The Mahindra driver had his best race of the season during Formula E’s inaugural visit to Japan this weekend after qualifying an impressive third.
Having taken second off the line from eventual race winner Maximilian Guenther, Mortara gradually slipped back in the pack but still crossed the line in sixth to register his and the team’s first points of the season.
But the Swiss driver was disqualified after stewards found that “the total energy used was over the maximum of 32kWh”.
“Unfortunately across the start/finish line we had a problem with the software with some power overuse,” Mortara told Autosport.
“Normally we should have a power derating once you have achieved the full battery capacity, and that function didn’t work very well and we ended up overconsuming.
“I think it was 15 metres before the start/finish line, so it wouldn’t have changed anything [to the result].
“But it’s still our fault, the rules are the same for everyone and I think that disqualification is, I have to say, kind of deserved.
“We take it on the chin, but we need to make these things better.”
Source: Autosport