Robin Frijns has described Saturday's Paris E-Prix as one of the most difficult races of his career, with the Dutch racer overcoming treacherous conditions in the French capital to take his maiden Formula E win.
The Paris E-Prix marked Formula E's first ever wet race despite the all-electric single seater series now being well into its fifth season of competition, with a heavy downpour only 15-minutes into the race turning the Circuit des Invalides into a metaphorical ice rink.
Starting from third, Frijns was able to benefit from an early crash for polesitter Oliver Rowland to move into second place while a puncture for front-row starter Sebastien Buemi handed the Dutchman the lead.
Despite having front wing damage as a result of brief contact with Buemi in Turn 9 when battling for first, Frijns was able to hold on in the wet, dominating the 45-minute + 1 lap event by distancing himself from DS Techeetah's Andre Lotterer who finished in the runner-up spot.
"That was one of the toughest races of my career but a great result!” said Frijns post-race.
"We were driving in very tricky, slippery conditions and being the lead car, you never know what to expect. I felt I was quicker than [Sebastien] Buemi and managed to get the move early on but after that it was really tough.
"The last thing you want in a race is rain and it was very slippery for everyone – everybody went off at some point. I crashed as well, so it was very tricky conditions and difficult to know what the rain would do to the track.
"You’re surviving really and knowing that you’re leading, you’re the first car and anticipating the grip in the corners.
"Andre [Lotterer] was behind me and he was waiting for me to make mistakes. So, the pressure was on all race long. I didn’t have much time to rest, only during Full Course Yellows, but it was definitely one of the toughest races."
By standing on the top step of the podium in Paris, Frijns became the eighth different driver in eight races this season to achieve such a feat, with the dominant drive also handing him the lead in the Drivers' Championship, holding a one point advantage over Lotterer who is yet to win this season.
Formula E's ever-unpredictable Season Five campaign will continue on the streets of Monaco on May 11, with the series returning to the Principality for the first time since 2017.
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