Formula E: Maiden victory for Alexander Sims

After starting from pole position for the second time in two days, Alexander Sims (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) clinched his maiden Formula E victory today at Saudia Diriyah ePrix, the double-header event that opened the 2019-2020 FIA Formula E Championship season.

On Saturday, Sims finished just eighth but today he manages to finally climb on the top podium spot in his 15th Formula E race in a career. Sims also takes the lead in the championship after two races in Saudi Arabia, with the five-point (35:30) advantage over Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes Formula E Team), who recorded two third-place finishes in two days.

Alexander Sims started the race from pole and scored his first Formula E victory

Provisionally, Sunday’s race ended with BMW’s 1-2 victory because Maximilian Guenther crossed the finish line in second place. But, Guenther lost his podium finish after the FIA found him in breach of the regulations for overtaking Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s Lucas di Grassi while the Safety Car was out. His penalty promoted Di Grassi to the second place while Vandoorne progressed from P4 to P3.

The other point scorers in the second race were Edoardo Mortara (Venturi Racing, 4th), Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams, 5th), Daniel Abt (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler, 6th), James Calado (Jaguar Racing, 7th), Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Techeetah, 8th), Brendon Hartley (Geox Dragon Racing) and Antonio Felix da Costa (DS Techeetah).

The winner of Saturday’s race Sam Bird retired on Sunday and now he’s third in the championship standings ahead of the third race in January 2020 in Santiago, Chile.