Disappointment for Audi in Formula E opener
- Winner Daniel Abt excluded after alleged administrative mistake of the team
- Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler announces appeal
- Lucas di Grassi without points in season opener
The turbulent Formula E season opener in Hong Kong ended in disappointment for Audi. On Sunday night, Daniel Abt was stripped of the victory he had deservedly clinched on track in the worldwide electric racing series due to an alleged administrative mistake. Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler has notified its intent to appeal against the exclusion from the classification.
During post-race scrutineering, the Technical Stewards had noted a mismatch between part numbers in the technical passport and the car. The exclusion from the classification was made even though the parts are identical and all fully correspond to homologation.
“Daniel (Abt) drove fantastically on both days and absolutely deserves this victory,” says Allan McNish, Team Principal of Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler. “What we are apparently suspected of is a administrative mistake in the car’s passport that didn’t give us any advantage at all. We want the opportunity to be able to clarify all details, that’s why we’ve announced the intent to appeal.”
In race one on Saturday, Daniel Abt had taken fifth place following a fightback. Title defender Lucas di Grassi remained without points on both days – following a damaged suspension on Saturday and due to a battery issue on Sunday.
“That we had a strong race performance on both days is a positive,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “But it goes without saying that we had a somewhat different idea of Sunday night.”
