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Formula E: A Hat Trick of Wins for Sebastien Buemi

By Alex Herbst

2015/2016 FIA Formula E Championship.Berlin ePrix, Berlin, Germany.Saturday 21 May 2016.Sebastien Buemi (SUI), Renault e.Dams Z.E.15 celebrates in Parc fermePhoto: Andrew Ferraro/LAT/Formula Eref: Digital Image _14P4622
2015/2016 FIA Formula E Championship.Berlin ePrix, Berlin, Germany.Saturday 21 May 2016.Sebastien Buemi (SUI), Renault e.Dams Z.E.15 celebrates in Parc fermePhoto: Andrew Ferraro/LAT/Formula Eref: Digital Image _14P4622 /
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The dominant driver in Formula E in 2016 carried his strength into the new year. Sebastien Buemi takes another win, this time on the streets of Buenos Aires.

One of the few racing series to cross between two calendar years involves the top electric single-seater series in the world. Formula E is back from their winter holiday, and head to the southern hemisphere for their first race of 2017. The site of their return is the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where one driver continues their hot streak of winning and dominating races.

Defending Formula E champion Sebastien Buemi had the hot hand to end 2016. He won the first two races of the electric season and looked to become the first to win the first three in series history. It would also mark three different winners in as many races on the streets of Buenos Aires.

Qualifying for the Buenos Aires ePrix proved to be more of a drift show than speed session. A lack of grip in key turns made it nearly impossible for drivers to hang on, leading to many making contact with the concrete walls. When the dust settled, Lucas di Grassi earned his first career Formula E pole.

As the 37-lap race got underway, di Grassi pulled away at the start, holding off a hard-charging Buemi and Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne. However, the Brazilian’s time at the front was short-lived, falling through the grid in the first stint to as low as sixth. Jean-Eric Vergne would then take the top spot.

Meanwhile, there were other problems around the course while the front cars pulled away. Jaguar’s Adam Carroll never got off the starting grid, while Sam Bird made contact with the wall, leading to him entering his second car prematurely and therefore unable to finish. Later in the show, Felix Rosenqvist would have problems in the pits, dooming any hopes he had of earning points.

Nearing the car swap, Sebastien Buemi was on a rail and could not be stopped. He would pass Jean-Eric Vergne for the lead cleanly, and never looked back. He conserved his energy over the second stint, managed the gap he held with the lead over Vergne, and cruised to victory in the Buenos Aires ePrix.

Coming home with the win, Buemi expanded his large points lead to an enormous 29 points over Lucas di Grassi, who came home in third. Jean-Eric Vergne finished second, while Nicolas Prost and Nelson Piquet Jr. rounded out the top five.

Here are the full results from the Buenos Aires ePrix:

  1. Sebastien Buemi, Renault eDAMS
  2. Jean-Eric Vergne, Techeetah
  3. Lucas di Grassi, Audi Schaeffler Team ABT
  4. Nicolas Prost, Renault eDAMS
  5. Nelson Piquet Jr., NEXTEV TCR
  6. Loic Duval, Dragon Racing
  7. Daniel Abt, Audi Schaeffler Team ABT
  8. Jerome d’Ambrosio, Dragon Racing
  9. Oliver Turvey, NEXTEV TCR
  10. Jose Maria Lopez, DS Virgin Racing
  11. Antonio Felix da Costa, Andretti Autosport
  12. Stephane Sarrazin, Venturi Racing
  13. Mitch Evans, Jaguar Racing
  14. Robin Frijns, Andretti Autosport
  15. Nick Heidfeld, Mahindra Racing
  16. Ma Qing Hua, Techeetah
  17. Adam Carroll, Jaguar Racing
  18. Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing
  19. Maro Engel, Venturi Racing
  20. Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing

Next: Five Racing Series You Should Be Watching

The next race for the Formula E World championship will come in a little more than a month’s time from the only permanent circuit on the schedule. Catch the Mexico City ePrix from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on April 1. Coverage can be seen on FS1 and Fox Sports Go.

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