Formula E news: Jean-Eric Vergne picked up his first win of the season in Sanya

Vergne roared back into title contention after taking a home victory for his Chinese-backed DS Techeetah team in the Sanya ePrix while Britain’s Sam Bird had a nightmare day at the office. The Envision Virgin Racing ace struggled to get to grips with his car all day and qualified 16th before retiring inside two laps. There was a first podium for Oliver Rowland while Antonio Felix da Costa rounded out the rostrum, moving back to the top of the drivers’ standings in the process. Andre Lotterer bounced back from heartache last time out in Hong Kong to score good points in fourth while Jerome d’Ambrosio, Pascal Wehrlein and Felipe Massa all notched top 10 finishes.

Champion JEV proves form is temporary Vergne has had a nightmare start to his ABB FIA Formula E Championship defence, sitting in 11th coming into race. However, the Frenchman has stayed steadfastly cool insisting he was still confident he could turn the season around despite three rounds without a point. He remained good to his word after recapturing the form in China that saw him lift the Season 4 title - qualifying in second, pulling a bold but brilliant overtake on pace setter Rowland after 25 minutes, and then romping home to take the chequered flag, setting the fastest lap in the process. Tears began to flow on the podium as Le Marseillaise played and Vergne later dedicated the victory to late Formula One race director Charlie Whiting.

Most unpredictable Championship ever continues streak Vergne’s win made it the sixth different driver, from the sixth different team to take victory in the first six races of the season. There have also been six different pole sitters – none of whom have gone on to win the race from pole. An incredible streak of results has seen Formula E’s Season Five called the most unpredictable racing Championship on the planet and resulted in a too-tight-to-call battle for the crown which is now led by BMW Andretti’s Antonio Felix Da Costa. The top six drivers are now separated by just ten points while all drivers down to Werhlein in 11th are mathematically just one victory away from topping the standings.

Formula E news: Antonio Felix da Costa has moved top of the Drivers' Championship

Barnsley boy Ollie makes statement for Nissan British rookie Oliver Rowland had been far more impressive than the six points to his name coming into the race suggested with the Yorkshireman starting in second and fourth in his previous two outings – only to not finish either. Rowland was a late addition to the Nissan e.dams team following Alexander Albon’s release to allow him to sign for Toro Rosso during season testing in Valencia and, despite barely any time in the car, he has shown fantastic pace. He produced his best drive in Sanya by qualifying for his first ever Formula E pole position and a second-place finish on the podium bodes well for the young Brit.

Formula E news: Oliver Rowland scored his first pole position and finished second

Bird stuffed A good day for one Brit was mirrored with a terrible day for another as Sam Bird lost top spot in the Driver’s Championship. Bird came into the Sanya ePrix leading the Driver’s Championship although the 32-year-old admitted he should have been ahead by many more points after several penalties wrecked his races. And how Bird could have done with that additional buffer after a horror day in China which saw him qualify down in 16th and then retire within two minutes after an early collision with Stoffel Vandoorne. However, despite a pointless day for the Brit, the Championship remains wide open with Bird in fourth, eight points off the lead.

Formula E news: There have now been six different winners from six races so far this season

Di Grassi has eventful day – for the wrong reasons Formula E proves time and again that you can have all the experience in the world and still find yourself level with the rookies - as shown by 51-race veteran and former champion Lucas Di Grassi’s disastrous attempts at activating Attack Mode. There were head in hands in the Audi garage as Di Grassi attempted to go through the activation zone but with a wheel off the track it did no trigger the power boost – losing the Brazilian one and a half seconds in the process. Unbelievably, when Di Grassi attempted to try again he made the exact same mistake and the frustration of both driver and crew was clear on team radio directly afterwards.