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Closed Circuit: Mahindra Racing in Berlin

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Mahindra Racing leave Berlin wondering what could have been after disqualification from qualifying put them at the back of the grid. An impressive recovery race from Heidfeld and a fastest lap from Senna proved they had the pace to race at the front, but Mahindra left Berlin with only eight points.

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The day started off positive for the team with a best ever qualifying. Both drivers managed to get into the SuperPole shoot out and qualified fourth and fifth, but it was all for nought when it was discovered the tyre pressures on both cars were below the minimum requirement.

The disqualification put the Mahindra duo starting P15 and P16. From there, it was an uphill battle for both drivers. Heidfeld was able to climb up through the field, whilst team mate Senna was forced to pit early to change the front wing.

The team mate the best of the bad start to the weekend, with Heidfeld managing to finish seventh in his home race, and Senna taking points for the fastest lap.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b572e1cc-3a62″][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Bruno%20Senna%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%227%3B%209%3B%209%3B%2016%3B%2017%3B%2010%3B%2013%3B%2015%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nick%20Heidfeld%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%223%3B%2011%3B%200%3B%2013%3B%209%3B%205%3B%2018%3B%2016%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%23f7be68%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Oliver%20Rowland%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B0%3B16%3B0%3B0%3B0%3B0%3B0%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22sandy-brown%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%2358b9da%22%7D%5D” title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: race” tab_id=”1461512175763-831c2584-42cf5043-b572e1cc-3a62″][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Bruno%20Senna%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2213%3B5%3B16%3B10%3B10%3B5%3B9%3B15%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nick%20Heidfeld%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%223%3B9%3B0%3B7%3B8%3B4%3B12%3B7%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%23f7be68%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Oliver%20Rowland%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B0%3B13%3B0%3B0%3B0%3B0%3B0%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22sandy-brown%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%238d6dc4%22%7D%5D” title=”Team mate comparison: race”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The team says: “…“” tab_id=”1461512258191-0360a250-a68c5043-b572e1cc-3a62″][vc_column_text]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Dilbagh Gill said: “We are seeing a regular, consistently fast pace in recent races. In qualifying today, we also got both drivers into the Super Pole and in the race we saw lots of overtaking and also came away with the fastest lap.” [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“While it is great to score good points in these circumstances, it still hurts to know that we missed a key opportunity to fight for the podium today. I can’t fault our approach, however. We performed well in every part of our race day. We knew what we needed to do in the race to make a success of this tricky day.” [/pullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461512214611-352b21f1-c5375043-b572e1cc-3a62″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Mahindra%20Racing%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2215%3B27%3B27%3B34%3B39%3B61%3B65%3B73%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Bruno Senna” color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”outline” color=”green” c_icon=”chevron” active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Bruno Senna’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512310664-cbeb96df-4af05043-b572e1cc-3a62″][vc_column_text]

Senna managed a best ever qualifying in the group stages of qualifying, managing to get into the SuperPole shoot out for the first time after qualifying second. After the shoot out, Senna dropped down to fourth, which would be his best starting position, but he was dropped down to fifteenth after the disqualification.

The opening stages of the race weren’t much better for Senna, who was one of the many drivers to suffer damage at the start. The Brazilian pitted to change his front wing, dropping him out of the lead lap and out of any chance to climb back into the points.

Senna turned his focus to setting the fastest lap, which he managed to secure late on in the race, taking two all-important championship points.

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Best time in FP1: 59.600.

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Best time in FP2: 58.310.

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Best time in qualifying: 57.591.

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Best time in the race: 59.067.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 62.839s (difference: 0.839).

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[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We have had a great weekend here in Berlin. I found our qualifying pace very encouraging and the car felt great. If we had not had this grid penalty I feel we could have fought for a podium today. The nose cone change put us out of contention very early in the race which compromised any chance of a competitive race finish.” [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We switched our strategy to give us the energy to fight for the fastest lap on the second stint. This was hard to achieve as we hadn’t set the downforce of the second car for this type of strategy but it paid off. I am happy to come away with the fastest lap and some points for the team who have worked so hard to achieve these high levels of performance.” [/pullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513704972-abbca216-e1a55043-b572e1cc-3a62″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Bruno%20Senna%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B10%3B10%3B11%3B12%3B22%3B24%3B26%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Nick Heidfeld” color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”outline” color=”green” active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Nick Heidfeld’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512547855-b3644413-70595043-b572e1cc-3a62″][vc_column_text]

Heidfeld also managed to get into the SuperPole shoot out, but the single lap around the streets of Berlin in the shoot out didn’t go well for the German, with a mistake at the end of the lap putting him fifth overall.

The tyre pressure disqualification put Heidfeld in sixteenth on the grid, but the German was quick to recover and made up places on the opening lap. By the time the field reached the midrace car swap, Heidfeld had made his way up to ninth.

Heidfeld was one of the three FanBoost winners but a late safety car stopped him from using the boost to continue his climb up the field, so the German had to settle for seventh in his home race.

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Best time in FP1: 1:00.084.

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Best time in FP2: 58.991.

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Best time in qualifying: 57.736.

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Best time in the race: 1:00.607.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 63.023 (difference: 1.023).

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[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“This has been an intense race day for the whole team. We showed in qualifying this morning that the M2Electro was really suited to this circuit and it was wonderful to have both cars qualify for the Super Pole. Unfortunately we had to start the race from very far back due to the penalty but I am happy with how well we recovered.” [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I enjoyed my home ePrix and it was great to feel confident in the car and be able to really push to gain positions. Our race strategy and pit stops were good and it was very satisfying to go wheel-to-wheel with other drivers and have some fun overtaking on the track, especially in front of a home crowd.”
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513723518-ee223709-f56c5043-b572e1cc-3a62″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nick%20Heidfeld%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2215%3B17%3B17%3B23%3B27%3B39%3B41%3B47%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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Images courtesy of Rajan Jangda

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