Putrajaya ePrix Ratings: Renault e.Dams

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Over the course of the season, ERN senior editor Laurence Thorn will be rating the performances of all drivers and teams on each ePrix weekend.

This time around, he takes a look at Renault e.Dams and their two drivers, Sébastien Buemi and Nicolas Prost, in Putrajaya.

[/vc_column_text][cq_vc_tabs contentcolor1=”#1a1a1a” contentbg1=”#ffffff” tabstitle=”Renault e.Dams – 7/10,Sébastien Buemi – 8/10,Nicolas Prost – 6.5/10″ tabsicon=”” titlecolor=”#5da73c” titlebg=”#ffffff” titlehovercolor=”#ffffff” titlehoverbg=”#5da73c” rotatetabs=”0″][tabitem]

Renault e.Dams – 7/10
Software and temperature issues hinder French squad

Following on from a Beijing ePrix in which the new Renault powertrain proved to be the class of the field and Sebastien Buemi took a dominant win, Renault e.Dams were looking on course for a repeat in Putrajaya with Buemi leading from pole. Then on lap 15, double drama struck – Buemi’s car stopped with a systems issue, and on the same lap Nicolas Prost was brought in early for his car swap due to high temperatures. These early stops hindered both drivers’ races, and while Prost was able to salvage a solitary point by finishing in P10, Buemi suffered another issue one lap from the end and could not finish inside the top ten. He did manage to score five points for pole position and fastest lap, however.

Average Rating (2 races): 8

[/tabitem]
[tabitem]

Sébastien Buemi (qualified 1st, finished 12th) – 8/10
Two systems issues ruin Buemi’s race after pole

Two pole positions to start the season have proven beyond doubt what the fastest car/driver combo in Formula E is at the moment. Sebastien Buemi and the Renault-engined e.Dams car are in perfect harmony over a single lap, but while the Swiss driver was able to romp to a dominant win in Beijing, he was prevented from repeating this in Malaysia due to two software issues on his car. The first of these took place on lap 15, while Buemi was leading comfortably ahead of Loic Duval, forcing him to stop on track and then take an early pit stop at the end of the same lap. While putting in a strong recovery drive in the second stint, he was hampered by having to save his battery. On the penultimate lap, the car suffered the same issue and again ground to a halt. Buemi was able to get going again but finished outside the top ten, in P12. He was at least able to set fastest lap on the 22nd lap, to leave Malaysia with five points in the bag, but he has lost his championship lead to Lucas di Grassi.

Average Rating (2 races): 8.75

[/tabitem]
[tabitem]

Nicolas Prost (qualified 5th, finished 10th) – 6.5/10
Only one point due to high battery temperatures

After a retirement in Beijing due to a rear wing failure, Nicolas Prost looked to bounce back in Putrajaya and score big points. Qualifying in P5, four places behind team-mate Buemi, the Frenchman battled with Antonio Felix da Costa in the early stages but was unable to pass the Portuguese driver. He also received pressure from Lucas di Grassi behind, but was eventually able to pass da Costa on lap nine. Six laps later it all went wrong – as team-mate Buemi stopped on track with a systems issue, Prost was called into the pits early due to high battery temperatures. He was leading after the car swaps but faced the impossible task of trying to save two or three laps worth of battery power. He slipped back down the order as the race went on, and took a trip into the barriers three laps from the end, but managed to hold on to finish in tenth place and score his first point of the campaign.

Average Rating (2 races): 6.75

[/tabitem][/cq_vc_tabs][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Images courtesy of FIA Formula E Media

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]