Pascal Wehrlein claims wet Formula E victory as Mitch Evans title lead destroyed

Pascal Wehrlein converted pole position into victory in Formula E's opening race of this weekend's Shanghai E-Prix. 

The race and all sessions were moved forward by three hours due to forecast adverse weather; however, drops of rain started to fall moments before the lights went out. 

It resulted in all drivers aggressively trying to be at the front, in fear of heavy rain arriving. By the end of lap 18 it was yet to arrive, with all drivers having used Pit Boost. 

A lap later and that changed dramatically, as a deluge of rain fell which resulted in a quick safety car. Once racing resumed four laps later, Wehrlein broke away to win by several seconds. 

Title leader Mitch Evans, who started from second, dropped backwards and finished in eighth, destroying his advantage in the championship from 19 points to three from Wehrlein. 

His Jaguar team-mate Antonio Felix da Costa finished in second, with Andretti's Jake Dennis building on from his Sanya victory with another podium in third. 

Felipe Drugovich made it an Andretti three-four in what was a fast-paced raced at the Shanghai International Circuit, while Mahindra's Nyck de Vries finished fifth. 

It was a disappointing race for title contenders Edoardo Mortara and Oliver Rowland, who had to settle for 10th and 13th, respectively.