All four Mercedes-powered cars have been granted permission to take part in the second round of Formula E in Diriyah, after a rear-braking failsafe system failure caused Edoardo Mortara’s crash in the ROKiT Venturi earlier today.
Both the Mercedes and Venturi teams were forced to miss qualifying at the Riyadh Street Circuit due to an investigation into the cause of Mortara’s crash in FP3.
Formula E’s braking system is designed so that a front-brake failure should mean that the rear-brake system activates as a fail-safe.
However, in a social media statement, Mercedes-EQ, who provide the powertrain to Venturi, said: “In this instance, an incorrect software parameter that meant the rear brake system didn’t activate as intended and the fail-safe did not kick in.”
Mercedes say that they have now corrected the problem, and FIA stewards have decided that the matter has been resolved so all four cars will be permitted to join the grid.
Mortara, who was taken to hospital after crashing heavily into the TechPro barriers after a practice start, has been cleared to race after undergoing all necessary medical assessments.
However, Venturi Racing’s Team Principal, Susie Wolff, has stated that it will be Mortara’s decision as to whether he feels able to race.
If Mortara decides not to race, Venturi will only be able to field Norman Nato, as reserve driver Jake Hughes did not take part in practice or qualifying.
Mercedes’ Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne will be hoping they can come through the field to bring some points home for the team, who sit top of the Teams’ standings after de Vries’ pole position and victory yesterday.
Envision Virgin Racing’s Robin Frijns starts on pole, ahead of Dragon/Penske Autosport’s Sergio Sette Câmara and Sam Bird of Jaguar Racing.
The Diriyah E-Prix is scheduled to get underway at 20:03 local time in Saudi Arabia (17:03 GMT).
