The electric series rise from nothing to a credible formula has run in parallel to Bird’s rise in fortunes, after a stint as Lewis Hamilton’s test driver at Mercedes ultimately left his Formula One ambitions unfulfilled.
Bird, from Roehampton in west London, not far from Battersea Park, said afterwards: “Wow. It’s been a mixed season for us but what a way to finish. Unbelievable. I think Nelson is a worthy champion.”
Piquet did not have a contract two weeks before the season began in Beijing and appeared overwhelmed by his triumph.
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“I don’t know where to start,” the son of Nelson Piquet, the three-time F1 champion, said. “This championship has been really tough. It’s been amazing. We have worked really hard since the beginning of the season. We were completely lost at the start. I didn’t think we would have a podium by the end of the year. Things just kept getting better and better.”
Asked how it felt after the ‘crashgate’ scandal which disgraced his career, Piquet joked: “Great question, thanks. It was a long time ago.”
Bizarrely, in the end, it was a case of a Senna – Bruno, Ayrton’s nephew – helping a Piquet on the final lap. In Formula One in the 1980s those two names were in implacable opposition, but here one came to the aid of the other. Senna kept Sébastien Buemi, the other challenger for the title, behind despite numerous bumps along the way.
Bird’s Virgin Racing car crossed the line second but was promoted to first place
The day began with disaster for Piquet. Qualifying saw the first rain this championship has ever known, producing drama for the title contenders. Because the track is so twisty in narrow, the cars go into in batches to qualify to avoid traffic. Buemi was fortunate enough to set his time while it was still dry, ending up sixth, but Piquet and Lucas di Grassi were in a later group and came a cropper of the conditions. Piquet attacked the chicanes as hard as he could but his muscular effort was only good enough for 16th. Di Grassi, his hated rival, started 11th.
The race was the perfect advert for this upstart series which was little more than an idea on a piece of paper three years ago. More than 50,000 came to Battersea Park over the two days, not far from capacity. There was a lively atmosphere at the event, as spectators wandered freely to see these lively machines negotiate the bumps and narrow roads around the park.
Piquet won the title by making his way from 16th on the grid to finish seventh
Over the weekend they announced a fourth manufacturer – the Peugeot-Citroen group – joining Formula E, while there are a host of cities lining up to stage races next year. Paris is expected to be announced soon.
Alejandro Agag, Formula E’s chief executive, said: “This has been an amazing racing day. This is what we wanted to do, to bring great racing to the cities, and I think we made it today. Two, three laps from the end, anybody could have been champion of Formula E. Extremely, extremely satisfied with the end of the year.”