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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

Pascal Wehrlein toasts feeling F1 couldn't give him but he's loving now in Formula E

Pascal Wehrlein admits he had missed "the winning feeling" before taking his first Formula E win at Mexico City.

The German driver's success also marked the first time Porsche had claimed victory in the all-electric series as they recorded a statement 1-2.

Andre Lotterer was just three tenths of a second behind his teammate when they took the chequered flag but held position rather than making a late lunge in the final few laps as the two cars cleared off.

Wehrlein, who started on pole, had twice tasted heartbreak in Mexico - being disqualified after winning last year whilst he ran out of energy just metres from the line in 2019.

Porsche are into the second season and Wehrlein, knowing he now has a winning package, is ready for a mindset shift.

He said: "To be honest I missed the winning feeling. I was in Formula One for two years, but I wasn't in teams where I had the potential to win the race.

"It changes something in yourself when you know you have a car that can win races. You turn up at weekends with a different mindset.

"It was both (relief and happiness to win in Mexico). Obviously there was a lot of pressure on us. When would we win our first race and it was awesome that it was in Mexico because of all the history we had there.

"Definitely Mexico was the best place to win our first race, but it is good that it's come at the beginning of the season. It was one of our targets to win as early as possible so we've ticked that box."

It was quickly apparent that the two Porsches were boasting more energy than their rivals despite slipping down the order early in the race.

Wehrlein and Lotterer quickly dispatched of Jean-Éric Vergne and Edoardo Mortara when pressed by the team and began to race clear.

Lotterer had a slight energy advantage over his teammate, but Wehrlein was told by his engineer not to worry about the car behind.

The race winner admits there was an understanding that, if racing each other would be detrimental to the race win, they would stay as there were.

He added: "There are agreements within the team. If we'd been in fourth and fifth with a chance to make third there would be no agreement.

"But for the team, with a few laps to go, it doesn't change much for the team if Andre or myself are first or second. We played it safe and bought it home.

"Andre could have tried to make a move, attack me, but then I would defend and then you know how it is. It could end in a situation we don't want.

"It was the right call, obviously I was in the lucky position, so it went my way. It is good we have that respect in the team."

Channel 4 will be broadcasting all 16 rounds of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on terrestrial television, whether live or on highlights programmes.

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