Closed Circuit: Dragon Racing in Berlin

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It was another disappointing day for the Dragon Racing squad, who were hoping to see a return to the pace they had shown earlier in the year when Jerome d’Ambrosio won in Mexico and Loic Duval threatened victory in Putrajaya. There were some promising signs in practice, but it was a completely different story in the race as d’Ambrosio’s qualifying penalty prevented his progress while Duval crashed out in the late stages.

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The second half of the season has not been as kind to Dragon Racing as the first half. The team has only scored ten points since d’Ambrosio’s victory in Mexico, and hoped that Berlin could see a return to form.

The pace shown in practice gave the team hope, as Duval finished sixth in both sessions while d’Ambrosio was also in the top ten in FP1. Qualifying was more of a struggle as the duo provisionally occupied the sixth row of the grid, before the stewards found d’Ambrosio’s tyres to be at an irregular pressure, prompting to Belgian to be kicked to the back of the grid. Duval lined up ninth.

It wouldn’t get much better in the race either, as the confined d’Ambrosio couldn’t make much progress through the field and was classified as three laps down by the end of the ePrix. Duval endured a miserable race, dropping out of the points after the pit stops before sliding his car into the barriers on lap 40. For the second race running, Dragon Racing left having not added to their point tally and as a result lost third in the team standings to DS Virgin Racing.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b572e1cc-3a629281-1a1b”][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%22Loic%20Duval%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%228%3B%203%3B%202%3B%2012%3B%207%3B%2016%3B%2016%3B%209%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jerome%20d’Ambrosio%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2210%3B%207%3B%201%3B%2010%3B%201%3B%209%3B%2011%3B%2018%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%23f7be68%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-3a629281-1a1b”][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%22Loic%20Duval%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%224%3B%2016%3B%204%3B%206%3B%204%3B%208%3B%2018%3B%2018%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jerome%20d’Ambrosio%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%225%3B%2014%3B%203%3B%2016%3B%201%3B%207%3B%2011%3B%2016%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%23f7be68%22%7D%5D” title=”Team mate comparison: race”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The team says: “…“” tab_id=”1461512258191-0360a250-a68c5043-b572e1cc-3a629281-1a1b”][vc_column_text]

Unfortunately no points for the team @Berlin_ePrix Roll on to the double header @London_ePrix!

— Dragon Racing (@DragonRacing) May 21, 2016

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Having retired from his home ePrix last time out in Paris, Duval was looking to make amends in Berlin with a return to the points. A pair of sixth place finishes in practice showed the potential pace of the Dragon car, but come qualifying ninth was the best that the Frenchman could muster.

Duval was able to hold onto a points-paying position in the first stint, running as high as second at one point as he stayed out a lap later than those around him. The Frenchman continued to flirt with the points, but on lap 40 lost the back end into turn eight and careered into the barrier, ending his race.

Having been a strong contender for victories early in the season, Duval will no doubt be disappointed with his current form, but can take comfort from the fact that the next event will be the scene of an excellent podium last season.

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Best time in FP1: 59.255 (P6)

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Best time in FP2: 58.263 (P6)

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Best time in qualifying: 58.298 (P11, promoted to P9 after penalties for other drivers)

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Best time in the race: 1:00.108 (Lap 33)

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 62.527 (difference: 0.527).

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It was a day of going nowhere for d’Ambrosio, as a grid penalty forced the Belgian to start the race from dead last. With overtaking opportunities hard to come by, d’Ambrosio could only come home 16th and last out of the remaining runners.

The Mexico ePrix winner had hoped that he could return to the sharp end and showed some decent pace with a top ten result in FP1, but his day was effectively ended when the stewards ruled after qualifying that his tyre pressures were not within the strict allowance set by the FIA. His lap time was struck from the record, but he was allowed to start the race.

Two pit stops in the race only compounded the Belgian’s misery as he lingered at the back, eventually being classified only ahead of Rene Rast and team mate Loic Duval, who both retired. d’Ambrosio achieved two second place finishes in London last year, and the Belgian will be hoping for a similar performance to consolidate his fourth place in the championship standings.

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Best time in FP1: 59.482 (P8)

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Best time in FP2: 59.178 (P13)

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Best time in qualifying: 58.501 (P12, demoted to back of grid following penalty)

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Best time in the race: 59.070 (Lap 38)

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 73.068 (difference: 11.068).

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Images courtesy of Rajan Jangda

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