Pepe Martí had a turbulent start to Formula E. The Spanish driver, alone on the grid in the electric single-seater category, was the victim of a serious accident during the Sao Paulo e-Prix, the first event of the season, after failing … warn that a yellow flag had been declared all along the track.
The Barcelonan, who started from fourteenth position, currently occupies ninth place after a good comeback behind the wheel of the Cupra. With four laps to go and with a car with more energy than its predecessors, the podium was even a viable option. However, the yellow flag took him by surprise and he did not reduce his speed enough to avoid a collision with the two drivers in front of him: Nico Muller and Antonio Félix da Costa, two veterans of the championship.
Martí, 20 years old and a member of the Red Bull junior team until last season, paid for his inexperience with the electric car and hit his two rivals hard. The result was catastrophic. Martí’s car flew over the other two before falling onto the asphalt on its back and turning over twice before stopping.
Martí managed to get out of the car on his own without being seriously injured and was visibly upset by what had happened. Victory in this inaugural event ended up being won by Briton Jake Dennis (Andretti), who started from first position on the grid due to the three-place penalty inflicted on pole-sitter Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche).