Closed Circuit: DS Virgin in Berlin

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A mixed weekend for DS Virgin ended with the team moving up to third in the team’s championship, as Jean-Eric Vergne continued his run of top finishes.

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DS Virgin got off to a flying start in Berlin, continuing the momentum from Paris. Practice two saw both drivers in the top three, with Bird at the top of the timing sheet for most of the session.

The impressive times continued into qualifying, when Vergne managed to get into the SuperPole shoot out for the first time since Beijing. Vergne took pole position, whilst Bird managed to start in the top five after disqualifations ahead of him.

From the start of the race, the wheels came off for Virgin. Vergne wasn’t able to keep the lead of the race from championship contender Sebastien Buemi, whilst a collision between Daniel Abt and Bird sent the Brit into the pits to change his front wing.

Vergne eventually finished fifth, his points finish boosting DS Virgin into the top three of the teams’ championship, but Bird left Berlin without points, making his chance at the championship even smaller.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b572e1cc-3a628fd0-ac0a”][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%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%229%3B14%3B3%3B1%3B11%3B2%3B1%3B4%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jean-Eric%20Vergne%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%225%3B13%3B17%3B15%3B6%3B11%3B3%3B1%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-3a628fd0-ac0a”][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%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%227%3B2%3B17%3B1%3B6%3B6%3B6%3B11%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jean-Eric%20Vergne%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2212%3B18%3B7%3B11%3B16%3B13%3B2%3B5%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-3a628fd0-ac0a”][vc_column_text]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Team Principal Alex Tai: “I am extremely proud of both drivers. The decision was an unfortunate one for Sam, who would have no doubt had a fantastic drive had the damage not occurred, however he still showcased his talent by moving up from P14 to P11. Jev excelled during Superpole which proves that we are moving in the right direction. We have two very talented drivers and now it’s looking like we have a fast car, we now have more pole positions than any other team and we have just knocked Dragon Racing off third spot in the championship. London is going to be a big one for us but the team and the drivers are improving with every race and I look forward to what lies ahead. We’re in a good place.”[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Head of DS Performance Xavier Mestelan Pinon: “It’s becoming clear that we have made major improvements on the car, I am pleased that both drivers have now managed to achieve a pole position with the DSV-01. We are still facing certain challenges that our team are working on but for now I would just like to congratulate the team on their hard work, which as we have seen today, has paid off.”[/pullquote]

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Bird started off the weekend with a fifth place in the first practice session and very almost taking the top spot in the second qualifying session.

Qualifying didn’t go quite to plan for the Brit, who qualified just outside the SuperPole positions in sixth. With both Mahindra drivers ahead of him disqualified from qualifying group, Bird was bumped up to fourth for the start of the race.

Bird was immedietly on the attack, challenging Abt for third place, but a small collision between the two of them damaged Bird’s front wing endplate. The stewards called for the Brit to pit and, though the team argued against it, Bird eventually had to pit to change his front wing.

The pit stop took Bird out of the battle at the front of the field, dropping him to fourteenth. The Brit managed to climb back up to eleventh, but finished outside the points, and leaves Berlin 58 points behind Buemi.

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Best time in FP1: 59.236.

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Best time in FP2: 57.922.

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Best time in qualifying: 57.838.

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Best time in the race: 1:00.229.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 62.790s (difference: 0.790).

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[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I’m really disappointed with this decision. I didn’t expect a black flag for such minimal damage, as I said on the radio I don’t believe the front end plate was that lose and that decision means it’s now extremely difficult for me to contend for the driver’s championship.” [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I’m really pleased for the team. We’ve wanted to challenge Dragon Racing in the championship for a long time and although today was a disappointment for me, it was a triumph for the team. I will now be focusing on London which will no doubt be an epic finale to the season.” [/pullquote]

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Vergne had said in Paris he was in a different mind set now the championship has reached Europe, and it definitely seems that way. The Frenchman started the race on pole after setting a time in the SuperPole 0.016 seconds faster than Sebastien Buemi.

Straight off of the line, Buemi attempted to take the lead from the Frenchman, but Vergne managed to keep at the front of the field until lap six, when Buemi finally got ahead of him.

Vergne began to fall down the field, losing places to Abt, Nico Prost, and Lucas Di Grassi, but he eventually finished the race in fifth with no other drama.

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Best time in FP1: 59.789.

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Best time in FP2: 58.066.

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Best time in qualifying: 57.603.

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Best time in the race: 1:00.045.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 62.589s (difference: 0.589).

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[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“When you start in Pole Position you want to win the race and today was no exception but Buemi is extremely quick. I knew when he overtook me for the second time that he was gone and I wouldn’t be able to catch him. I also think the other drivers that overtook me were also quick. We did great to get Pole Position and I think it goes to show just what a good job the team have done to improve the car but I also know I couldn’t have done better than 5th place today. I still gained valuable points for the team which has moved us to third in the championship and I’m really pleased with that. It’s what the team deserves.” [/pullquote]

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Images courtesy of Rajan Jangda

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