Written by Lorenzo Baer, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Mitch Evans' spectacular performance in the Brazilian race was certainly the factor that stole the show at the opening round of the 2024/25 Formula-E season.
But the race was also quite interesting, for it answered questions lingering since pre-season testing in Jarama, demonstrating what to expect in the new season world's premier class of electric cars.
Formula E showed why it is one of the most competitive and unpredictable categories in motorsport, at the opening round of its 11th season. Drivers started from the rear and finished among the top-five.
With countless overtakes, dramatic accidents, and drama till the final corners, it reaffirmed why the category attracts more attention with every passing year.
But, as with any season opener, the most important thing was the conclusions drawn after the event.
For the first time in the season, teams and spectators had some real parameters to work with, observing how the new regulations and technologies introduced for the 2024/25 season will work in a practical and real way.
Another important perspective after the event in São Paulo has to do with the performance of drivers and teams, checking if they fulfilled the expectations and bets made before the start of the championship.
Even though it is impossible to make an accurate prediction of what to expect for this year of racing, this weekend’s running in Brazil already provided hints of who might be the strongest contenders for the 2024/25 title.
The impact of the Gen3 Evo on debut
The introduction of a new machine for this year was intended to give a new boost to Formula E, offering a more competitive, balanced and reliable vehicle, allowing cars to race closer to each other.
This was certainly something seen in São Paulo, where the top ten were almost always separated by just a few seconds.
Another feature of the new GEN3 EVO that proved fundamental in one of the most dramatic moments of the race was the solidity and robustness of the new cell to strong impact.
Pascal Wehrlein's accident on lap 30 demonstrated how safety is always paramount in the category. Despite the German's vehicle overturning in the middle of the Anhembi circuit, the driver emerged practically unharmed from the accident.
Other technical points could also be observed, especially in relation to the main novelty introduced for the season: the AWD system further aiding drivers who took attack mode.
With the news of drivers being allowed to use the all-wheel drive system during attack mode from this season, a new phase of the category opened. Formula-Es have become some of the fastest accelerating cars on the world sporting scene, going from 0-100kph in 1.86s.
This characteristic was certainly on display in the corners and corner exits, with the GEN3 EVO proving to be much more obedient than its predecessors, with drivers able to exit corners much “cleaner” than those seen on the same circuit earlier this year, in season 10.
The combination of AWD performance with Attack mode in the general scenario of the race at Anhembi resulted in lap times being over two to three seconds faster than those seen in season ten’s Sao Paulo ePrix.
For example, the fastest lap of the race, set by David Beckmann, was 1:12.219, shattering Sam Bird's mark, which had remained since 2023 as the quickest on the circuit in racing conditions, with 1:13.684.
The qualifying times too demonstrated the difference between the Gen3 Evo and the Gen3 machines even more clearly.
The fastest lap of the weekend was the one that guaranteed pole position for Pascal Wehrlein, an astonishing 1:09.851 – more than two seconds quicker than Stoffel Vandoorne's original record, also from 2023.
However, the new Attack mode combined with AWD raised questions regarding the large artificial advantage it offers to those not using the mode at a certain point in the race.
The regular jumps of drivers who were in the last positions to the head of the field in just two to three laps sparked discussion that the new Attack mode ruins the human aspect of the competition by being too overpowered, and that it should undergo a review for future races of the category.
However, it is undeniable that the 2025 version of the technology is great from an entertainment point of view, providing a good amount of overtakes, and a certain unpredictability in the race.
The new Hankook tires also underwent their litmus test on the streets of São Paulo. There was some concern about the compound, as it was softer than that used in the 2023/24 season, and that it could not behave as expected in the difficult conditions of the Brazilian track.
The rough surface combined with a scorching temperature of over 30ºC on Saturday certainly put maximum pressure on the tyres, which, in the end, held up very well throughout the weekend.
Regarding the Anhembi layout itself, the track once again demonstrated its adaptability to Formula-E, offering a good range of overtaking points, in conjunction with very technical parts.
Despite these positive aspects, some drivers, such as Antonio Felix Da Costa, highlighted how parts of the route were very bumpy, which represented an additional challenge for the drivers in São Paulo.
How drivers and teams fared over the weekend
Although technical innovations are the major points of interest at every new start of the season in motorsports, the most important aspect of the weekend is evaluating the performance of drivers and teams, and observing which ones can stand out in the season that is now underway.
