Nyck de Vries and Oliver Rowland shared the spoils across a dramatic Monaco Formula E double-header as the championship battle took another twist on the streets of Monte Carlo.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s annual visit to the Principality delivered two wildly different contests, but both underlined the series’ increasing unpredictability as Season 12 moves into its decisive phase.
Saturday’s opener belonged to Mahindra and de Vries, who converted a front-row start into a commanding victory amid the usual Monaco chaos. The Dutchman resisted early pressure from Jaguar’s Mitch Evans before controlling the race through a series of energy-management phases and late-race interruptions to secure Mahindra’s first Formula E victory of the Gen3 era.
For Mahindra, the result marked the end of a four-year wait for victory and represented one of the standout recovery stories of the current Formula E cycle. De Vries had shown strong pace throughout qualifying, defeating both Antonio Felix da Costa and Evans in the duels before narrowly missing out on pole position.
Evans finished second for Jaguar after another typically measured drive around the tight confines of Monaco, while CUPRA KIRO rookie Pepe Marti completed the podium after surviving a race punctuated by contact and full-course yellows.
The opening encounter featured several flashpoints, with the narrow Monaco circuit again exposing Formula E’s aggressive peloton-style racing. Dan Ticktum was among those to fall foul of the stewards after an incident involving da Costa, while several midfield runners emerged from the weekend frustrated after promising qualifying performances unravelled in traffic-heavy racing conditions.
Sunday’s second race delivered another strategic thriller, but this time it was reigning champion Oliver Rowland who emerged on top for Nissan.
Rowland had spent much of the season threatening victory without converting strong pace into wins, but in Monaco he finally delivered a controlled and intelligent drive to reinsert himself firmly into the title fight. The Briton stayed out of trouble while rivals traded paint behind him and managed his usable energy superbly through the closing laps.
Andretti rookie Felipe Drugovich claimed a breakthrough second-place finish in only his 10th Formula E start, continuing an increasingly impressive adaptation to electric single-seater racing. The Brazilian had already shown encouraging one-lap speed by reaching the duels in qualifying, and he converted that promise into a composed maiden podium finish.
Da Costa completed the podium despite another bruising afternoon that included opening-lap contact with Edoardo Mortara. The Portuguese driver later described the event as a “crazy race” after recovering strongly from the early incident.
Beyond the on-track action, Monaco also highlighted Formula E’s growing crossover appeal within the wider motorsport world. Multiple Formula 1 figures attended across the weekend, including Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, while Norris openly admitted he would like to test a Formula E car in the future.
The double-header ultimately reshaped both championship battles. Evans emerged from Monaco with momentum at the top of the standings after another highly consistent weekend for Jaguar, while Rowland’s long-awaited victory significantly tightened the picture heading into the next phase of the season.
If Monaco proved anything, it is that Formula E’s competitive order remains remarkably fluid. Mahindra’s resurgence, Nissan’s renewed title challenge and Andretti’s rookie breakthrough all arrived within 48 frenetic hours around motorsport’s most famous street circuit.
And as the championship heads towards its summer run-in, the Monaco E-Prix may yet prove to be the weekend that defined Season 12.
