Pascal Wehrlein was left to rue a “critical” battery temperature issue on his Mahindra that ultimately cost him a chance of claiming his maiden FIA𝓀 Formula E win in Santiago. 

T🐻he ex-Formula 1 driver starred throughout at the third round of the season and started on the front row of the grid following an impressive qua✨lifying performance that earned him a first Super Pole appearance in just his second FE outing. 

Having gained a position when erstwhile race-leader Sebastien Bue♔mi crashed out, Wehrlein mounted a late charge on Bird - using his attack mode with six minutes remaining in the race - but was forced to back off and settle for second after he was warned by Mahindra about critical rising temperatures in his M5Electro. 

“I was just starting 💧to♏ move into Turn 12, when the team told me I should slow and manage the gap behind as we were critical on temperatures,” Wehrlein explained. 

“I was pretty close and I wanted to finish the race! It was a bit o൲f a shame and I was a bit angry in the car. 

“My emotions were mixed directly at the end oꦏf the race as I thought we could have taken the win and I wanted that win very badly but, with someꦕ time to reflect, I’m really happy and I’m delighted for everyone in the team. 

“The whole tಞeam is doing a fantastic job, the car is feeling gre🍌at and these first races show how competitive we are.”

Wehrlein, w🍨ho was taken out on the first lap in his FE debut in Marrakesh, has now moved up to eighth place in the 2018/19 drivers’ standings, while Mahindra sits second in the teams’ championship and 12 points adrift of Envision Virgin Racing following its third successive podium finish. 

“The team and I are a perfect fit and🌠 a perfect match,” Wehrlein added. 

“In the first race everyone was so kind to🧜 me and were saying what Jerome achieved I could’ve probably achieved as well. 

“T﷽hey’re giving me a lot of trust, confidence and I want to del☂iver the best.”

Teammate J🧸erome d’Ambrosio endured a tough day after a poor qualifying left him 20th on the grid. While the Belgian recovered into the points, a post-race time penalty dropped him to 10th, meaning he conceded the lead of the championship to 🍸race-winner Bird. 

“I’m delighted to be on the podium for the third consecutive time in the three races we’ve ♛had so far this season,” Mahindra team principal Dilbagh Gill said.

“Pascal is incredibly tale𒁏nted, managing both energy usage and tough condi﷽tions in the extreme temperatures we had, and I’m happy that he finished on the podium in only his second race. 

“It was a tough day for Jérôme, but he did a great job to bring the M5Electro home in the points after aꦅ difficult qualifying session. Our aim in Mexico is to get a pair of strong results - bring it on.”