Formula E
Porsche admits Lotterer has been "too hungry" amid crashes
Porsche’s Formula E boss admits that Andre Lotterer has perhaps been “too hungry” for success amid crashes, but is “not worried” by the drawn-out wait for the marque’s maiden series win.
Matt Kew
Edited: Jun 10, 2021, 4:38 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lotterer has been involved in several incidents in the first half of the 2020/21 season - Porsche’s only second in FE - notably colliding with Stoffel Vandoorne in a battle for the lead in the opening Rome race and then tagging 2015-16 champion Sebastien Buemi off the road in Valencia.
The three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner was deemed responsible by stewards for both incidents, copping a drive through penalty for ending Nissan driver Buemi’s race.
Amiel Lindesay, Porsche’s head of Formula E Operations, believes the crashes were a result of Lotterer being overeager to secure his and the German marque’s first victory in FE.
“As a team, we’re constantly working with the drivers to give them a perfect car,” he said.
“In the race, however, they make their own decisions, for example, how to make optimal use of the available energy.
“We can’t simulate things like that, so we rely on the experience and skills of our drivers.
“Andre is very quick and has a wealth of experience, however, I have the feeling he’s sometimes a little too hungry to get that first win.”
Porsche currently lies seventh in the standings at the halfway stage of the 2021 season with fewer than half the points of table leaders Mercedes and Jaguar Racing.
Drivers Lotterer and new recruit Pascal Wehrlein are yet to score a double-points finish from seven races so far this term but have earned a podium apiece from three top-three starts.
While Mercedes gained an effective preparation season from the HWA Racelab entry, it has scored four wins in two full campaigns while Porsche is yet to hit the top step in that time.
But Lindesay defended the team’s performance saying: “We’ve shown that we can drive at the front.”
“There are a few things that we need to do better in the second half of the season and we’re working hard to make that happen.
“We started the season well-prepared and very confident.
“Our expectations have not yet been fully met.
“The two [cars] are fast, the processes within the team are good, and yet, due to a few unfortunate incidents on the track, we didn’t get the results we’d hoped for.
“Basically, everything is there to be successful, but we haven’t been able to put it all together for the first seven races.”
Lotterer earned Porsche a first pole position in Mexico City last season, only its fourth event in the series, but a lack of race pace has carried over into 2021.
Even with three non-finishes not included, both drivers have only climbed a net gain of two positions so far this term.
However, Lindesay reckoned that “a clean weekend” for the team would pave the way for a first victory.
He added: “We’ve started from the front row; we’ve shown strong qualifying performances and we’ve also underlined that we can be at the front in the race.
“What we need is a clean weekend where everything comes together perfectly, from the shakedown to the race.
“Then the anticipated top results will come, I’m not worried about that.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mercedes signs option to begin development for Gen3 FE rules
Next article Formula E pressing on with electric junior championship ladder
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Kew
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Latest news
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
6 h
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
6 h
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
7 h
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
7 h
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe