Formula E experienced a mixed weekend in Shanghai, with a variety of weather conditions, podium finishers and strategies across both days of the double-header.
Here are your winners and losers from the championship’s time in China.
Winner: DS Penske
History was made during the first race of the double-header, as DS Penske took their first 1-2 after 142 starts in the all-electric championship. Led over the line by Maximilian Guenther after a fantastic late move on Oliver Rowland using his remaining Attack Mode, Guenther was able to create a gap to those squabbling for second behind.
In the end – and quite literally the end with two corners left to go – Guenther’s two-time champion team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne mastered the late lunge to project himself up into second ahead of McLaren’s Taylor Barnard at the chequered flag.
The cheers from the garage could be heard around the Shanghai International Circuit, with team boss Jay Penske embracing the team and deputy team principal Phil Charles who had to wipe away tears at the team’s momentous occasion.
It’s the second victory of the 2024/25 season for DS Penske, and another for Guenther after switching Stellantis-powered teams from Maserati at the end of last season.
Winner: Nick Cassidy
Round 11 winner Nick Cassidy is also an easy pick for the winner’s column. Having had one of his worst starts to a season in several years, the Jaguar driver was finally back on the top spot after dominating wet proceedings across all of Sunday.
Navigating a shortened practice and unconventional qualifying format, Cassidy managed a lights-to-flag victory from pole position for the second time in his Formula E career. In a week where his name has been a big talking point of silly season, with paddock chatter speculating he is to depart the British manufacturer after the finale in London next month, it’s a good reminder that his talents should see him fighting for wins on a regular basis.
It’s also a great boost for Jaguar, who is still a lowly eighth in the teams’ standings; a huge drop in form for the reigning champions. They have struggled during this new Gen3 evo era, but after a promising weekend from Cassidy across both wet and dry conditions, they seem positive that its performance is heading in the right direction.
Loser: David Beckmann
One of the best storylines from the 2024/25 season has been watching CUPRA KIRO find success. Although they have gone through more rebrands than anyone would care to admit, it finally feels like the team have found that sprinkle of magic they’ve been searching for.
Part of that is the huge investment from The Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm that acquired the entire team ahead of the new season. Secondly is the championship-winning Porsche powertrain that resides in that car and the final piece of the puzzle is Dan Ticktum.
The marmite motorsport character has finally found a place he can call home; a team that allows him to show his potential on-track but also leans into his sarcastic and animated personality off it. It’s a partnership that is starting to deliver results – at least on one side of the garage.
But David Beckmann is struggling.
Whilst Ticktum has banked 55 points, a podium and a front-row start in Tokyo, the German still hasn’t had a top 10 finish across 11 rounds. Ticktum is more experienced, with 59 starts to his name after Shanghai, but a best result of 13th for the other side of the garage is starting to significantly impact the team’s 100-point season goal.
If Ticktum was able to climb from 21st to fourth in Shanghai, only missing out on a consecutive podium after an ambitious last-lap move from Vergne, questions will inevitably start to be asked about Beckmann’s future at the team.
Loser: Mahindra Racing
This Shanghai double-header feels like a big missed opportunity for Mahindra. The team has come on leaps and bounds since rebuilding this car for this Gen3 evo era, and this weekend could have been a chance for another podium, or even a win
Nyck de Vries was super strong in Shanghai last season, but didn’t have the car from Mahindra to back it up. This time however the squad looked in a good spot. De Vries earned himself a podium in Monaco, with team-mate Edoardo Mortara not far behind in fourth, and it’s clear to see the team has been working hard and bringing upgrades since the season opener in Sao Paulo.
Things got off to a promising start when de Vries finished in the top three across both free practice sessions for Round 10, but fifth in qualifying could only translate to eighth for the first race. Racing in the wet, a spin in qualifying didn’t prevent a decent seventh result on the grid but de Vries slipped to 12th at the flag. On the other side of the garage a bent track rod forced Mortara to retire on Saturday before finishing 19th in the rain-affected race.
It feels like a big missed opportunity, but there’s no doubt they’ll bounce back in Jakarta.
