Mahindra Racing has secured its first Formula E victory since 2021, with Dutch driver Nyck de Vries triumphing at the Monaco E-Prix on May 16. This landmark win marks a significant turning point for the Indian-owned team, ending a multi-year drought since their last victory at the London race.
De Vries' Strategic Drive to Victory
Starting second on the grid after a strong qualifying performance where he narrowly lost out to Dan Ticktum, de Vries maintained a strategic position in the opening laps. A crucial Safety Car period early in the race allowed for a shift in race strategies, which de Vries capitalized on.
After completing his mandatory pit stop on Lap 15 and expertly utilizing his available extra power, the Mahindra driver launched an impressive overtake on António Félix da Costa to seize the lead on Lap 20. De Vries then skillfully defended his position against relentless pressure from Mitch Evans, holding the front through a brief race slowdown to cross the finish line first and claim maximum points.
“We’ve had some challenges so far this season and haven’t been able to show what we’re capable of,” de Vries commented after the race. “Today it all came together.”
Mortara's Challenging Race
De Vries’ teammate, Edoardo Mortara, faced an uphill battle throughout the event. A mechanical issue during qualifying relegated him to a distant 19th position on the starting grid, a problem that Formula E regulations prevented the team from repairing before the race.
Despite the setback, Mortara demonstrated resilience, climbing into the top 10 mid-race by benefiting from incidents ahead and opportune pit-stop timings. However, his hopes for points were dashed late in the race when he suffered a puncture, ultimately dropping him to 17th at the finish.
“What happened in qualifying was frustrating because there was nothing we could do,” Mortara stated. “Until the puncture, I thought points might have been possible.”
Team Progress Reflected in Results
Mahindra Racing Team Principal and CEO Frederic Bertrand praised the team's performance, highlighting the victory as a testament to their progress this season. “This is a great achievement from the team,” Bertrand said. “It was a strong drive from Nyck and also from Edoardo.”
The win propelled Nyck de Vries to 11th in the drivers' standings. Mahindra Racing also solidified its position, remaining third in the teams’ championship after outscoring rivals in Monaco.