Mitch Evans wins liar poker in São Paulo

Mitch Evans at the end of the suspense! The New Zealander won the São Paulo E-Prix (Brazil) after a thrilling race. The Jaguar driver, running out of energy at the end of the race, held on to win ahead of Nick Cassidy and Sam Bird. This is the first victory for Evans and Jaguar this season. The two DS-Penskes of Jean-Éric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne, long in the running for victory, had to settle for 5th and 6th places.

(I.e. @MITCHEVANS_ WINS IN BRAZIL!! @juliusbaer #SaoPauloEPrice pic.twitter.com/n3VOyndRD2

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) March 25, 2023

A turbulent start

The start of this very first E-Prix from Sao Paulo was very eventful. The chicane of turns 1-2-3 was fatal to Norman Nato, trapped when braking by the McLaren of Jake Hughes in front of him. The Frenchman had to retire in the pits. Edoardo Mortara also damaged his front wing at the start and fell in the standings. One turn later, it's Sébastien Buemi which came into contact with the other Maserati, that of Maximilian Günther. The Swiss had to stop before returning to the bottom of the ranking.

We go green in São Paulo and it's chaos into Turn 1! 🤯 @juliusbaer #SaoPauloEPrice pic.twitter.com/cSiOV4BKmV

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) March 25, 2023

On this ultra-fast track with long straights, the drivers tried to use tricks to consume as little as possible at the start of the race. The main tip? Snuggling into the vacuum of a car. Thus, Stoffel Vandoorne, leader, and Antonio Felix Da Costa, 2nd, exchanged first place before the Belgian definitively took control of the race.

The second Nissan, that of Sacha Fenestraz, also retired on the 8th lap, with a bent left rear wheel. A day to forget for the Franco-Japanese team. Stuck on the track, the Nissan required the intervention of the marshals and the Safety Car to be freed.

Nobody wants to be first!

After three laps of neutralization, Stoffel Vandoorne relaunched the pack ahead of Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy. The game of aspirations resumes between Vandoorne, Cassidy, Da Costa and Evans, who exchange positions at each turn! Nick Cassidy took the lead of the race on lap 16… while at the same time, Jake Dennis retired after contact with Wehrlein! The general dolphin hit the back of the car from the championship leader, helped by Dan Ticktum behind him! The safety car returned to the track for the second time in the afternoon

On the restart, Cassidy and Vandoorne decided to use their 2nd Attack Mode, leaving the controls to Da Costa... for a lap, before the Portuguese took his turn in the detection zone. Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans found themselves in a duel with around ten laps to go, taking advantage of an error from Da Costa braking for turn 1.

The Jaguars roar

But the two Safety Car interventions forced the marshals to add 4 additional laps at the end of the race. A trap for Stoffel Vandoorne, who consumes more energy at the start of the race and who must slow down and fall in the ranking in the final laps. The Jaguars, more economical, took advantage: Mitch Evans took the lead while Sam Bird moved back to 3rd place. In the very last laps, the leading trio was grouped together in less than a second.

MITCH EVANS TAKES THE LEAD OF THE @JULIUSBAER #SAOPAULOEPRIX!!! 😯😯😯 pic.twitter.com/BiDUnnfYrQ

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) March 25, 2023

Ultimately, despite having lower remaining energy, the New Zealander managed to hold the lead until the checkered flag. A first victory for him this season. A New Zealand double and a Jaguar hat-trick, as Nick Cassidy and Sam Bird took 2nd and 3rd places. Despite his mistake, Antonio Félix da Costa finished in 4th place ahead of the two DS-Penskes of Jean-Éric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne. 

In the championship, Pascal Wehrlein, 7th at the finish, increased his lead thanks to the retirement of Jake Dennis. The German has 86 points, 24 more than his rival from Andretti, while the championship tightens even further. Nick Cassidy climbs to 3rd place in the championship with 61 points, one point more than Jean-Éric Vergne.

São Paulo E-Prix standings: 

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