Envision Racing's Nick Cassidy takes his first Formula E win of 2023 in Berlin.
- Nick Cassidy scored his first victory of the season in Berlin Sunday, with Jake Dennis and Jean-Eric Vergne on the podium.
- Protesters on the track caused a delay to the start of the race with two sitting in front of Vergne’s car.
- After a very wet qualifying, conditions improved and there were just a few damp patches on the track by the start of the race.
A day after Mitch Evans and Jaguar stole the show it was Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy who took center stage Sunday for the Formula E Berlin E-Prix.
After a slight delay thanks to climate change protesters on the track, the Berlin Tempelhof Circuit saw a second consecutive tactical race filled with overtakes – 172 in total, making for 362 over the weekend – and ended after some strategic mastery from Cassidy. The Kiwi started eighth and took the lead on Lap 25. From there he set the pace, used excellent racecraft and energy to score his first win of 2023.
“I knew I was in the fight,” Cassidy said. “I’ve been in the fight the last five races. Yesterday, we had a great opportunity as well and I made a mistake and I really put my hand up for that. But, today we made it count. So, thanks so much to my guys. I’ve had an opportunity to win nearly every weekend and as a driver that’s a dream. I’ve had some really good luck and I’m sure some bad luck and bad weekends are coming our way, but until then I’m enjoying the ride – it’s been amazing.”
Dennis was in striking distance on the final lap in the Avalanche Andretti Porsche 99X Electric, just half a second back at the flag, but not close enough to get by Cassidy – who is now within four points of standings leader Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche). Brit Dennis was happy, however, to end a three-race scoring drought.
“To not see a checkered flag since Saudi is mind-blowing,” Dennis said. “We’re still fourth in the Championship I’ve just got told. Obviously more energy than Nick but the targets were so high at the end, and it was too much of a risk and honestly, I was just happy with the 18 points and just bringing it home. The boys deserve so much today.”
Vergne said he didn’t have the pace to challenge for the win and ultimately raced for the podium. The DS PENSKE driver was pleased to have run third, with an eye on the long game as the season passes its half-way stage.
“It was a very difficult race so I’m very happy to finish on the podium in third,” Vergne said. “It could have been very easy to do otherwise today, so I’m going to take those points gladly and move on. The Championship isn’t something I’m looking at the moment – there are still so many races remaining. We have a lot of work to do as a team. I’m really glad with the work we’ve done this weekend. We certainly don’t have the pace or the performance of the Jag so we need to push really hard to catch up and aim for some more victories.”
Saturday’s winner Mitch Evans finished a spot higher than his starting position to come home fourth. His teammate Sam Bird, who finished second Saturday, had contact with another car and struggled to a 19thplace finish.
The drive of the day belonged to Maximilian Guenther who came from 21st on the grid. The Maserati MSG Racing driver followed up on securing the team’s first podium in Round 7 with sixth Sunday – climbing 15 positions through the pack.
Polesitter Robin Frijns in the ABT CUPRA couldn’t keep pace with the leaders and dropped to 17th at the end, with teammate and fellow front-row starter Nico Mueller only finishing ninth on home soil to score the team’s first points in the GEN3 era.
The next round for Formula E will in Monaco for Round 9 of Season 9, on May 6.
Jake Dennis of Great Britain and Avalanche Andretti Formula E (L), Nick Cassidy of New Zealand and Envision Racing (C) and Jean-Eric Vergne of France and DS Penske on the podium during Round 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, SABIC Berlin E-Prix on April 23, 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
Qian Jun/MB MediaGetty Images
Results
Sabic Berlin E-Prix
Round 8
- Nick Cassidy Jaguar
- Jake Dennis Porsche 0.442
- Jean-Éric Vergne DS 1.292
- Mitch Evans Jaguar 1.769
- A.F.da Costa Porsche 2.460
- Max Günther Maserati 2.981
- Pascal Wehrlein Porsche 3.545
- S.Vandoorne DS 4.851
- Nico Müller Mahindra 6.612
- Dan Ticktum NIO 7.822
- Sacha Fenestraz Nissan 9.461
- Lucas di Grassi Mahindra 9.462
- René Rast Nissan 9.678
- Oliver Rowland Mahindra 11.780
- S.Sette Câmara NIO 13.687
- Norman Nato Nissan 13.749
- Robin Frijns Mahindra 22.937
- Jake Hughes Nissan 29.580
- Sam Bird Jaguar 34.381
- Sébastien Buemi Jaguar 1’03.532
- André Lotterer Porsche 1’04.102
- Edoardo Mortara Maserati 1:07.041
Keyword: Nick Cassidy Wins Delayed Formula E Prix in Berlin