Pretoria, South Africa – 14 April 2025 – Jaguar TCS Racing’s journey through the Miami E-Prix concluded without any points, following a race marred by frustrating setbacks and unforeseen circumstances. Both Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans fought valiantly for positions, but a combination of safety car interruptions, accidents, and penalties derailed their chances of finishing in the points.
A Difficult Start, but Hope on the Horizon
The race kicked off with both Jaguar TCS Racing drivers starting from mid-grid positions – Nick Cassidy in P13 and Mitch Evans in P14. Both drivers avoided early trouble, skillfully navigating the Homestead-Miami Speedway and steadily making progress through the field. For a moment, it seemed as though the team might turn the tide in their favour, as both drivers entered into contention for valuable championship points.
However, the challenges began to mount in the mid-race stages.
Safety Car Shake-Up: Attack Mode Wasted for Cassidy
On lap 16, Cassidy made a calculated move, activating his four-minute Attack Mode. This allowed him to push his Jaguar I-TYPE 7 to a potent 350kW and take full advantage of all-wheel drive – a crucial strategy to improve his standing. Unfortunately, the timing of the safety car deployment dashed these efforts. The interruption erased his remaining Attack Mode advantage, leaving him with a severely compromised position.
Later, the tension mounted even further as the race took an unexpected turn.
Evans Involved in Unavoidable Incident
On lap 20, Mitch Evans was caught in an unavoidable collision between Maximilian Günther of DS Penske and Jake Hughes of Maserati, as the two cars tangled at the turn 10/11 chicane. With nowhere to go, Evans was forced into the melee, his race effectively ended. The incident resulted in yet another safety car, which was followed by a red flag, halting the race for a significant period.
As the race resumed, both Jaguar drivers found themselves at a disadvantage. Nick Cassidy, who was in P8 when the race restarted with just four laps remaining, was hit with a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. This penalty, combined with the timing of the restart, relegated him to P15 by the end of the race. Meanwhile, Mitch Evans, who had restarted from the back of the grid, crossed the line in P16.
Jaguar TCS Racing’s Standings After Miami
Despite the disappointing result in Miami, Mitch Evans remains in P10 in the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship standings, while teammate Nick Cassidy sits in P18. After five rounds, Jaguar TCS Racing holds P8 in the Teams’ World Championship with 35 points and occupies P5 in the Manufacturers’ standings.
James Barclay, Team Principal of Jaguar TCS Racing, reflected on the team’s difficult race:
“For a combination of factors, some in and some out of our control, we didn’t get the result we were capable of today. Ultimately the safety car and accident, which resulted in the red flag, compromised our race with both cars. It can happen but it makes it no less frustrating when it impacts both drivers. We weren’t the only ones in the pit lane that will be feeling this way after a lot of hard work. There were some positive signs of progress though and some key learnings which we will take away and turn into performance for the rest of the season. Eyes forward and we now look ahead to Monaco for a race we all love and what will be an historic weekend, as we take to the track for not one, but two days of racing through the streets of the iconic principality.”
Looking Ahead: Monaco Awaits
For Mitch Evans, the race in Miami was a chance lost but not one without lessons learned. He said, “Today had potential and it was exciting to be racing in Miami, but unfortunately, I got caught up in an incident with Jake and Max, so it was a disappointing race for me. It’s time to look ahead to Monaco, my home race. I won there last year, but there is still more work to do to get us to where we want to be.”
Nick Cassidy, equally disappointed, reflected on the missed opportunities. “A hugely frustrating race today with safety cars and the track limits penalty. The weekend started positively. The car felt good on Friday, and we were quick, but today we struggled to get the performance we know we need. We’ll review together, then we look to Monaco where we go again.”
The next round of the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship takes place in Monaco, with a thrilling double-header scheduled for Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May. This historic race through the streets of the iconic principality will offer Jaguar TCS Racing an opportunity to put their setbacks behind them and compete for the points they desperately need.
