The Formulation E factors chief was quickest in his group on the 220kW energy modes, however was unable to seek out sufficient tempo at 250kW throughout his quarter-final duel and was knocked out by eventual race winner Mitch Evans.
Vandoorne made good progress from his beginning grid slot of seventh, getting amongst a fierce battle between himself, front-row starter Antonio Felix da Costa and Jake Dennis – and seemed to have the tempo to maneuver past them.
However a missed second assault mode activation – just like his Diriyah assault loop faux-pas which finally helped his Mercedes teammate Nyck de Vries safe victory within the opening Saudi race – meant that Vandoorne had floor to make up within the race’s second half.
Assessing his qualifying efficiency, Vandoorne defined that there was “not a particular motive” for struggling to seek out efficiency within the duels stage, however defined that it has left him out of the victory battle in current races.
“It is not an ideal end result, that is for positive,” Vandoorne mirrored.
“I feel there was P4, P3 perhaps on the playing cards. We missed somewhat bit in qualifying; just lately I have been so good within the group phases. I have been, I feel, P1 so many instances now. However then I’ve all the time misplaced my first duel.
“And it has been difficult to get by means of that stage. There’s not a particular motive for that, it is all small particulars ultimately.
“However we have not been in a position to nail that which signifies that I am all the time beginning P7, P8, and simply type of somewhat bit behind the combat.”
Stoffel Vandoorne, Mercedes-Benz EQ, EQ Silver Arrow 02, Jake Dennis, Andretti Motorsport, BMW iFE.21
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
When contemplating his race tempo, the Belgian felt that though he lacked the proper steadiness in his automotive, he had sufficient to combat among the many front-runners.
He added that the miss for his second assault mode was “irritating”, reckoning he had loved a a lot cleaner drive by means of the timing loops on the abortive second activation.
“I feel the race was going fairly okay. Our tempo, I do not suppose we fairly nailed the steadiness immediately. However it was adequate to be on the entrance and to be to be within the high 4, high 5, I might say.
“It was a disgrace that I missed the assault loops in the second. Which to be truthful, it is so irritating, as a result of the primary one I type of utterly drifted by means of it. And I assumed, ‘okay, I haven’t got them.’ After which I obtained it.
“Then I did a brilliant clear second one, and I am like, ‘wow, I missed it!’ So it is fairly weird.
“It was simply fairly an unlucky state of affairs, after which having to take it twice, you go twice the good distance round and also you get type of dragged out of it.
“That dragged me again somewhat bit. I feel with out that I might have joined the highest three queue after which it will have been a four-way combat most likely till the top.”
