Buemi storms to Marrakesh Formula E victory

Sebastien Buemi recovered from a grid penalty to claim the second round of the FIA Formula E Championship at Marrakesh.

The reigning Formula E champion had to fight his way through from seventh after being issued with a five-place grid penalty following qualifying at the Moroccan street circuit.

Stewards found the fire extinguisher on his e.dams entry to be underweight.

Despite the blow, Buemi managed to edge ahead of long time leader and pole-sitter Felix Rosenqvist with six laps remaining before taking the chequered flag.

Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird followed Buemi home in second, while Rosenqvist was left to settle for third.

Rosenqvist made the best start from pole with the Mahindra runner heading Bird and Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne.

The rookie elected to use more energy than most to open up a four second lead over Vergne, who quickly found a way by Bird for second.

Rosenqvist pitted on lap 16 while Buemi climbed to third after passes on Nico Prost, Daniel Abt and Nelson Piquet Jr.

Once the pit stops had played out, Rosenqvist emerged with a five second lead over Vergne, with Buemi 10 seconds back after an off-track excursion.

A charging Buemi began to reel in the lead group at a rapid rate before being handed second place after Vergne was forced to serve a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pits.

Buemi made light work of the gap in the closing stages as he surged by Resenqvist to take the win as the Swede fell to third behind Bird.

Prost came through to finish fourth ahead Abt’s Lucas di Grassi, who scythed his way through the field from 12th on the grid.

Abt claimed sixth as Oliver Turvey (NextEV), Vergne, Nick Heidfeld (Mahindra) and Jose Maria Lopez completed the top 10.

New Zealand’s Mitch Evans finished a lap down in 17th position for Jaguar.

Buemi holds a 22 point lead in the championship ahead of the third round at Buenos Aires, Argentina on February 18.

Result: FIA Formula E Championship Marrakesh ePrix