5 issues we discovered from the Mexico Metropolis E-Prix

Oliver Rowland turned the second totally different System E winner in as many races after surging to an surprising victory within the closing levels of the Mexico Metropolis E-Prix.

However whereas the Briton’s overtaking prowess handed him the win, the outright efficiency of Porsche drivers Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein was an ominous warning signal for its rivals.

After one other exhilarating race within the 2024-25 season, listed below are 5 issues we discovered from the Mexico Metropolis E-Prix:

1. Porsche’s dominant tempo a warning to rivals regardless of lack of wins

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico Metropolis has been a cheerful searching floor for Porsche. Pascal Wehrlein claiming his and the German producer’s first System E victory on the venue in 2022, earlier than one other dominant win adopted 12 months in the past.

Reigning champion Wehrlein underlined the dominance of the brand new Gen3 Evo bundle by claiming back-to-back pole positions this season, his high spot final weekend on the wheel of a newly constructed chassis after his spectacular shunt in Sao Paulo.

It marked the primary time a driver had taken 4 System E pole positions on the similar venue whereas team-mate Antonio Felix da Costa ensured Porsche claimed a primary System E front-row lockout.

Within the race the pair dominated proceedings, main 26 of the 36 laps between them, and till a later security automotive put them on the backfoot in opposition to the Assault Mode-powered Rowland, they probably had the highest two positions locked in.

“I assumed we had a 1-2 as we speak for the crew after which that security automotive, I nonetheless have to return and have a look at it,” stated da Costa. “Perhaps Oliver would have had sufficient to return again to the entrance or not, I assume we’ll by no means know, but it surely ruined our occasion a bit bit.”

Regardless of not having recorded a victory but, a second runner-up spot in two races means da Costa leads the drivers’ standings for the primary time since his title-winning season in 2019-20, 12 factors away from Rowland and Mitch Evans, whereas Porsche already leads the groups’ desk by 31 factors from McLaren.

Primarily based on present kind, Porsche victories appear inevitable and provided that da Costa went on a win-streak of 4 from 5 races final season, there’s each risk that such a feat might be repeated over the remaining 14 races, all of which may have different groups rightly involved.

2. Rowland proves a real risk after spectacular victory

Rowland confirmed that he’ll benefit from any alternative to win and have to be thought of an element this season

Picture by: Andreas Beil

“I feel I’d have gotten again to them [the top three], however I feel had I handed them [with Attack Mode] I’d have consumed an excessive amount of and struggled to keep up the lead is my intestine feeling.”

Whether or not or not Rowland would have had sufficient in hand even with a full six minutes of Assault Mode to make up a number of seconds to the main trio forward of him, overtake after which maintain on for the win in Mexico stays open to debate.

However what isn’t unsure is how the Briton was cruel in his pursuit of victory when given a sniff courtesy of a late security automotive, which was rapidly retracted and meant Rowland had primarily a single lap to launch his assault with further energy.

Dispatching Jake Dennis instantly on the restart, launching up the within of an unsuspecting Wehrlein at Flip 5, then going wheel-to-wheel with da Costa and taking the lead with simply seconds of his further energy remaining showcased Rowland at his best.

It additionally served as a reminder to the remainder of the grid that, whereas the Rowland/Nissan mixture had been one thing of an outdoor wager for the championship final season, they’re much more of a potent risk this marketing campaign within the Gen3 Evo period.

However for a technical infraction victory might need additionally gone Rowland’s manner in Sao Paulo, and with the final two champions in Dennis and Wehrlein having received in Mexico en path to their title successes, Rowland may show to be the most important thorn within the facet of Porsche this season.

3. Jaguar faces uphill battle because it lags behind

Cassidy scored no factors once more, however says Jaguar has purpose to be hopeful within the second half of the season

Picture by: Oscar Lumley – Motorsport Photos

Reigning groups’ champions Jaguar endured a torrid Mexico Metropolis occasion after failing to attain any factors and seems to be on the backfoot in contrast with Porsche and Nissan, missing the outright effectivity and tempo of its rivals.

