Season 9 of the ABB Formula E World Championship saw the all-new GEN3 car make its competitive bow, with speed, energy and downforce available to teams than ever before. For this cycle of the sport Envision Racing switched to Jaguar as powertrain providers – with the i-Type setup immediately proving one of the most competitive on the grid.
The changing nature of the machinery also had an impact on the style of racing, with energy management proving increasingly crucial. Races quickly took on a more tactical nature, with teams and drivers working out the best moments to take Attack Mode in order to leave themselves with the most energy possible for a late charge to the finish line.
With former champion Sebastien Buemi joining Nick Cassidy for the campaign, the Green Machine were poised for a strong showing – and, indeed, consistency was a hallmark of the team’s performances all season. A string of podium finishes in the early part of the year – Hyderabad, Cape Town, Sao Paulo – were then followed by a flurry of brilliant victories, as Cassidy showed his command of the new style of racing with awe-inspiring wins in Monaco, Portland and Berlin.
With Buemi also chipping in key results across the calendar, that meant the circus arrived in London for the final races of the year with Cassidy in the hunt for the drivers’ championship and the team also narrowly ahead in the teams’ standings. While the New Zealander was agonisingly unable to achieve his personal dreams, a dominant individual win on Sunday nevertheless helped seal the world championship for the team – as Buemi also edged past Sam Bird in the rival Jaguar to help confirm the victory.
Champions of the world for the first time, Envision Racing ultimately finished the season with a team-record 304 points, including four wins, five podium finishes and three pole positions.
