Wherlein, Porsche Dominate in Season Opener at Mexico City

Formula E

14 Jan

January 14th, 2024

Pascal Wherlein converts pole to victory in a flawless drive to start his ABB Formula E World Championship Season 10. The German driver continues his strong run in the country cementing his second win in the last three visits to the venue and Porsche Powertain’s third straight win in Mexico. Sebastian Buemi and Nick Cassidy rounded out the podium but weren’t able to challenge the Porsche at the front of the field.

Wherlein got the perfect start from the front row of the grid to lead through the opening sequence of corners, aiming to create a gap between himself and the chasing field behind after securing the first pole of the season earlier in the duels, banking the three extra points available. Robin Frijns in his return to Envision dropped down the field off the start as the Dutchman struggled to get up to speed falling outside the top 10.

Sergio Sette Camara suffered a technical issue before the commencement of the race and was unable to participate in ERT Formula E Team’s first race after a strong qualifying for the team in 18th. Lucas Di Grassi joined his Brazilian counterpart after the opening lap as the Season 3 Champion entered the pit lane with a terminal braking issue that meant he could not complete the remainder of the E-Prix.

The second ABT Cupra of Nico Muller found himself in the barriers early on lap 3 after a collision with Season 6 Champion Antonio Felix Da Costa, forcing the latter to retire with suspension damage after an ambitious dive down the inside of turn three was met with the inside concrete barrier. The incident will be investigated post-race but Muller was able to limp home with a 17th-place finish for the team.

As strategies started to play out, Envision Racing’s Sebastian Buemi overtook Wherlein for the lead on lap six as the sole remaining Porsche used his sole Attack mode of the E-Prix. Before the second Envision of Robin Frijns collided with the barriers at turn 17 after running wide into the dust, bringing the first Safety Car of the season.

Buemi’s lead was short-lived after the green flag waved, as Wherlein took back the lead when Buemi served his second and final Attack Mode, dropping him to second. The 29-year-old German didn’t look back, comfortably leading the remainder of the race to take Porsche to a Drivers and Teams standings lead ahead of the second round of the championship in Saudi Arabia.

Nick Cassidy after serving his Attack Mode in the opening laps of the E-Prix was able to jump Maximilian Gunther for the final spot on the podium at the halfway mark as the Maserati decided the split his six-minute allocation, dropping him out of the top three before the jaguar skipped away leaving the German to consolidate with a fourth-place finish.

Kiwi Nick Cassidy started his new relationship with Jaguar in strong fashion claiming the race’s fastest lap on his charge to the top three after qualifying inside the top four, ahead of Teammate Evans.

Despite lacking pace in the closing stages of the race, Mitch Evans was able to hold off the closing pack as Jean-Eric Vergne wasn’t able to get close enough to make a maneuver, as the pair settled for fifth and sixth respectively. Jake Hughes and the Second DS Penske of Stoffel Vandoorne followed in seventh and eighth, closing pursued by the pair of Andretti’s as reigning champion Jake Dennis started his title defence with a ninth-place finish ahead of teammate Nato.

Nissan fell just short of points to start the season as Oliver Rowland led the team with an 11th-place finish, with young Sacha Fenestraz just behind in 12th after a clean race for the team. Two Mahindra recruits, Eduardo Mortara and Nyck De Vries struggled in the season opener finishing just outside the top 12 as the Dutchman returned to racing for the first time since losing his Alpha Tauri seat in July last year.

Experience Sam Bird was unable to impress in his debut race with the NEOM Mclaren team with a lowly 14th place finish and will aim to improve as teammate Hughes managed to secure the team’s first points. Rounding out the classified finishers was Jehan Daruvala on his debut in 16th edging out Muller as Dan Ticktum rounded out the opening round as a strategy risk failed to pay off.