Mitch Evans Faces Massive 80-Place Grid Penalty in Shanghai

Mitch Evans will start this weekend’s Formula E double-header in Shanghai with an unprecedented challenge. The Jaguar driver has received an 80-place grid penalty for the opening race, one of the largest penalties recorded in the series.

Since an 80-place drop is not possible in a field of this size, race officials have added a 10-second stop-and-go penalty to be served at the end of his first lap. This combination of penalties is set to make Evans’ race especially difficult.

The chain of penalties began at the most recent round in Tokyo. There, Evans collided with Nyck de Vries in qualifying for the second race and was measured at a massive 26G crash impact.

His Jaguar I-TYPE 7 was so badly damaged it could not be repaired for the second Tokyo E-Prix contest. Ahead of arriving in China, Jaguar engineers fitted Evans’ car with a new inverter, Motor Generating Unit (MGU), and gearbox to ensure the car would be ready to compete in Shanghai.

Image credit: www.autocarindia.com

Fitting these components meant breaking the technical regulations on the pool of allowed parts. Each time a driver fits a component from outside the legal allocation, they receive a 20-place grid penalty.

The initial list of replacements meant Evans was already set to drop 60 places on the starting grid. The figure jumped to 80 after the team had to change the gearbox again once at the Shanghai International Circuit.

This series of penalties is nearly a new record, but Evans’ teammate Nick Cassidy still holds the all-time high with an 85-place grid penalty from the Berlin E-Prix while racing for Envision in 2022.

These grid penalties will heavily impact Evans’ chances for a top result in the opening Shanghai race. Even with the stop-and-go penalty, Evans and Jaguar will be hoping for any opportunities to overcome the setback as they aim to score points across the double-header.

The Shanghai weekend will test the team’s ability to recover from adversity as competitors like Pascal Wehrlein, Jake Dennis, and Jean-Eric Vergne look to capitalize on any slip-ups ahead.

Image credit: www.autocarindia.com

Elsewhere, the Formula E community is closely watching the evolving title race. Teams are managing new rule changes and adapting to technical updates. Drivers are pushing for every point, and fine margins separate the leaders as the season heads into the second half. The focus this week will remain on how Evans navigates his penalty and whether he can climb through the field despite the odds stacked against him.

The Shanghai E-Prix is set to provide fans with dramatic moments, with Evans’ recovery efforts adding one more storyline to the weekend. The outcome could affect not only his championship standing but also the team’s hopes in the overall points battle as the season unfolds. Similar to how teams in Formula 1 manage front wing components under tight regulations, Formula E teams must also strategically handle technical parts replacements to stay competitive.

Additionally, just as Lewis Hamilton’s experiences navigating challenges at Monaco have been closely followed by fans, Evans’ efforts in Shanghai will be a crucial test of skill and resilience (McLaren Lewis Hamilton Monaco).

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.