Nyck de Vries takes victory for Mercedes in Formula E season opener as Jake Dennis secures podium finish

Avalanche Andretti’s Jake Dennis expressed his relief at securing a podium following a dominant Mercedes performance at the opening race of Season 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Formula E’s largest season, featuring 16 races in 12 of the world’s most iconic cities, began with the first of a night-race double-header at the 2022 Diriyah E-Prix.

Ad/> Mercedes continued their motorsport dominance by taking a one-two finish, with last season’s champion Nyck de Vries taking victory and Julius Baer Pole setter Stoffel Vandoorne finishing second. /> Diriyah ePrix'A massive relief' for De Vries to win after mistake on Thursday2 HOURS AGO Dennis, who has been tipped by many to become the first British winner of the World Championship, started in P2 and fought hard to claim third place and his third podium finish in Formula E, and the 26-year-old was visibly ecstatic at the result.

He said: «I felt quite comfortable behind the Mercedes, I think we were on the same strategy, things were looking quite good, but when the top four breakaway it isn't the best being in third as it allows the car behind to have free attack zones. “It was always going to be difficult, starting on the inside, I had a feeling Nyck would pass us off the line, as ended up happening.

Andre (Lotterer) undercutting us ruined our race a bit, but I wanted a podium so bad today – we deserved it as a team. “We tried it the first time, completely got it wrong, but the second time I learned from my mistakes and put it right, got the overtake done and then we pulled clear and tried to close down the Mercedes, but they were a little too quick in the end.