How a long drought ending revived a Formula E ace's title challenge

A run of two consecutive retirements, both as a result of damage from contact, had taken Edoardo Mortara out of the Formula E championship lead. Upon arriving at the disused Tempelhof Airport, the apron of the expansive terminals now transformed into a racing circuit, Mortara was fifth overall and 32 points behind championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne – the Belgian having taken a swing of 35 points over the past two races.

In Rome, Mortara had been unceremoniously shuffled into the wall by Antonio Felix da Costa, which broke the suspension on his Venturi chariot, an ailment that became terminal after sliding into the Turn 3 exit barrier. Three weeks later in Monaco, Mortara’s rise through the field was terminated by team-mate Lucas di Grassi, who gifted the Swiss a puncture that also proved to be a race-ender.

Neither incident was explicitly Mortara’s fault, but it had highlighted the problems caused by indifferent qualifying performances. Failing to make the duels in either race, Mortara had given himself work to do in trying to carve through the pack. Although chasing swashbuckling wins is arguably the more stylish modus operanti, it comes with inherent risks – especially in the ‘contact sport’ of Formula E. Mortara was twice bitten, once shy.

For Mortara, the best way to end his hoodoo and get his championship challenge back on track was to qualify towards the front. Amid the new qualifying format, finding a top-four place amid the opening group stage presents a very tangible target, yielding an automatic pass into the knockout duels. Mortara needed to get among that progression zone in Berlin to simply avoid being caught out in the midfield herd.

Such was the pace of the Mercedes powertrain in Berlin, however, that