The Formula E season opener at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit was marked by disappointment for the Envision drivers. Despite Jaguar powertrain users occupying the top positions over the weekend, the team’s performance fell short of expectations.
The Dutchman, Robin Frijns, entered the race with high hopes after topping his qualifying group. However, a mistake in his quarter-final duel left him seventh on the grid. Unfortunately, Frijns’ race started to unravel from here. An unknown technical fault caused him to struggle to get off the line, resulting in a loss of drive. Frijns described the handling of his car as the worst it had been throughout the entire weekend.
On the eighth lap through Turn 18, Frijns lost control of his car and collided with the barrier, ending his race prematurely. Reflecting on the incident, he admitted that he was struggling with the handling of the car and may have made a mistake while trying to overtake Edo Mortara. Frijns’ disappointment was palpable as he had felt strong prior to the race, making the outcome all the more unfortunate.
Lucas di Grassi, another Envision driver, also faced early disappointment in Mexico City. He was forced into retirement on the opening lap due to a braking issue. The problem was evident right from the first corner, and di Grassi had no choice but to go into the run-off area at Turn 12. He made an attempt to resolve the issue in the garage but quickly realized it was unsolvable.
Di Grassi expressed his frustration, describing it as a “shit day in the office.” The team now plans to analyze the data and strip the car apart to understand the exact cause of the braking issue.
Sergio Sette Camara, scheduled to start 18th in the race, suffered an altogether different setback. He was unable to even take the start of the race due to a technical problem. On the installation lap to the grid, Sette Camara experienced a loud noise coming from the back of his car, followed by smoke. The car shut down by itself, prompting him to jump out. Unfortunately, the FIA made the decision that he could not continue, adding to the disappointment of the Envision team.
The Formula E season opener at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit was nothing short of a disappointment for the Envision team. The high hopes with which they entered the race quickly turned into frustration and despair. Technical faults, handling issues, and unforeseen problems plagued the drivers, ultimately ending the race prematurely for two of them.
As the team analyzes the data and investigates the technical faults, they will undoubtedly be working hard to rectify and improve their performance. With lessons learned from this unfortunate weekend, the Envision team will have to regroup and come back stronger for the next race. Motorsport can be unpredictable, and setbacks are a part of the sport. The true test of a team’s strength lies in how they bounce back from adversity.
While the season opener may not have gone according to plan, the Envision team can use this experience as fuel for their improvement. As they say, sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn.
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