Edoardo Mortara’s Formula E World Championship lead has been cut from 13 points to five by a post-race penalty following the first New York City E-Prix.
Venturi Mercedes driver Mortara had spent most of the race in the lower part of the top 10 before making late progress as the rain hit.
He was among those who aquaplaned into the barriers at Turn 6 when the shower intensified but brought his damaged car back to the pits still running second on the road.
Here's a look at exactly what happened in the wild crash that ended Formula E's #NYCEPrix when the leaders all aquaplaned into the wall – via Hugo Morales – IG: @gonzomau pic.twitter.com/AklA3Yyxhh
— The Race (@wearetherace) July 16, 2022
That became fifth when FE abandoned its efforts to restart the race and the results were taken on countback to the penultimate lap before the stoppage.
With Stoffel Vandoorne fourth, Mitch Evans only 11th and Jean-Eric Vergne down in 18th after being caught in a first-lap tangle, Mortara extended his lead over two of his title rivals and minimised Vandoorne’s inroads into his advantage – the Mercedes driver still 13 points away from Mortara then.
But just over four hours after the result had been declared, Mortara was awarded a 5s time penalty for failing to slow sufficiently during the full course yellow implemented just before the accident.
That would’ve dropped him from fifth to 11th in the results had eighth-place finisher Jake Dennis and Evans not both had the same penalty.
Evans was adjudged to have committed his offence approaching the Turn 6 accident scene, while both Mortara and Dennis were deemed to have done it between Turns 7 and 9.
Mortara therefore ends up ninth officially, while Dennis drops to 10th and Evans ironically stays in 11th.
It leaves Mortara five points ahead of Vandoorne with five races to go this season. Vergne and Evans are 14 and 18 points down respectively.
