(Motorsport news) Mercedes AMG driver Nyck De Vries wrapped up the 7th season of Formula E in the last race at Berlin. Mercedes EQ had plenty to celebrate as Nyck’s teammate Stoffle Vandoorne helped them win their first constructor championship. De Vries was leading the world championship heading into the Berlin leg but a horrendous qualifying meant that he started 19th in the penultimate race. Although he made up places, an unfortunate puncture meant that he finished 22nd. This bad race had a lot of consequence as his championship rival Jake Dennis finished the race 5th and closed the title fight to only a point heading into the final race.
In the last race of the season Jake Dennis was required to finish ahead of De Vries as other championship compatriots Mitch Evans and Mortara crashed out in the very first lap. Jake was coming 7th but an over-ambitious overtake cost him his first world championship. This meant that Nyck De Vries took home the championship as he finished 8th in the race. In all honesty, he was rewarded for being the most consistent driver over the 15 races which eventually led him to the title.
Also read: Mahindra Racing record fifth victory in Formula E
The Mahindra racing team had a relatively topsy turvy season as they finished 9th in the constructor championship. Their highlight of the season was certainly when Alex Lynn took home only Mahindra's fifth victory in Formula E history. It was certainly a moment for the Indian motorsports fans to cherish as the Indian national anthem played. Dilbagh Gill (team principal of Mahindra) believes that with Mahindra’s Formula E team they will be able to get back the forgotten motorsport fan base as they proudly represent the tricolour at the world stage.
Having started in 2014, Formula E has grown exponentially since the inauguration as the appeal of faster and close overtaking on street tracks entices the fans to watch it. While it still has time to win over some racing purists, it has created its own brand of entertainment with enviable race calendars and top manufacturers from all over the world. The race calendar for next year is even more enviable as the races will take place in Seoul in South Korea, Vancouver in Canada and Cape Town in South Africa but the championship will be without their two biggest manufacturers in BMW and Audi. Latest reports also claim that the Mercedes EQ team might leave Formula E after next season. Motorsport championships have always been reliant on the whims of manufacturers, but it’s certainly not a positive trend, and one that Formula E bosses will have to address.
