Dominant Vergne controls dramatic Paris E-Prix

Jean-Eric Vergne converted pole position into victory at the Paris E-Prix to extend his FIA Formula E championship lead over closest title rival Sam Bird.

The Frenchman controlled proceedings throughout to claim his third victory of the 2017/2018 campaign, leading home reigning champion Lucas di Grassi in second as Audi pulled off an alternative strategy.

Bird crossed the line in the final podium spot with only three wheels attached to his DS Virgin car following a dramatic conclusion to the race which saw the Briton collide with the slowing Techeetah of Andre Lotterer, denying the Chinese squad what looked set to be its second one-two finish of the season. 

Vergne held first place on the run to Turn 1, while a fast-starting Lotterer tried to pass Bird, but the DS Virgin driver held his position with some robust defending. The trio were separated by just over a second during a tense opening stint, before diving into the pits at the same time on Lap 24. 

Vergne maintained his advantage over Bird following the pit stops and returned to the circuit ahead of his chief rival, while di Grassi closed up to the leaders having stayed out for an extra two laps before swapping cars. 

Lotterer moved up to second place with a late lunge on Bird in the closing stages, as the pair rubbed bodywork but stayed out of the barriers, before Lotterer dramatically fell off the pace as his energy dipped to zero on the final lap. 

That allowed Di Grassi to sneak into second in the final few corners, with Bird capitalising to take third, despite smashing into the back of the Techeetah driver on the run to the line.

Maro Engel followed up his best ever Formula E qualifying result by finishing a strong fourth for Venturi and just four tenths shy of a maiden podium. Behind him came the leading Renault e.dams driver of Sebastien Buemi in fifth. 

Lotterer crawled across the line in sixth in his damaged Techeetah, with Daniel Abt rising from 15th on the grid to seal a seventh-place finish. 

Felix Rosenqvist ended a tough day for Mahindra by claiming points in eighth, as NIO’s Oliver Turvey and Jose Maria Lopez rounded out the top 10. 

The result means Vergne has extended his lead over Bird in the drivers' standings to 31 points with three rounds remaining.