Discover more

feature season 11

HANKOOK DEBREIF: Five things we learned in Miami

FEATURE 13 Apr 2025 6 Mins

Championship Journalist Katy Fairman picks her biggest talking points from Formula E's return to Miami.

Discover more

feature season 11

Feature by Katy Fairman

Formula E is back with a bang, hosting a memorable Round 5 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. With Pascal Wehrlein reigniting his championship hopes, and a long-awaited return to the podium for Lucas di Grassi (Lola Yamaha ABT), here are the biggest stories from the championship’s most recent visit Stateside.

A game of risk versus reward

Although Wehrlein was the one who stood lifting the winner’s trophy in Miami, it was the Nissan of Norman Nato who crossed the line first. The Frenchman, who had yet to score a single point for the Nissan team ahead of the weekend, earned his first career Julius Baer Pole Position in front of the US fans. However, a strategy call meant that Nato, his teammate Oliver Rowland, and several other drivers found themselves penalised post-race for an ATTACK MODE violation.

The race was impacted by a Safety Car and further red flag for a crash involving Jake Hughes (Maserati MSG Racing), Maximilian Guenther (DS PENSKE) and Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing). As a result, many drivers were penalised as they hadn’t used their remaining ATTACK MODE by the chequered flag as there were no additional laps added.

This caught out Nato, Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns who was running in third, Rowland in fourth, plus both NEOM McLaren drivers with Sam Bird sixth and Taylor Barnard in eighth.

After their 10-second penalties, as per the regulations, the final result meant reigning World Champion Wehrlein achieved his first victory of the season and was joined on the podium by Lucas di Grassi and his Porsche teammate Antonio Felix da Costa in third.

It was a brutal reminder of the rules, and the strategy risk of taking the mandatory ATTACK MODE so late into the race.

Pascal back in the title fight

For the first time this season, our defending champ is back on the top spot. It was a first victory for Wehrlein in the GEN3 Evo era, with the Porsche pilot experiencing his fair share of ups and – quite literally – downs in the first five rounds. Things started well in São Paulo with the Julius Baer Pole Position, but quickly took a turn in the race when contact with Nick Cassidy (Jaguar TCS Racing) saw his car hit the barriers in dramatic fashion and land him upside down.

He bounced back in Mexico scoring pole again and a podium, but finished 15th and eighth over the double-header in Jeddah. Now back to his winning ways, the eight-time race winner pushes himself up to third in the drivers’ standings behind Rowland and Antonio Felix da Costa.

A familiar face back on the podium

We all knew that the Homestead-Miami Speedway had the potential to throw up some surprising results. A new circuit can often be a leveler for the grid, and this was no exception. However, one result that most of us – including the team itself – didn’t expect was a maiden podium for the Lola Yamaha ABT team thanks to Formula E veteran Lucas di Grassi.

It has been over two years since di Grassi, the Season 3 champion, stood on the podium and that was back at the first race of Season 9 with Mahindra Racing. Since then he’s completed two “rough” seasons and explained the challenge in finding the motivation to keep going.

“It's a very special podium for many reasons,” di Grassi stated, after qualifying seventh and classifying second. “I haven’t been in a competitive car for the last three seasons. It's rough to keep the motivation up, knowing that sometimes you don't have the most competitive car, but I just tried to keep my head down, and do the work the best I can.”

For the team, these are also the first points for the newly-rebranded Lola Yamaha ABT. After a shaky start to the season with di Grassi and rookie Zane Maloney, the first four races resulted in zero championship points. That’s now all Formula E teams with points to their names in the first five rounds!

Formula E is never predictable

Coming into this weekend, talk among the paddock was this should have been an Oliver Rowland masterclass. It was a circuit that favoured the type of racing Rowland usually excels at, and when drivers were asked to name someone they expected to be strong here it was the Nissan driver’s name that was mentioned most.

MEDIA PEN: The drivers react to the 2025 Miami E-Prix

However, it was his teammate Norman Nato who was the Nissan-powered car to beat over the weekend. In addition to his first-ever Formula E pole position, he also made a last corner move on Wehrlein to take the provisional win before penalties were applied.

The points for pole, and Nato’s eventual six place, have finally ended his drought of no points this season too.

For Rowland, who looked to be the favourite also considering his championship charge in the first four rounds, he was able to leave Miami with a single point after a post-race penalty demoted Maloney to 19th.

Jaguar will be seeking Monaco magic

Next up is a very special event; a double-header in Monte Carlo. For the first time ever you’ll be able to enjoy not just one but two blockbuster Formula E races over Saturday and Sunday. One team who will be hoping and praying to continue their success in the principality is Jaguar.

The reigning Teams’ champions have had a turbulent start to Season 11, and currently sit eighth in the standings after another pointless finish in Miami. Things started so well for Mitch Evans, who managed to complete an unbelievable first-to-last challenge in São Paulo, winning the first race of the season. Nevertheless, he’s not scored a point since.

For the other side of the garage, Nick Cassidy has also had a tricky time only achieving points in one of the first five races; securing fifth in Jeddah after starting in 17th. Qualifying is a big weak spot at the moment, with Cassidy still to get into the Duels this season and Evans only managing it twice in Mexico City and Jeddah.

Monaco has been very kind to the Jaguar team in the past though, locking in a one-two result around the iconic street circuit last year. Evans has been in the mix and on the podium in the Principality over the last five visits to Monaco, and was able to finally reach the top step in 2024. For Cassidy, a commanding win in Season 9 saw him start in ninth but still take home the W.

With the team in desperate need of a good result to try and defend their Teams’ and Manufacturers' title, and both Evans and Cassidy hungry for success, perhaps Monaco will be the place they can bounce back.

SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2025 Monaco E-Prix Rounds 6 and 7

For the first time, Formula E will host a double-header around the famed Monaco streets, with racing kicking off on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May 2025 - there is set to be action in abundance!

View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.