R12 – Shanghai E-Prix

Wehrlein led the pack away down through Turn 1 with Dennis going the long way around Evans for P2 with everyone keen to get on with it and push for track position as the win rose and dark rain clouds loomed large.

The Porsche scrapped with Dennis’ Andretti, briefly changing places for the lead on Lap 4 with the field three wide wide for large parts of the lap. The Brit did take P1 on Lap 6 through Sector 2, and the instruction over his radio was “elbows out” with the drizzle continuing to fall.

Dennis led da Costa, Wehrlein, Guenter, Evans, Buemi, Mueller, Rowland, Vergne and Drugovich on Lap 7.

Porsche told Wehrlein to fight back and put his foot down to hit the front, even if it meant using more energy. The Season 10 champion did just that at the end of Lap 7 to retake the lead from Dennis.

Standings leader, Evans had a percent or so of usable energy in-hand on the rest of the top 10 as he sat sixth.

The Pit Boost window opened on Lap 13, with Drugovich leading a gaggle into the pitlane a lap later.

The first of the front runners to box were Werhlein, da Costa and Rowland on Lap 15. On track leader Dennis pitted next lap.

When the race order all shook out, Wehrlein, da Costa and Vergne led Dennis, Rowland and Evans.

The rain really closed in on Lap 19, with the safety car deployed due to the conditions. Lap 23 and the racing resumed with Wehrlein the field away as the majority jumped for their 50kW all wheel drive Attack Mode boost – a good move with the water down on the circuit.

Mortara – who’d gone early in Attack – then had a fight on with Dennis for P3. He held on for half a lap but ultimately the all-wheel drive Andretti in Attack Mode was able to make it by.

Wehrlein strode away from the restart to take the chequered flag, heading da Costa and Dennis home.

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