Formula E News: Porsche’s Da Costa wins Shanghai Race #2

Antonio Felix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche) secured a second win of Season 10 in the Shanghai E-Prix Round 12, leading NEOM McLaren’s podium debutant Jake Hughes over the line, with Andretti’s Norman Nato third.

Da Costa had energy in-hand on his rivals at the front of the pack at the half-way stage, and after the definitive move for the lead on Lap 16 on Nato, the Porsche had the pace, performance and efficiency to remain untroubled to the end of the 28-lap race, despite Hughes’ best efforts over the final few laps.

RESULTS: The 2024 Shanghai E-Prix Round 12

Hughes had sealed Julius Baer Pole Position by just 0.001 seconds in qualifying, and the NEOM McLaren driver had eyes on more than a maiden podium for the first half of the encounter. Robust battles with the likes of standings leader Nick Cassidy (Jaguar TCS Racing) kept him preoccupied, however, and in the end, bringing home that debut podium was the maximum.

Nato wound up third for Andretti having led early on, with Cassidy having to settle for fourth after contact dislodged his front wing late on. It was a strong result in context, given the strife of his closest title rival Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche), who was forced into a costly pit-stop to replace a punctured tire following contact, leaving Wehrlein pointless.

Jaguar TCS Racing had played things expertly, with Mitch Evans following Cassidy across the line in fifth – a valuable points haul with overall Teams’ and Manufacturers’ honors in mind. That said, it could have been more for the pair as both crossed the line with energy in-hand on those ahead.

The DS PENSKEs of Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne came home sixth and seventh, with Maximilian Guenther (Maserati MSG Racing), Robin Frijns (Envision Racing) and Oliver Rowland (Nissan) rounding out the points-paying positions. Reigning champion Jake Dennis (Andretti) couldn’t recover to points and took the checkered flag 11th.

Round 12’s result means Cassidy holds a 25-point advantage over Wehrlein in the Drivers’ running. Jaguar TCS Racing hit 299 points in the Teams’ standings to TAG Heuer Porsche’s 228. Porsche retains the lead of the Manufacturers’ table 337 points to Jaguar’s 328.

Next up, a double-header in Portland on 29 & 30 June, as the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship heads into its decisive final four rounds.