Bird takes Formula E championship lead after New York City E-Prix win

Bird maintained the lead ahead of Jaguar teammate Mitch Evans at the start, although it was a close call for the Kiwi as he nearly speared into Bird into Turn 1 when he locked up at the start. 

With Evans running behind, Bird was under no threat as he won by over four seconds at the chequered flag. 

A 1-2 was on the cards for Jaguar until Evans hit the wall in the closing laps, damaging the rear suspension of his car.

Evans plummeted down the order, dropping from second to finish 13th. 

With Evans out of the way, Nick Cassidy finished second ahead of Antonio Felix da Costa in third.

The Porsches ran close behind in fourth and fifth, Pascal Wehrlein ahead of Andre Lotterer.

Alexander Sims finished nine seconds behind Lotterer in sixth, in what was a lonely drive for the Mahindra driver.

Sims was over eight seconds clear of Venturi’s Norman Nato, while Robin Frijns salvaged eighth.

Alex Lynn and Maximilian Gunther benefitted from Evans’ issue and Sergio Sette Camara struggled for energy in the closing laps to complete the points-paying positions.

Lucas di Grassi finished inside the top ten on track but dropped to 14th having been handed a 10-second penalty for colliding with former title rival Sebastien Buemi into Turn 1.

It was a disastrous day for Jean-Eric Vergne, who didn’t get off the line at the start of the E-Prix.

Formula E resumes in two weeks’ time in London.

Click here for the full FIA Formula E race results from the second New York E-Prix.