Envision Virgin Racing’s Robin Frijns says his first podium with the team was “more valuable” than risking losing it going for his maiden Formula E win in Marrakesh.
Frijns was behind leader Mahindra’s Jerome d’Ambrosio after the safety car restart on the final lap of the Marrakesh race, but didn’t look to be attacking him much. He secured second, finish 0.1 seconds behind d’Ambrosio.
“I was behind Jerome on the last lap and maybe regretting a bit that I didn’t have a go. But being in this position for the first time with this team, I think the points were more valuable than to have a go at him and maybe not finish the race,” he said.
D’Ambrosio said his restart was crucial to his win, as it meant he was not having to push to the limit in order to hold his lead.
“You never know what’s going to happen when you have Robin behind you. We’ve known each other since we were like 12 or something like that, he’s a guy that never gives up and he had Sam behind him who for sure was putting him under pressure as well,” he said.
“I had an amazing restart, I think I got them well on that one, and then just brought it home. I took a bit of margin, maybe a little too much in the last two sectors and he was right there in the last corner but it was enough.”
After not scoring points in the opening Ad Diriyah race, Virgin had two cars on the podium and claimed pole position with Sam Bird which was thanks to work that took place in the post-race test, which the team topped.
“After the test day in Riyadh we had a good feeling of pretty much where we are. We were quickest in the morning and in the afternoon session, so we felt quite confident but then going to Marrakesh is always a different track compared to anything else.
“I need to work on my qualifying performance, I had the same problem [at Andretti], Sam is doing a really good job on that. The race pace is not too bad but we still have some work to do.”
