Formula E: Sam Bird denied Hong Kong E-Prix win after time penalty

Britain's Sam Bird has been given a five-second time penalty after the Hong Kong E-Prix, costing him the victory.

Envision Virgin Racing's Bird took the chequered flag following a controversial last-lap move on race leader Andre Lotterer.

Bird made contact with DS Techeetah's Lotterer's right-rear tyre, causing a puncture and the German's retirement.

Venturi's Edoardo Mortara inherited the win, with Audi Sport's Lucas Di Grassi in second, and Bird dropping to sixth.

Stewards investigated after the race, and found him guilty of causing a collision at Turn 2.

Despite the penalty, Bird still moved back to the top of the championship standings after five races, moving a point clear of Jerome D'Ambrosio who failed to finish.

On the incident with Lotterer, Bird said: "For me, Andre was over defending quite a bit I went for a gap and he closed the door. It's slippery down the inside, my brakes locked up, and it's a shame it ended that way."

An upset Lotterer added: "My race is done - hopefully his one too. I protected my position in a fair way. It's what you would call a disgusting move, and it's not really the way we should race.

"I lost it thanks to him. Even if you give him a penalty my race is done - it's just sad."

The most retirements this season

In wet conditions, Stoffel Vandoorne set a blistering time for his first pole position in Formula E, but he lost the lead off the line going into the first corner as Oliver Rowland of Nissan E-dams found more traction.

But Rowland soon brought out a safety car after stopping on track while former F1 driver Vandoorne later retired with drivetrain problems.

The fifth race, and 50th in Formula E saw the most retirements this season; with eight drivers failing to finish.

The Mahindra pair of Pascal Wehrlein and D'Ambrosio collided into the back of Felipe Nasr after the Brazilian hit the barrier, causing a yellow flag.

D'Ambrosio, who was leading the championship before the race, had some colourful comments saying it was "ridiculous" that Nasr didn't pit when smoke was bellowing out of the back his car.

Formula E continues live across the BBC with online streaming and radio coverage in Sanya, China on 23 March.

Final results

1.Edoardo Mortara (Swi) - Venturi

2.Lucas di Grassi (Bra) - Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler

3.Robin Frijns - Envision Virgin Racing

4.Daniel Abt - Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler

5.Felipe Massa - Venturi

Full results list