So, who left the best impression after the first stage of the season? Who were the biggest surprises? And who were this weekend's disappointments?
Who demonstrated the potential for the season? And who still has a lot to improve? You can find a summary of how teams and drivers fared in the first weekend of the 2024/25 ABB Formula-E championship:
TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team: despite Antonio Felix da Costa's excellent second place in Saturday's race, Porsche had a bittersweet weekend, due to Pascal Wehrlei's accident on lap 30. The Formula E champion in the 2023/24 season proved to be the fastest of the weekend, taking the first pole of the season, and if it weren't for the accident, he would most likely have finished on the podium. Nevertheless, Porsche demonstrated they were favourites this year, with the team and drivers ready to fight for victories throughout the season.
Maserati MSG Racing: The Italian team's new duo had a very low-key weekend, so to speak. Stoffel Vandoorne even had some interesting moments in the race, but stayed largely out of trouble, finishing in a modest tenth position.
On the other hand, Jake Hughes had little to show, after being sandwiched between the protection fence and Nico Müller on the second lap of the race.
Cupra Kiro: One of the newcomers on the grid, the Cupra Kiro squad faced their first weekend as a learning and testing ground. Even so, Dan Ticktum showed some promise, finishing in a spectacular eighth place and giving the team its first points right in its debut race. David Beckmann, who was in 10th position at the middle of the race, had to retire after making contact with a barrier on the 24th lap. So, taking the first race as a parameter, it would be no surprise if Kiro soon began to upset the more established teams on the grid.
Envision Racing: Although Robin Frijns and Sebastien Buemi showed potential in free practice, the race was unimpressive for the team. Frijns didn't even start the race, due to electrical problems in his car. Buemi finished seventh, a regular result that has become common in the drivers resumé in recent Formula E seasons. So, this coming month will certainly be a period of major adjustments for the team, before the second leg of the season.
NEOM McLaren Formula E Team: The British team was one of the most solid performers of the weekend, with Sam Bird and Taylor Barnard demonstrating their speed and skill on the streets of São Paulo. Barnard’s podium certainly highlighted his skillset, marking him out as a major talent for the years to come.
DS Penske: The American team proved they have a long way to go to get back to the top of the grid. Although there is no shortage of talent behind the wheel, the E-Tense FE25 did not prove to be one of the most balanced vehicles of the grid. Despite lacking top-speed, Gunther managed to reach the semi-finals of the duels, starting fourth for the race.
Jaguar TCS Racing: Mitch Evans' victory may have been one of Formula-E's most memorable stories in the category’s history, but it in no way hides the British team's shortcomings throughout the weekend. Before his race to victory, Evans suffered several mechanical problems which could be observed in FP2 and in Qualifying sessions, demonstrating that the I-Type 7 is still not a completely reliable machine. Despite these shortcomings, both Evans and Nick Cassidy made the most of their machines, with the Jaguar at least proving to be one of the quicker cars in Formula-E grid.
Lola Yamaha ABT: It’s harsh to categorise a newcomer as disappointing, but this would be apt to sum up Lola’s first weekend in Formula E. Lucas di Grassi even had his moments of brilliance, taking Lola to a lofty fifth position early in the race, before mechanical problems forced him to withdraw from the contest. Zane Maloney, still making his conversion from F2 to Formula E, had some difficulties, staying most of the race at the rear of the field.
Nissan Formula E Team: Despite finishing 13th and 14th in the race, Norman Nato and Oliver Rowland proved to be a duo to keep an eye on in Season 11.
Both Nissans always raced near the top positions during the whole weekend, and only missed out on a podium finish due to penalties received for overpower early in the race.
Mahindra Racing: The Indian team performed well in Brazil, with Edoardo Mortara and Nyck de Vries finishing fifth and sixth respectively. As has been demonstrated in recent years, consistency is the key to a team's success in Formula E, and if the team follows the São Paulo route for the next events, there’s no doubt Mahindra appears to be on the right path to success.
Andretti Formula E: The first race of the year was one to forget for the American outfit, and a lot of work will be necessary to make the team fit for the next leg of the championship, in Mexico. Both Nico Müller and Jake Dennis did not finish the race, the first due to an accident, the latter due to electrical problems. This really wasn't Müller's weekend, as he had already collided with one of the walls of the Anhembi circuit in FP1.
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