Sao Paulo winner Evans admitted the British producer has “positively received some work to do”, with the Kiwi unable to maintain up with the main runners through the race having certified fifth.

Any hopes of a significant factors end ended with simply 5 laps remaining, Evans breaking his suspension in a collision with Nico Muller because the Andretti driver suffered a momentary lack of energy forward.

The weekend fared even worse for team-mate Nick Cassidy, who has now failed to attain in both of the primary two races. Pressured to start out from the again of the grid after being stripped of his qualifying time because of a throttle pedal map infraction, he was unable to make any important progress by way of the sector like Evans had completed within the season-opener. Final yr’s title challenger was finally categorised solely twelfth.

“I feel we’re a bit bit behind the place we need to be with this automotive,” stated Cassidy. “We have got some actually cool, thrilling issues within the pipeline the place I feel we’ve received to attend till the break after [the next round in] Jeddah to see how that sort of comes on. I am in all probability extra longing for the second half of the season than I’m proper now.”

4. McLaren’s weekend to overlook exhibits System E’s brutal nature

Put up-race penalty for Barnard capped a tricky weekend for McLaren, scoring no factors

Picture by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Photos

Coming into the Mexico Metropolis E-Prix, McLaren occupied high spot within the groups’ standings courtesy of Taylor Barnard’s Sao Paulo podium – the youngest driver ever to characteristic on an FE rostrum – and fourth place for Sam Hen. However the papaya machines left the second spherical of the season pointless, signifying how fortunes within the all-electric championship can swing from one spherical to the following.

Hen was left aggrieved by Nyck de Vries having been blocked by the Mahindra driver in qualifying, costing him a spot within the duels because the Dutchman was handed a three-place grid penalty. The pair discovered themselves collectively once more within the race, de Vries lunging up the within of Hen into the double-right of Flip 5 within the early operating with the Briton then making contact and giving a puncture to the second Mahindra of Edoardo Mortara forward.

“I really feel like, no offence, however Nyck’s destroyed the weekend whether or not he meant to or not”, stated Hen, who was handed a five-second penalty for the contact with Mortara and finally categorised 18th.

The unsuitable tyre pressures on a moist however drying monitor in qualifying ensured Barnard began solely nineteenth, however the Briton was capable of climb into tenth earlier than the chequered flag having simply accomplished his full allocation of Assault Mode in time.

“I needed to brake proper earlier than the road to make it, so it was very shut. The crew had been counting me down, however I noticed it and was conscious,” stated Barnard.

It was all for nought, although, because the 20-year-old was handed a five-second post-race penalty for “leaving the monitor and gaining a long-lasting benefit”, which dropped him right down to 14th as McLaren dropped to second within the standings on a weekend to overlook.

5. Mexico Metropolis’s monitor and followers ship once more

Mexico has earned its place as a favorite of each followers and drivers alike

Picture by: Andreas Beil

Utilising a shortened structure in comparison with the complete configuration System 1 makes use of, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez has however develop into a agency favorite on the System E calendar for drivers, groups and followers – with 2025 the ninth version of the race.

Not solely able to offering nice racing, with its mixture of excessive and low-speed corners, the monitor’s distinctive stadium part additionally creates a carnival environment seen nowhere else on the schedule.

This yr’s occasion was as soon as once more a sell-out with over 40,000 followers in attendance, hordes of which diligently lingered behind the garages within the hope of getting an image or autograph with their favorite drivers.

“I want it was a double-header, I’ve been asking for it for a few years now,” stated Wehrlein after his podium end. “I like coming right here due to all of the followers, I really feel like they’re the very best followers in our racing calendar.

“So enthusiastic, they love motorsport, they love racing, they love us drivers, so many presents and items, I simply take pleasure in being right here.”

It is little surprise the Mexico Metropolis circuit is a favorite for defending champion Wehrlein after his newest robust exhibiting on the monitor

Picture by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Photos