P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sam Bird earned McLaren its first ever victory in Formula E with a sensational last lap move on his former team-mate Mitch Evans at the 2024 Sao Paulo E-Prix
Sam Bird achieved McLaren’s first-ever Formula E victory with a brilliant final lap maneuver on his ex-teammate Mitch Evans at the 2024 Sao Paulo E-Prix. This win came in just Bird’s third race weekend with the McLaren team after leaving Jaguar following a challenging period alongside Evans. Starting from fifth on the grid, Bird steadily progressed to lead the race, contending with tough competition from Evans, Porsche drivers, and reigning champion Jake Dennis. The duel between Evans and Bird intensified toward the end, culminating in a thrilling overtake by Bird around the outside of Evans on the final lap. This victory marked Bird’s 12th career win, positioning him third overall in all-time Formula E victories behind Sebastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi. Additionally, Oliver Rowland’s impressive final lap performance secured a podium finish alongside Bird and Evans, adding another Nissan-powered car to the top spots. Other notable results included Antonio Felix da Costa’s return to form with a crucial sixth-place finish and Maximilian Guenther’s recovery to ninth place after a significant penalty.
