In a stunning drive from the middle of the pack, New Zealander Nick Cassidy clinched victory at the Mexico City E-Prix on Saturday night, dramatically seizing the lead in the Formula E World Championship.
A Remarkable Comeback Drive
Starting a lowly 13th on the grid, Cassidy produced a masterclass in energy management and overtaking to sail through the field. The win, achieved in only the second race of the season, was enough to knock Britain's Jake Dennis off the top of the drivers' standings. This marks Citroen's first-ever victory in Formula E, a remarkable feat for the manufacturer in its debut season in the all-electric championship.
Cassidy revealed a personal stake in the result, admitting to a pre-race pact. "I made a deal that if I won I'd shave my head," he said. "As I was coming across the line I was like, 'Do I lift off?'" However, the allure of a powerful statistic convinced him otherwise. The winner of the Mexico City race has gone on to win the championship in each of the last three seasons, a trend Cassidy was unwilling to break.
Chaos and Strategy Define the Race
The race was heavily influenced by a lengthy period under yellow flags, triggered when former Formula 1 driver Nyck de Vries overshot the first corner on lap 18 and came to a stop. The neutralisation added two laps to the contest and had a critical strategic impact. The energy saved by the field during the slow laps set up a flat-out, energy-rich sprint to the finish.
Edoardo Mortara had controlled much of the race from the front, but the Swiss driver may have expended too much energy punching a hole in the air for the chasing pack. In the thrilling closing stages, Cassidy found a way past to secure the historic win for the French team.
British Contenders Remain in Close Pursuit
The result reshuffles the early championship order, but the British hopefuls are still firmly in contention. Defending champion Oliver Rowland secured his second consecutive podium, finishing third after starting eighth. His race was compromised mid-way through when he was forced onto the grass during a duel, losing several places. This misfortune was compounded seconds later when the yellow flags ruined the benefit of his four-minute Attack Mode boost.
2023 champion Jake Dennis finished fifth in Mexico. The two Brits now sit just four and six points behind Cassidy respectively, ensuring a tense battle as the season develops. Another strong British performance came from Taylor Barnard, who finished fourth for DS Penske after taking an early lead when pole-sitter Sebastian Buemi out-braked himself on the opening lap.
Buemi's record-equalling 17th Formula E pole position counted for little as his error sent him tumbling down to 19th place, eventually recovering to 17th. For Cassidy, the victory builds on a podium finish in the Sao Paulo season opener. "What a dream start we've had," he reflected. "I'm just very happy and pleased for [the team], because those guys don't do holidays. They work so hard."
