Formula E season opener sees Evans clinch victory

Formula E is back and better than ever, kicking things off in the vibrant Brazilian city of São Paulo.

In true Formula E fashion, it was a chaotic race from start to finish, with two red flags and a big coming together between two of the front runners. Keeping clean throughout it all, Jaguar’s Mitch Evans put in a mighty drive, coming from the back of the grid to take victory in Brazil.

The opening race of Season 11 saw the GEN3 Evo make its race debut – a rapid new piece of machinery capable of doing 0-60mph in just 1.82s. Along with getting to grips with a leaner, meaner race car, the drivers had to grapple with a modified set of Hankook race tyres, the Korean manufacturer bringing a new, softer set of compounds for the 2024/25 season.

There were some new faces on the grid too, with rookies Zane Maloney and David Beckmann, and Taylor Barnard making their debut. We’ve had a taste of what Barnard’s capable of before, the McLaren driver standing in for Sam Bird at a handful of races last season.

Starting Grid

Defending champion Pascal Wehrlein started the race from pole, beating Nissan’s Oliver Rowland to the chase with a lap time of 1:09.851. Season 9 Champion Jake Dennis started from third on the grid; Maximilian Gunther and Antonio Felix da Costa rounded out the top five.

Our first starting grid of Season 11!

We are so ready for this #SaoPauloEPrix

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) December 7, 2024

Lights out…

A brake system issue for Robin Frijns resulted in a delayed race start, yellow flags waving just moments after the drivers lined up on the grid. Marshalls were quickly on track to roll the Envision away, as the grid prepared to re-do the starting sequence. 

As the race got underway, Oliver Rowland was quick to stake his claim on the track. A brilliant start from Rowland saw the Brit overtake Wehrlein right off the line, while Jake Dennis picked up damage to his front wing after a Lap 1 scrap between with Maximilian Gunther.

Jean-Eric Vergne didn’t hold back over the first lap, quickly gaining three positions to run in P5. Mitch Evans also impressed early, tearing his way around the track and working his way up to P12 from the back of the grid.

Lap 2: An early safety car

Yellow flags waved on Lap 2, as Jake Hughes and Nico Muller came together at Turn 6. The safety car was deployed soon after as the mashalls got to work recovering the stricken cars and clearing the track of debris.

Lucas di Grassi was forced to retire, too, his yellow and blue Lola caught up in the chaos, while Sebastien Buemi took a trip to the pits during the safety car period after picking up damage to his front wing. 

Lap 6: Green flag

Racing got back underway on Lap 6, Rowland holding Wehrlein off the maintain the race lead. Nick Cassidy and Stoffel Vandoorne were among the first drivers to take Attack Mode. With the power boost under his wings, Cassidy quickly worked his way up into the race lead on Lap 8, opening up a 0.7s gap over Rowland.

With the majority of the grid opting for Attack Mode by Lap 10, the running order underwent a bit of a reshuffle, Guenther challenging Rowland for P2 whilst Nato ran just behind the DS Penske in P4.

Surprise penalties were handed out to three of the Nissan-powered cars on Lap 11, with Taylor Barnard, Sam Bird and Norman Nato all handed a drive-through penalty. Meanwhile Rowland, the only Nissan powertrain not to receive a penalty, had regained the lead from Cassidy but was still yet to take Attack Mode. 

Porsche on the prowl

While Cassidy had his eye on the top step of the podium, Rowland was enjoying a comfortable 2.6s lead – having opted for his first Attack Mode installment the lap prior. But the Porsches quickly began to emerge as contenders for the race win, Wehrlein reclaiming his race lead on Lap 19, flagged by teammate Antonio Felix da Costa. 

Rowland found himself shuffled down to P4, pipped to third by Edoardo Mortara. A swift overtake on his teammate saw Da Costa get ahead of Wehrlein on Lap 20, just before yellow flags waved for Jake Dennis, the Andretti driver stranded on the run-off just after Turn 2.

