Cassidy Delivers Historic Citroën Triumph

Nick Cassidy produced a drive of rare intelligence and precision to win the Mexico City E-Prix, delivering Citroën its first Formula E victory in only the manufacturer’s second appearance in the all-electric championship. Starting a distant 13th on the grid, the New Zealander carved his way through the field with a performance that will be remembered as one of the most complete strategic displays of the modern Formula E era.

The result not only highlighted Cassidy’s maturity and racecraft, but also underlined the astonishing speed of Citroën’s development since entering the series at the start of the 2025/26 season. Having finished third in the São Paulo season opener, expectations were cautiously optimistic rather than triumphant. Yet at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Cassidy and Citroën exceeded even their most ambitious projections.

From the outset, the race was shaped by chaos and complexity. Qualifying set the tone when Taylor Barnard initially topped the times, only to have his lap deleted for exceeding track limits in the duel phase. Pole position was subsequently awarded to Sébastien Buemi, but the Envision Racing driver’s race unravelled almost immediately after he misjudged braking into Turn 1 and ran wide into the escape road.

Barnard inherited the lead, though it soon became clear that outright track position would be less decisive than energy strategy. Formula E’s unique variables—Attack Mode timing, lift-and-coast management, and reaction to interruptions—created constant fluctuations. Pascal Wehrlein appeared formidable early on, charging from eighth to first by lap five after activating Attack Mode aggressively. However, once his four-minute boost expired, the reigning Porsche champion slipped back, illustrating the risks of an early, front-loaded approach.

Cassidy, in contrast, exercised patience. He conserved energy meticulously while others fought for short-term gains. His restraint was rewarded when a mid-race safety car, caused by Nyck de Vries stopping at Turn 1 with a suspected mechanical failure, bunched the field and neutralised earlier advantages. Further disruption followed when António Félix da Costa became entangled with Maximilian Günther and Dan Ticktum, prompting another yellow-flag phase that reshuffled the running order.

The race was decided over the final 13 laps. Cassidy deployed his full eight minutes of Attack Mode in an unconventional split—six minutes in one sustained assault, followed later by a brief two-minute burst. The tactic proved devastatingly effective, allowing him to overtake multiple rivals in quick succession. Edoardo Mortara mounted relentless pressure in the closing stages and possessed more Attack Mode on paper, but Cassidy’s superior energy efficiency enabled him to defend flawlessly and secure his 12th Formula E victory.

Mortara finished second for Mahindra, while reigning world champion Oliver Rowland completed the podium for Nissan after capitalising on a late battle ahead that involved Barnard and Jake Dennis. Wehrlein recovered to sixth, and rookie Pepe Martí impressed with a measured drive to seventh, saving energy for a late surge.

Top 10 – Mexico City E-Prix

After the race, Cassidy admitted he was uncertain during the closing laps but praised the execution of the strategy. History may now be quietly on his side: the last three winners in Mexico City have gone on to claim the Formula E world title. While he played down championship ambitions, Cassidy emphasised the remarkable progress Citroën has made since pre-season testing in Valencia—a trajectory that now places both driver and team firmly among the sport’s emerging title contenders.