Mahindra racing’s Nyck De Vries managed to get his first points of the year in Shanghai, meaning all 22 full-time drivers now have points to their name in Season 10.
The Season 7 World Champion made a return to Formula E this year, joining Edoardo Mortara at Mahindra Racing. Despite this being their 10th year in the all-electric championship, the team has had a challenging first half of the season but have been working super hard to get back to the top.
HANKOOK DEBRIEF: Five things we learned in Shanghai
At the halfway stage of Season 10, Mahindra were the only team not to have a championship point to their name. Yet, their luck would change and for Berlin, when Mortara managed a qualifying masterclass to place the car on pole. Not only was it a much needed injection of belief and celebration for the group, it also came with three championship points. The Swiss-Italian also finished eighth in the race, his first top 10 result of the year.
Last weekend in Shanghai, it was the turn of de Vries to have a standout performance. The Dutchman climbed from 13th on the grid to finish eighth in Round 11, and got his first points of the year. He even found himself leading the race at one point, the first time for him since the 2022 Berlin E-Prix which was his last career victory.
“I am very pleased,” de Vries said on his first points of Season 10. “It was a result of merit. It was a difficult race, there were not many DNFs ahead of me and we executed a good race. I'm just happy for everyone and to give something back after all the hard work that has already been put in.
“We are clearly not where we want to be yet, because in the end we were just not quick enough, but the points count for now.”
The following day, the good news kept coming. De Vries qualified for the Duels for the first time all season and even beat Nissan’s Oliver Rowland to progress into the Semi Finals. He started the race in fourth, and made great progress, but was ultimately spun by Sam Bird which lost him a huge deal of positions to finish 16th at the chequered flag.
“We take a step at a time and need to be realistic. Having the right expectations and the right strategy having in mind what our limitations are is key to bringing home something. If you are trying to fight something that ultimately is a lost battle, then you will always end up behind.”
There are still two rounds remaining – four races in total – over Portland and then the finale in London.