Mitch Evans calls out 'strange' stewards decision as Formula E title chance weakens

Mitch Evans has called out the stewards' "strange" decision not to even hand Nico Müller a warning during the opening race of Formula E's title-deciding London E-Prix.

Evans entered the opening race of the season-ending double-header just two points off the top of the standings but now finds himself 19 points adrift with just one race remaining on Sunday.

He qualified in third, which was the first problem, as both factory Porsches were on the front row, allowing the German manufacturer to implement team orders.

Evans was unable to find a way past Nico Müller, who was letting Pascal Wehrlein escape, with the New Zealander having complained about the Swiss driver's defending.

Ultimately, it was a full-course yellow that ended Evans' victory hopes and saw him finish in eighth, as it came after he had taken his Pit Boost while several drivers took theirs during the caution.

Asked if it simply felt like the latest dose of London bad luck, Evans told RacingNews365: "Yeah, I guess it all kind of started from quali, right?

"So the starting grid was just not ideal for me. I think we reacted okay. With the circumstances, we did what we needed to do with the strategy, but, yeah, unlucky. First safety car or VSC at the end of the pit window in two years, it's pretty crazy."

Evans' surprise at no Müller warning

Regardless of the full-course yellow severely impacting his race, it was Müller's defending that frustrated Evans the most.

He complained of Müller brake-checking him and moving under braking, and expected the stewards to at least issue a warning, believing stewards at other races this season would have done so.

Discussing if he found Müller's defending over the limit, Evans responded: "For sure, I understand it, but moving under braking, it felt like he brake-checked me a couple of times.

"Obviously, he was going very slow at times. I feel like what he was doing, with the stewards in Sanya or the stewards maybe somewhere else, it's at least a warning, or maybe a five-second [penalty], but at least a warning, and then nothing. 

"So that's strange. I think even if I tried to have a real lunge, he just would have put me in the wall, to be honest. That felt like the mentality going in when I was behind him."