Formula E: the last two-wheel drive Monaco | FP

By Carlo Platella
Finally Mitch Evans. The New Zealander and Jaguar had been chasing victory in the most important E-Prix for some time, with three consecutive second places in the last editions. With the Monegasque double, Jaguar extends his lead in the constructors' championship, while Cassidy returns close behind a now unstoppable Wehrlein in qualifying. The presentation of the Gen3 Evo on the same weekend the pressure increases for the contenders for the championship, aware that they are expected by a small technical revolution in 2025, depriving the top of the class of the current certainties.

A race to win

The conditions for an E-Prix colored in black and white were all there, with Jaguar strong in the first two places in the 2023 edition. Since the first light of dawn Mitch Evans lays down the law, setting the best time in both free practice sessions and in the first qualifying round. Only a double mistake by the drivers in the semi-final deprived the British brand of a front row that now seemed to be in the safe.

Not bad though, because in the race the Jaguar wall regained the top positions thanks to a strategy that saw the two New Zealanders collaborate to activate their respective Attack Modes without losing positions. Evans and Cassidy take turns keeping Vergne and Vandoorne's DSs behind, even when they have the extra 50 kW of power. An episode that highlights once again the lack of effectiveness of the current Attack Modea situation destined to change with the Gen3 Evo in 2025, which will be able to activate all-wheel drive in the same phases.

However, four-wheel drive was not yet available in the Principality this year, allowing Jaguar to reap the benefits of its strategy. The Munich result is extremely important for the English team, given that from now until the end of the season we will be racing mainly on permanent or high-speed circuits, more similar to the Porsche package. In a calendar that still includes tracks like Berlin, Shanghai and Portland, maximizing points in the Monegasque city was essential.

Two-faced Porsche

The Munich E-prix arouses mixed feelings for the Zuffenhausen brand. The pole position crowns Wehrlein and Porsche as the best performers of the flying lap this year, in that same discipline which cost a good part of the title lost in 2023. To certify the team's progress are added the growing performances of Da Costa, who qualified for the direct elimination phase and author of a good comeback in the race after being got stuck in a traffic jam at the hairpin during the first lap.

The fifth place finish does not go well with Wehrlein's ambitions before the start, who nevertheless maintains the lead in the World Championship. The E-Prix is ​​decidedly worse Jake Dennis. The reigning world champion fell to the back of the group after damaging his front wing, a direct consequence of a qualifying where the Briton continued to struggle. The development of the software seems to have deprived Dennis of the harmony with the car that he appreciated last season, which must be found as soon as possible to continue chasing the world championship reconfirmation.

The best DS of the year

Third and fourth position for the two DSs, which for the occasion show off an elegant black livery. According to Vandoorne, victory was possible, but he missed out due to his failure to get between the two Jaguars when the second Attack Mode was activated. Looking at the energy references, the impression is that DS is still lagging behind in efficiency from the top of the class, but in the last few weeks the Stellantis brand has expressed encouraging progressalso appreciated in Misano especially on the flying lap.

The French company is back in the standings Nissan, towards which there were greater expectations on the eve. In the last edition the team showed off in qualifying, where Rowland has shone on several occasions this season too, with the difference that the improved efficiency gained this year would have made the defense of a possible pole position less prohibitive. However, both Nissans remained excluded from the direct elimination phase of qualifying, only to then make an excellent comeback to the points zone. The disappointment at the end of the day, however, is further proof of a team on the rise and now a constant presence in the top positions, towards which there are ever-increasing expectations.

Waiting for the Evo

Formula E leaves the Principality with a world ranking that includes five drivers representing three different manufacturers in just 25 points: Porsche, Jaguar and Nissan. For each of them, the title is an opportunity to be seized upon, since the small revolution expected for 2025 could reshuffle the hierarchies on the grid. The four-wheel drive of the Gen3 Evo will only be activated during qualifying, at the start and during the Attack Modes, but in any case they will force teams to develop new control software to optimize traction, a crucial aspect in Formula E.

The most important change, however, is embodied by the new Hankooks, which will offer between 5 and 10% more grip. As in any motorsport discipline tires are a key factor, the modification of which resets what the teams learned with the previous specification. Last, but not least, with the debut of the Gen3 Evo it will be possible to homologate a new powertrain, an opportunity to climb up the hierarchy, but also a risk of losing positions. Not letting the title slip away is the imperative for the five competing in this World Cup, aware that there is no certainty about tomorrow.