Mitch Evans wins thrilling London E-Prix as Jake Dennis seals Formula E title
Mitch Evans crossed the line first in an eventful London E-Prix but all eyes were on Jake Dennis who finished second and sealed the Formula E drivers' title.
Jake Dennis and Mitch Evans celebrate on the podium in London. (LAT Images / Formula E)
With championship rival Nick Cassidy on pole position, Dennis held on to the lead pack and put one hand on the trophy when Cassidy clipped his Envision racing teammate and lost his front wing.
Dennis then survived two failed trips through the Attack Mode activation zone, keeping third on track behind Evans and António Félix da Costa through two late red flag stoppages.
With da Costa penalised, Dennis moved up to second on the podium and was crowned the 2023 FIA Formula E Drivers' World Champion.
“I am lost for words, honestly,” said the British driver.
“It means so much to me, the boys standing out there, we have had everything thrown at us, honestly it felt like everyone was racing against us - but Jesus Christ we have just become world champion! I am so happy for myself, the team, everyone - we deserve this so much.”
“I only joined this championship three years ago, we almost won in our rookie year but now to come back and have the year that we have had, breaking all the podium records. To become world champion is mind blowing, I really didn't think it could happen coming into this year, but full credit to my boys. I love them so much, they have given me an absolute rocket ship all year, this is the least I could do for them.
“I could hear the fans as well, it is absolutely incredible to share this moment with them. My mum is out there somewhere, it is incredible for her. World champion - I am just amazed.”
Jake Dennis won the FIA Formula E World Championship in London. (Sam Bagnall / Formula E)
Evans maintains his run of form in the second half of the season, taking victory and doing his best to remain in the title fight, despite the final result.
“I want to take a moment to congratulate Jake on the world championship,” said the Kiwi.
“It is a hard one for me, I feel for Nick as well, I am not sure what happened with him. Obviously I came here to try and fight for the championship on the second day, we did all we could but unfortunately it wasn't enough. My mind was thinking Rome hurts even more now. It is what it is, Jake deserved that, Nick as well. We did all we could in the end. It was a chaotic race, I was very aggressive when it counted, and it paid off. There were a few stoppages, but I was able to keep my composure and get the job done.
“For tomorrow everyone is going to make a jump so we have to make a step. Obviously today was the benchmark, but I think it is very tight, the Envisions are very quick, and so are the Andrettis, so obviously it is more a Teams' Championship fight now.”
Nick Cassidy leads the field at the start of the London E-Prix. (Sam Bagnall / Formula E)
Cassidy led from pole position as teammate Sébastien Buemi played rear-gunner, holding off Evans and Dennis in the early stages.
The Kiwi then dropped to third through the Attack Mode process, with Evans in the lead.
Running close behind his teammate, the pair came together as Buemi nipped into turn three, taking Cassidy’s front wing and ending his championship hopes.
A despondent Buemi revealed on his team radio that they had not informed him that Cassidy was the car behind.
Cassidy returned to the track in last but eventually retired, forcing the cameras out of his garage in an angry confrontation with his engineers.
The safety car emerged to remove Cassidy’s front wing from the track, bunching up the pack with Evans leading and championship rival Dennis in fifth.
The race was red-flagged soon after when Sacha Fenestraz’s Nissan ploughed in to the barriers, while at the front of the field Pascal Wehrlein was collected by Jake Hughes into turn one, clearing the way for Dennis to move up to third and into the position of champion-elect.
A move from Nissan driver Norman Nato on Buemi on lap 34 brought out the red flag once again, with the track blocked in an incident that caught out all but the top three drivers.
Dennis held on for third at the restart with three laps remaining, inheriting second with a brutal three-minute penalty for da Costa.
The Andretti Autosport driver won the title on 213 points, ahead of Evans on 176 points and unable to catch him in the one remaining E-Prix in London on Sunday.
“It was insane,” said Andretti Autosport CEO and chairman Michael Andretti.
“I think that basically explains what Formula E is all about, you just never know all the way until the last lap. Even those last two laps we were just holding our breath.”
“I can't thank the team enough, hanging in there all these years to finally get on top of a podium for a championship. I want to thank Porsche, their powertrain was fantastic, they have had an incredible year with it, and also our sponsor Avalanche. But mostly all the crew, they worked their butts off, and they really deserve this win."
The London E-Prix II remains the decider for the Teams' Championship, with Envision Racing just eight points ahead of Jaguar TCS Racing, while third place TAGE Heuer Porsche also remain in contention.
The season comes to an end with the second London E-Prix at 2.00am Monday (AEST) on Stan Sport.
2023 FIA Formula E World Championship
- Mitch Evans (NZ)
- Jake Dennis
- Sebastien Buemi
- Sam Bird
- Sergio Sette Camara
- Edoardo Mortara
- Lucas di Grassi
- Dan Ticktum
- Norman Nato
- Pascal Wehrlein
- Jake Hughes
- Stoffel Vandoorn
- Maximilian Guenther
- Andre Lotterer
- Rene Rast
- Roberto Merhi
- Antonio Felix da Costa
- Sascha Fenestraz - DNF
- Nick Cassidy (NZ) - DNF
- Nico Mueller - DNF
- Jean-Eric Vergne - DNF
- Robin Frijns - DNF
