It’s a beautiful at the Portland International Raceway, where fans were met with intense sessions from Free Practice, until Qualifying. Mitch Evans, whose clean laps led him to clock the fastest time of the weekend, made pole position, giving him three more points for the championship fight.
His teammate and current championship leader, Nick Cassidy, had a different fate and had to make due with P10.
Cassidy wasn’t the only unlucky driver today as Sam Bird, Norman Nato and Sérgio Sette Câmara had to serve grid drop penalties. Sebastian Buemi was handed a 20-place grid drop penalty post-qualifying after Envision changed the MGU on his GEN3 machine. He would also have to serve a 10-second stop-and-go penalty.
Race 1 consisted of 27 laps and six minutes of Attack Mode, where the drivers will get the dose of 350kW.
The lights went green in Portland
Evans held on to the lead as the rest of the grid followed cleanly in suit through the first turns. Jake Hughes then took the lead as the cars loop around Turn 4 into Turn 5.
Pascal Wehrlein moved up to fourth, coming from P8. He was right by his teammate António Félix da Costa. Meanwhile, Cassidy did not move much, opting to play it safe and maybe bid his time.
Nato was the first in the top to take his Attack Mode, with Hughes following the Andretti’s lead. Hughes looked quick and comfortable behind Nato. In lap 5, Nato took his second Attack Mode, but Hughes lost positions running straight at Turn 10/11. The NEOM McLaren driver was able to rejoin in 21st.
HUGHES IS OFF AT TURN 11 😳
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) June 29, 2024
The @McLarenFE driver takes to the grass, falling from P3 to P14.@Hankook_Sport #PortlandEPrix pic.twitter.com/WaYVShTKoK
The different Attack Mode strategies were clearly shown, as Evans and Wehrlein were the only two drivers who had yet to activate their Attack Mode. Robin Frijns was in the lead when he took his second dose, with Evans finally taking his first power boost.
It was an unlucky day for Jake Hughes, who had to pit due to a puncture to the right rear of his McLaren. An investigation was launched because of a collision between him and Evans in Turn 10.
Another look at @JakeHughesRace's moment on lap 5 👀
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) June 29, 2024
The @McLarenFE driver is forced to pit due to a puncture and rejoins the grid at the rear.@Hankook_Sport #PortlandEPrix pic.twitter.com/6DExe8OKa7
Jake Dennis was in the lead, building a gap to activate Attack Mode. Although not in the lead anymore, he was still in a podium position.
Evans was up by about one percent and hit the lead with 10 laps done. There was minor damage to his front wing, as a result of his collision with Hughes. With one percent up on Evans, Cassidy was making moves up into the top 10.
Wehrlein still has not taken his Attack Mode, but was just behind Cassidy.
Cassidy was now in sixth place, Evans in the lead, with Bird and Nico Müller right behind the Jaguar car. Nick Cassidy looked strong, as Edoardo Mortara took the lead, pushing the New Zealander to fourth.
Evans handed a five-second penalty
After his collision with Hughes, Evans was handed a five-second penalty, bringing drama to his title hopes.
Cassidy had four minutes left of his Attack Mode and was back in the lead. Da Costa was looming in his slipstream with 10 laps left of the race. Jéan-Eric Vergne pulled a big move, taking the lead.
This did not fret Cassidy, who strategically used his final Attack Mode, slotting back into the lead pack. Wehrlein however, slipped back into ninth.
Cassidy had the most energy out of the pack and was in great position. His pace was picking up with fast sector times coming in.
It was a fight for the lead as Da Costa had the Jaguar with Cassidy up the inside, retaking the lead. Evans was in third, but had the five-second penalty. Wehrlein was in trouble as he had the most energy but had to spend it to get up to the leaders. Da Costa was now in the lead, putting the Porsche right where they needed to be.
Jehan Daruvala briefly brought out the yellow flag after spinning on track.
Wrong way! 🫣@DaruvalaJehan briefly brings out the yellow flag after spinning on track.@Hankook_Sport #PortlandEPrix pic.twitter.com/PwG8LMdgE3
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) June 29, 2024
Only four laps left and Cassidy was back in the lead. Evans was on the outside line, trying to get the inside up on Da Costa, into Turn 2. With Evans in P2, he could have worked as a buffer, especially with his penalty.
Cassidy seemed like he was pulling a lead, opening a gap on Evans. Evans piled up the pressure on Cassidy, and no team orders came in. Cassidy ran a defensive line.
Nick Cassidy spun out!
Cassidy let the pressure get to him, and he lost control in Turn 11 and spun off the circuit.
WHAT AN END 😱@mitchevans_ claims the race lead from Cassidy but a 5-second penalty for the @JaguarRacing driver means @afelixdacosta takes victory in Portland!@Hankook_Sport #PortlandEPrix pic.twitter.com/Fc36wHxbA7
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) June 29, 2024
This was a big moment in the championship, as this technically put Evans in the lead, who was yet to serve his penalty.
The chequered flag was out, and Mitch Evans was the first to cross the line; however, his penalty meant that António Félix da Costa won the first race in Portland.
This was also a good day for Mahindra as Mortara picked up fourth, giving the team their best finish of the season, scoring 12 points.
Following Da Costa on the podium was Frijns, who was back on the podium after Round 2 in Diriyah, and JEV.
