Monaco E-Prix 2023: In Cassidy's Care
(Simon Galloway, copyright FIA Formula E)
The Monaco E-Prix has built up a reputation as arguably Formula E’s most exciting race venue since moving onto the full Formula One loop (with a very minor revision). This year was a first opportunity to see what Gen3 was like around the circuit, and while the race didn’t quite match up to the classics of the last two years, it was engrossing and filled with incident.
The disputes began in qualifying, when both DS Penskes lost their lap times as a result of tyre-pressure infringements. Sergio Sette Camara was left feeling peeved by exclusion from the duels (the Brazilian has often been shaded for pace in 2023 by his teammate Dan Ticktum, and so will have wanted to make an impression). He was unable to proceed because of having left it so late to leave the pits that he did so under a red light.
In total, twelve cars or drivers were either penalised or investigated during qualifying, with the greatest controversy being saved for the final of the duels, between Sacha Fenestraz in the Nissan, and Jake Hughes in the McLaren. It was the first time this season that a duels final had been between two Nissan-powered cars, and it demonstrated the massive improvement available from the manufacturer’s software update. Both Fenestraz and Hughes broke sporting regulations on their qualifying laps, with the French-Argentine exceeding 350kw, and Hughes exceeding track limits.
The FIA decided after considerable discussion to place Hughes on pole and Fenestraz second, but it was one of those occasions that Formula E has in it roughly every year, and the kind of mishap that makes neutrals chuckle about the category on the occasions it happens.
Hughes led cleanly away from the start, with only Andre Lotterer failing to complete the first lap. Behind Hughes, Oliver Rowland had a typically explosive start, moving up from 13th on the grid to be as high as seventh before falling to ninth. Unfortunately, as is often the case, Rowland’s race was ended by accident damage shortly after it began, but it was a mightily impressive few laps for the British driver.
Cassidy’s incredible move (Sam Bagnall, copyright FIA Formula E)
With Hughes having taken Attack mode early on, Fenestraz led from teammate Nato in a Nissan formation, but the driver calmly making the most ground was Nick Cassidy, the New Zealander passing both Jake Dennis and Mitch Evans around the outside of the Grand Hotel Hairpin on the same lap. It was an extraordinary manoeuvre, and was to prove telling eventually.
By lap 12, Cassidy led the race from Evans, Fenestraz, and Dennis, after all four runners had taken Attack Mode. Evans was to briefly take the lead for Jaguar at Ste. Devote on lap 16, before another swap amid Attack Mode. Cassidy then worked on preserving usable energy while doing the same with his lead - his task made simpler by a collision on the penultimate lap. Dan Ticktum, who had been running in the top six, chopped across Max Günther to block on the way up Beau Rivage, when Günther’s Maserati was already too close to be blocked. The clash ended the German driver’s race, in what was yet another miserable weekend for the Monaco-based Maserati MSG team.
Cassidy seemed emotional to have won in Monaco, especially under such pressure from Evans. He leaves the Principality with a cushioned title lead.
Top ten: Cassidy, Evans, Dennis Fenestraz, Hughes, Ticktum, Jean-Eric Vergne, Sebastien Buemi, Stoffel Vandoorne, Pascal Wehrlein.