Lucas di Grassi’s ride from Hong Kong bridesmaid to Formula E champion
The Brazilian lays the foundation for his maiden title by scything through the field to finish second in the season opener
Brazilian ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport racer Lucas di Grassi arrived in Hong Kong for the season opener feeling he had a point to prove, to himself as much as the motor racing public, after finishing third and second, respectively, across the first two seasons of Formula E.
Di Grassi did not win the Hong Kong event – that honour went to his fierce rival Sebastien Buemi of Renault e.dams – but the way he tore through the field to finish second, after starting the race in 19th on the grid, showed the mindset the Brazilian carried with him all season.
History will now show that a seventh-placed finish in 2016-17’s final race in Montreal was enough for Di Grassi to claim the title but you have to dig a little deeper to discover the true nature of his breakthrough title win.
Watch: Lucas di Grassi wins maiden Formula E title
Six races into the season and the Brazilian found himself 43 points behind runaway leader Buemi – and a leg broken on the eve of the Berlin double-header made matters look even worse. But Di Grassi drove through the pain in Germany, picking up a vital win in the first race.