Rare pointless finish for Nick Cassidy underlines challenging Jakarta E-Prix, but title remains well within reach.
For the first time since the Diriyah E-Prix in January, Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy failed to score points. However, despite dropping to third in the Formula E Drivers’ Championship standings following the Jakarta E-Prix, the New Zealander remains in contention, as the team heads to new pastures next for the Portland E-Prix in the United States.
Cassidy went into the race weekend in Indonesia leading the championship by 21 points, and after a challenging weekend, goes into the final five races of the year just six points behind Pascal Wehrlein, but has proved he has the pace and the skill to regain his place at the summit.
The second race of the Jakarta E-Prix weekend saw Cassidy moving slowly, but surely, through the field. Starting 10th, by lap 20 of 38, the Envision Racing driver was up to eighth, behind title rival Wehrlein. It all went wrong in the second half of the race when a seemingly innocuous clash with Wehrlein saw him dislodge his front wing, forcing a pitstop, and ending any hope of points.
With Cassidy out of the picture at the business end of the action, it was left to team-mate Sébastien Buemi to battle for the points. He left it late but managed to sneak into the top 10 over the final laps, bringing home a single point that could yet prove vital come the end of the season.
We finish P10 & P18 at the #JakartaEPrix 🏁 pic.twitter.com/dOeZcd30Z0
— Envision Racing (@Envision_Racing) June 4, 2023
THE RACE
For the second time in 24 hours, both Envision Racing drivers started a race in the same grid slot. Cassidy qualified for round 11 of the 2022–23 Formula E World Championship in 10th, and team-mate Buemi in 13th. By the end of the first lap of the weekend’s second and final race, both drivers maintained position, as pole-sitter Maximilian Günther held the lead.
Following a very clean and cautious start, by lap five, Cassidy and Buemi were running line astern in 12th and 13th respectfully, as the first flurry of Attack Modes were taken, and the top 10 settled into a waiting, energy saving game. Up front, Jake Dennis assumed the lead from Günther and Mitch Evans.
As the battle for the lead heated up, the midfield remained pretty sedate, with the only notable move being Cassidy edging closer to the points, grabbing 11th place, and then slipping into the points-paying positions, taking 10th from Jean-Éric Vergne on lap 12. Behind the Kiwi racer, Buemi held 13th, but with some damage to his front wing.
On lap 14, Cassidy was up to his renowned overtaking tricks, and claimed ninth place, crucially moving ever closer to championship rival Pascal Wehrlein. One lap later, as the leading quartet started to pull away from the pursuing pack, Cassidy found himself behind Wehrlein in eighth as Buemi moved up into 12th place.
Disaster struck for Cassidy on lap 20. The Envision Racing driver was forced to pit following contact with Wehrlein, which damaged his front wing, dropping the championship leader to last place. With Cassidy’s afternoon effectively over, it was left to Buemi to bring home the points for Envision Racing, and with 10 laps remaining, the Swiss driver was running in 10th, with a vital single point on the table.
After falling back to 11th in the closing laps, Buemi showed his customary grit and determination, passing Dan Ticktum and sneaking into the top 10 on the final lap, bagging a single point in the process.
Up front Günther claimed Maserati’s maiden win in Formula E ahead of Jake Dennis and Mitch Evans.
Drivers’ standings (after Rd 11):
1. Pascal Wehrlein, 134pts
2. Jake Dennis, 133pts
3. Nick Cassidy, 128pts
4. Mitch Evans, 109pts
5. Jean-Éric Vergne, 97pts
9. Sébastien Buemi, 62pts
Teams’ standings (after Rd 11):
1. Porsche Formula E Team, 212pts
2. Envision Racing, 190pts
3. Jaguar Racing, 171pts
4. Avalanche Andretti, 156pts
5. DS Penske, 139pts