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Mitch Evans Makes History With Last-to-First Victory In São Paulo Formula E GEN3 Evo Debut
The 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship kicked off in São Paulo with a thrilling race. Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing made history by winning from the 22nd position on the grid. The race, featuring the debut of the GEN3 Evo car, included 111 overtakes and five different leaders. It was marked by dramatic incidents, including a Safety Car and two Red Flags.
NEOM McLaren's Taylor Barnard, at just 20 years old, became the youngest podium finisher in Formula E history. He secured third place behind Evans and Antonio Felix da Costa of TAG Heuer Porsche. Barnard's strategic use of the enhanced ATTACK MODE played a crucial role in his success. As the series moves to Mexico City for Round 2 on January 11, Evans leads the Drivers' standings, while NEOM McLaren tops the Teams' Championship table.
The race saw reigning Champion Pascal Wehrlein's Porsche flip upside down after a crash, but he emerged unscathed. The powered-up ATTACK MODE introduced this season added a new strategic element, allowing Evans to make significant progress through the field late in the race. Former leader Oliver Rowland faced disappointment with a late drive-through penalty that cost him a potential victory.
NEOM McLaren capitalised on the chaos with British drivers Taylor Barnard and Sam Bird finishing third and fourth respectively after starting from 17th and 16th positions. Edoardo Mortara of Mahindra Racing finished fifth, followed by Norman Nato and Nyck de Vries in sixth and seventh places.
Mitch Evans expressed his surprise at winning after starting at the back due to qualifying misfortune. "To be honest I’m just trying to process everything! Obviously I wasn’t expecting this [win] after my misfortune in qualifying," he said. Antonio Felix da Costa was pleased with his podium finish despite recent challenges: "We’ve had a shocker over the last two years, so it was a tough way to kick things off."
Taylor Barnard was equally surprised by his podium finish: "I’ve not written a podium speech! Especially after the start of that race." He credited his team's strategy for their success: "The team did an absolutely amazing job with the second ATTACK MODE strategy."
Local Celebrities Attend
The São Paulo E-Prix attracted local stars including Emerson Fittipaldi and Caio Castro. Brazilian DJ Vintage Culture entertained guests at Formula E’s VIP hospitality area before headlining the event's opening round. Other celebrities like Mia Mamede and Bruno de Luca also attended to witness the thrilling action.
Sustainability Initiatives
Formula E continues its commitment to sustainability with initiatives like hosting 120 girls for empowerment workshops through FIA Girls on Track. The series also supported Associação PiPA with a €25,000 donation to enhance education programs for socially vulnerable communities.
Broadcast Deals and Partnerships
This week, Formula E announced significant broadcast deals with ITV, LaLiga+, Red Bull Media House, Tencent, and an editorial partnership with MARCA. These agreements aim to expand global coverage for fans. Additionally, Hackett Sport will continue supplying premium clothing for all Formula E staff throughout Season 11.
The championship is set to reduce freight emissions by 25% this season through collaboration with DHL, optimising air freight usage while increasing ocean freight reliance.
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