Jean-Eric Vergne has praised the organisers of the Bern E-Prix after the street race in the Swiss capital was met with protests last week.
After racing in Switzerland for the first time in Season 4, with the race marking the country's first closed-circuit race in 64 years, Formula E was set to return to Zurich in Season 5, however, due to a clash with the city's Zurich Festival which takes place every three years, was forced to find a new venue.
Following the evaluation of its options, it was announced that Bern would replace the dropped Zurich round of the 2018/19 calendar in October, allowing Formula E to continue racing in Switzerland.
At 2.75km-long, the Bern Street Circuit took shape last week in preparation for the June 22 race, however, was quickly met with opposition, with local residents protesting against the disruption caused by the E-Prix, staging an organised bike ride around the circuit on Thursday, meeting outside of Bern's Brundeshaus parliament building beforehand.
Alongside protests, the Bern Street Circuit was also late to be completed, with the circuit still being under construction one day before the race which resulted in a two-hour delay to shakedown while a split paddock and pit lane added further logistical complications.
With Vergne taking victory at the 11th race of the season to extend his lead in the Drivers' Championship, the DS Techeetah driver praised the organisers of the race, congratulating Formula E after difficulties behind the scenes:
"Looking at where we were on Thursday, doing the track walk on Friday I never thought that the race would happen," he said.
"I really have to put my cap down to the organisers, the FIA, Formula E and the promoter because I think they’ve done a really fantastic job to make this happen.
"Behind the scenes, it was extremely, extremely difficult so congratulations to you guys.”
With Formula E announcing its provisional Season 6 calendar at the FIA World Motorsport Council meeting on June 14, the all-electric single-seater series will not race in Switzerland next year although it is understood that a third Swiss E-Prix may still take place.
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