Lap 21: Red flag

Boosted by Attack Mode, Rowland snatched the lead out of Da Costa’s hands just before red flags waved on Lap 21, as Jake Dennis’ Andretti came to a stop. An isolation fault with the Porsche powertrain meant the race had to come to a stop as marshalls worked to safely recover the Brit’s stricken car. It marked a tough start to the season for Andretti, with both cars now out of the running. 

Flying under the radar in amongst all the drama, new kids on the block Cupra Kiro had worked their way into the top 10, racing with last year’s Porsche powertrain. Rookie David Beckmann was hot on his teammate’s heels, racing in P10 and potentially on track to win a point on debut. 

With Rowland’s overtake on Da Costa taking place just seconds before the red flag, Da Costa was handed pole position for the race restart, Rowland just behind him. Just 17 drivers lined up on the grid for the restart, with Buemi at the back of the queue behind the two McLarens. 

Race restart

The race got back underway with a standing start, Rowland getting away brilliantly once again to move into the lead right off the line. A great start from Guenther saw the DS Penske whisk around the Porsche of Da Costa to snatch P2. Guenther was quickly running on Rowland’s heels, but Rowland held steady. 

Cassidy, Bird, Barnard and Nato all opted for their final Attack Mode installment, leaving Buemi and Evans the last drivers to use up all of their Attack Mode allowance. But in a twist of fate, race leader Oliver Rowland found himself under investigation on Lap 25 for overpower — a similar fate to the other Nissan-powered cars. 

Beckmann, who had been running so strongly, was forced into the pits on Lap 26, dashing his hopes of a top 10 finish on debut. However, there was still a chance of points for Kiro, with Dan Ticktum in P8. Meanwhile, confirmation came that four laps would be added, taking the race total to 35.

Battle for the lead

Nick Cassidy availed of his Attack Mode momentum, sweeping past the competition to get into P2 – exactly where he wanted to be with race leader Rowland under investigation. His teammate, Evans, was similarly on the charge, now challenging Guenther for P4. He took it on Lap 28, snatching P3 from Da Costa’s grip seconds later.

There was devastation for Nissan as Oliver Rowland was handed a drive-through penalty, the race win disappearing before his eyes. He dropped down to P12, Jaguar now on track to take a 1-2. But Da Costa was still gunning for the win, with 18% energy remaining and the top step of the podium still firmly in sight. The two McLarens, who began the restart right at the back, had stormed their way through the pack — now firmly within the top 10.

Red flag for Werhelin and Cassidy

Tight wheel-to-wheel racing culminated in frontrunners Cassidy and Wehrlein coming together just after Turn 6 – the Porsche of Pascal Wehrlein flipped upside down in scary scenes. The Porsche bounced off the catch fencing, and while Wehrlein was thankfully okay, the defending champion had to be extricated from the vehicle. 

As expected, neither Cassidy nor Wehrlein made the race start. Their teammates, however, restarted in strong positions: Da Costa in P1 and Evans in P2. Evans got away well, Da Costa keeping hold of P2. 

Taylor Barnard, in his first race as a fully-fledged McLaren driver, was up in a remarkable P3 — his eyes on the third step of the podium. His teammate, Sam Bird, was just behind him in P5. With one lap to go, Barnard’s chances of a debut podium were looking strong.

Evans continued to hold onto the lead, putting just 0.3s on Porsche’s Da Costa. The Portuguese driver put up an admirable fight to close the gap, but Evans held steady… and crossed the line in P1 to take victory at the first race of the season. Da Costa crossed the line in second, whilst 20-year-old Taylor Barnard rounded out the podium in third — a stunning drive from the rookie. 

Further down the running order, the two Mahindras put on an impressive display, Edoardo Mortara finishing in P5 with teammate De Vries two positions below in P7. Meanwhile, Kiro’s Dan Ticktum crossed the line in P9 to claim the freshly rebranded team’s maiden points.

Results

Featured photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images for Formula E