Lotterer gets 10-place grid penalty for late Paris FE collision

Andre Lotterer has been handed a 10-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Sam Bird on the final lap of Formula E's Paris E-Prix. 

Lotterer looked on course to secure a Techeetah one-two by finishing behind teammate and race-winner Jean-Eric Vergne but the German ran out of energy on the final lap while battling Audi's Lucas di Grassi for second place. 

He was overtaken by di Grassi heading into the final series of corners at the Circuit des Invalides having suddenly slowed, before Bird slammed into the rear of his Techeetah on the run to the finish line. 

The impact destroyed the front-right of Bird's DS Virgin machine but the Briton managed to cross the line in third with only three wheels fully attached to his car, while Lotterer dropped a further three positions to sixth. 

Following the incident, the race stewards opted to hand Lotterer a 10-place grid drop - which he will serve at his home race in Berlin in May.

An official post-race FIA bulletin read that Lotterer had "rejoined the the racing line causing [Bird] to hit the rear [of Lotterer]. 

"The stewards noted that immediately prior to the collision [Lotterer] attempted to move out of the way but it was too late," it concluded. 

Techeetah also received a €2500 fine for an unsafe release during Lotterer's car swap.