Mitch Evans and Jaguar TCS Racing teammate, Sam Bird executed a perfect strategy in the opening race of the 2023 SABIC Berlin E-Prix double-header to secure a show-stopping one-two for the team.
Like the cars, the atmosphere was electric at the capacity-filled Tempelhof Airport Circuit, as the deeply strategic yet fiercely competitive race played out.
With no less than 190 overtakes, 53 lead changes and eight different leaders taking charge the action packed race broke all previous Formula E records. The competitive racing keeping everyone trackside and behind pit wall on the edge of their seats.
Throughout the 43 laps, a record number of drivers took charge of the race as the teams’ strategies emerged, with an early surge of front-runners electing to take attack mode early on and those further back running for longer.
Dan Ticktum (NIO 333 Racing) launched into the lead in stunning style with a move around the outside of Turn 1, right by Julius Baer Polesitter Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing), Sam Bird (Jaguar TCS Racing) and Stoffel Vandoorne (DS PENSKE).
After the lead group jumped for their second 50kW boosts, the racing settled for just three laps before Edoardo Mortara (Maserati MSG Racing) and Vandoorne pushed to the front. Glancing at the timing screens yielded a different race leader at almost every stage as positions changed almost continuously. The first of two spells under the Safety Car compounded things further with the field split by just over five seconds going into the second half of the race.
Quick-starting Ticktum had been shuffled into the top 10 until he and Vandoorne came into heavy contact, deploying the Safety Car for the second time. The Jaguar pair and Buemi then fought to fill out the top three spots after Günther had briefly taken P1 as the race headed into its closing stages. The Jaguar-powered cars went on to assert their new-found dominance and pace, with Günther looking to pick up the pieces as the front three challenged for the race lead.
Evans managed to edge second-placed Bird on the exit of the hairpin with a good run down the start/finish straight to make a lunge into Turn 1 stick for the lead on Buemi as the race headed into three added laps. The Kiwi was able to get the jump and pull away, extending a 0.750s lead with two full laps remaining as Bird hassled Buemi for second just behind in the sprint to the finish.
Fellow Kiwi, Nick Cassidy, came in fifth driving his Jaguar-powered Envision Racing car.
“The last race was special having us both on the podium and also with Nick, all Jaguar powertrains on the podium. At this one, it’s extra special because it’s a 1-2 for the team and a really hard race to manage. It got a bit chaotic out there. I wasn’t expecting a victory in this place. This place has haunted me for many years. So super happy to get a second win, but here it was unexpected. It’s full credit to everyone. Sam drove really well. He’s been quick all day. I was surprised to get in the front bunch so early. There was a lot of games being played out there and it was hard to manage but we got it done.” Said Mitch Evans following the hard-fought victory.
The second race in the 2023 SABIC Berlin E-Prix double-header is Sunday, 23 April.
