, the reality is that this championship is so competitive, I think it’s stronger than it’s ever been.
“For us, a tiny outfit, competing against these big dogs and to be able to get a point is a huge thing.
“I’m really happy today, the season’s been a bit mixed really, there’s been some good moments and some moments where we’ve really struggled but I think this is a nice way to end the season.”
