Lucas Di Grassi: The Wise Old Fox

The 9th Chapter of the Driver Spotlight series gives an insight into the first Formula E driver on our illustrious list and a driver that is always involved in the action, sometimes coming off second best.

Lucas Di Grassi has become one of the most well-known and biggest characters not only in ABB FIA Formula E but in the motorsport world as a whole. Formula E has transformed him into a spectacular and aggressive racer who brings a colourful personality.

The Brazilian adores racing and has made clear his views on climate change and how the motorsport industry can do its bit to help the world whilst giving fans entertainment on the racetrack.

In some ways, Di Grassi has somewhat underachieved. Just one season in Formula One, narrowly missing out on titles in Formula 3 and GP2, still no Le Mans win despite being part of the outstanding Audi Sport Team Joset and even in Formula E he has been the bridesmaid on numerous occasions.

The record books do not do Di Grassi’s career justice.

Di Grassi’s family has had no previous racing experience. Coming through various Brazilian junior categories, Di Grassi was often beaten but always improved and showed potential that many ignored when he was in his twenties.

He moved to Britain in 2004 but struggled. A key moment came when he won the 2005 Macau Grand Prix when he beat Robert Kubica. Back then, the Macau Formula Three Grand Prix was very prestigious due to the challenging nature of the track.

In 2007, Di Grassi found himself contending for the GP2 title despite winning just one race. Prior to that victory, he scored points in 12 of the 13 races which is a staggering achievement in GP2 considering the reverse grid factor.

Consistency and picking up points, two attributes that Di Grassi has always had.

Di Grassi had a relationship with Renault since 2005 but never got the nod and was forced to race in GP2 for a few more years. He continued to impress with a third place finish in 2008 despite missing the first six races and another third place in the championship a year later.

Finally, the new Virgin Racing team would take on Di Grassi in their inaugural F1 season in 2010. However, as many of us know Virgin were very poor and Di Grassi was unable to show his skills in a car that was never going to score points. Di Grassi’s F1 career was over already.

Things went quiet for Di Grassi so he turned to sportscar, joining the formidable Audi squad in the World Endurance Championship. A Le Mans win never came, neither did an LMP1 title as Di Grassi was part of the incredible list of LMP1 drivers across the Audi, Toyota and Porsche manufacturers that lit up the World Endurance Championship.

In my opinion, other Audi drivers impressed during Di Grassi’s stint with the German manufacturer. One weakness that has let Di Grassi down is raw, natural pace. He rarely pulls out an incredible qualifying lap and often does not have the natural speed to pull himself out of trouble.

Instead, he muscles his way through and gets the most out of the car. His lack of genuine pace is the only thing that may have cost him more opportunities in his racing career because he has everything else.

The idea of Formula E started in 2011 and Di Grassi was one of the first drivers to be on board with the potential of having an all-electric single seater series. Formula E promotor, Alejandro Agag used Di Grassi’s knowledge and expertise to try and make something happen. Di Grassi became the official Formula E test driver in 2012 and has competed in every ePrix since the very first one in Beijing.

In fact, after that incredible finale to the first ever ePrix, Di Grassi was victorious. Bad luck and a disqualification when he crossed the line in first position in Berlin cost the 35-year-old badly and he would narrowly lose the prospect of becoming the first ever Formula E champion to Brazilian rival Nelson Piquet in dramatic circumstances.

Di Grassi was in the thick of the action once again in the following season. The Renault e.dams team and Sebastien Buemi were a dominant force and it looked like they would run away and ease to the championship. But, Di Grassi had other ideas.

He maximised every race and was on the podium in every ePrix going into the double-header finale in London. But, yet another disqualification when he initially won the race, this time in Mexico for being underweight, proved detrimental.

At no stage of the season did Di Grassi have the best car but he drove the wheels off his Audi and took wins when he had a sniff of a chance and settled for a podium to bag points whilst Buemi and Renault made mistakes.

This rivalry grew and grew throughout the season. Di Grassi had to do beat Buemi in the final race of the year to become champion. But, Buemi started from pole position and Di Grassi was third, knowing that Buemi could just drive away on a track which was very difficult to overtake on.

Formula E’s version of Prost and Senna at Suzuka in 1990 happened. Di Grassi made little/no attempt to make the first braking zone and hit the back of Buemi, causing them both to be damaged. If both drivers scored no points, Di Grassi would be champion.

I have to say it was a farce but showed the ruthlessness and aggression of Di Grassi. But, in season two there were points awarded for the fastest lap of the race and there was the second car. Buemi and Di Grassi duelled for the fastest lap to get those extra points in their second cars and Buemi did enough to be champion.

Had Di Grassi won because of the first lap crash, who knows what would have happened post-race.

Season three saw Di Grassi finally win a championship, albeit with some luck as Buemi missed two rounds and was disqualified from one of the races.

Di Grassi demonstrated his ability to string a set of results together again in season four. He had a horrible start to the season but managed seven consecutive top two finishes on his way to runner-up in the championship.

To be so consistent in a championship that is so competitive and races on tracks which punish you instantly is quite incredible. Di Grassi is a savy racer and has got better and better as time has gone on.

His ability to keep pushing and battling as proven in Mexico in 2018 and 2019 or Punta Del Este in the titanic battle versus Jean-Eric Vergne makes him an exciting driver. He is intelligent too, hence why he is able to pick up points and he knows when to fight hard and when to back off a little. A seasoned competitor some might say.

The 10-time Formula E winner career results do not match the quality that Di Grassi brings to the table. Off the track he has helped Formula E grow exponentially and on the track he is always one to watch.

It took a long time for Di Grassi to make his mark on motorsport but he has finally found his home and uses his wit and intelligence to always find himself fighting for the championship when the final rounds arrive.