Audi Withdraws Appeal of Daniel Abt’s Hong Kong Disqualification

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer

Daniel Abt’s lost victory in Hong Kong will remain just that – lost.

Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler announced on Monday their withdrawal from a potential appeal on Abt’s disqualification following Sunday’s HKT Hong Kong E-Prix.

https://twitter.com/Daniel_Abt/status/937641456814104576

Abt, 25, appeared to claim his first FIA Formula E victory in the event, taking the checkered flag first in his No. 66 machine. However the German was later disqualified from classification when stewards discovered  a mismatch between part numbers in the technical passport of the car in post-race scrutineering.

As a result, Abt was stripped of his win and the accompanying 25 points.

The victory was awarded to initial second-place finisher Felix Rosenqvist, elevating Edoardo Mortara and Mitch Evans to second and third, respectively, to complete the podium. Meanwhile Abt dropped from first to eighth in the Formula E championship table, 24 points behind leader Sam Bird.

“We took the time to carefully review all documents and processes,” ABT Schaeffler Team Principal Allan McNish said. “We gained no advantage as a result of the administrative error and all parts fully complied to homologation and the technical regulations at all times.

“Still, we accept the decision of the FIA and fully back the technical passport regulations. Our team made a small mistake with big consequences that we own up to, unfortunately that deprived Daniel of his very deserved victory of which we can only apologize for. I am sure we will see him on the podium again soon.”

Audi never officially launched an appeal, though the organization did voice intent to do so in the moments after the disqualification was first announced. The team has seen two disqualifications in the past, losing out on wins with Lucas di Grassi in Seasons Two and Three.