Formula E

Mercedes, Porsche on podium in Formula E debut but Bird wins

Matthew Scott Friday 22 November 2019 14:00 Updated: 14:34

Mercedes, Porsche on podium in Formula E debut but Bird wins

Both Mercedes and Porsche made the podium in their first Formula E races, but Sam Bird took victory for Envision Virgin Racing in Saudi Arabia, ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne and Andre Lotterer.

The two German automobile giants had spoken of tempering excitement ahead of the sixth season of FE but started with a bang.

Vandoorne was in position to win the race late on after a bold passing move on Bird, but he resumed the lead of the race when the Belgian took his second dose of attack mode and dropped behind the Virgin car and Lotterer.

Bird has won at least one race in every Formula E season. He also started the 2017-18 campaign with a victory and secured a career-best third place in the drivers' championship that season.

Vandoorne competed in FE for Mercedes' affiliate HWA last season, securing a sole podium in Rome, but his and Nyck de Vries' strong qualifying augurs well for the Silver Arrows to compete strongly in yet another discipline of motorsport.

Reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne retired from the race.

Latest News

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Hamilton in MILLION DOLLAR offer as champion issues EMOTIONAL health update

12 minutes ago

F1 Superstars

Norris makes 'LUCK' claim following damaging Verstappen defeat

3 hours ago

Lewis Hamilton

New Hamilton TEAM SWITCH announcement rescues torrid weekend

Today 12:58

Latest F1 News

Red Bull 'call for NEW FIA investigation' into F1 rivals

Today 11:58

F1 News & Gossip

Mercedes star calls for MAJOR F1 change

Today 10:57

Latest F1 News

Audi F1 target speaks out over 2025 signing

Today 09:57

More news

F1 Race Calendar 2024

GP ITALY 17 - 19 May

Max Verstappen

GP MONACO 24 - 26 May

GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun

George Russell

GP GREAT BRITAIN 5 - 7 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP HUNGARY 19 - 21 Jul

Oscar Piastri

GP BELGIUM 26 - 28 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP NETHERLANDS 23 - 25 Aug

Lando Norris

GP ITALY 30 Aug - 1 Sep

Charles Leclerc

GP AZERBAIJAN 13 - 15 Sep

Oscar Piastri

GP SINGAPORE 20 - 22 Sep

Lando Norris

GP USA 18 - 20 Oct

Charles Leclerc

GP MEXICO 25 - 27 Oct

GP QATAR 29 Nov - 1 Dec

GP ABU DHABI 6 - 8 Dec

Complete kalender 2024

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

Mercedes, Porsche on podium in Formula E debut but Bird wins

Mercedes, Porsche on podium in Formula E debut but Bird wins