Four years is a long wait in motorsport. For Mahindra Racing, the wait is finally over. Nyck de Vries crossed the chequered flag at Monaco. He handed the Indian outfit its first Formula E win since 2021. It was also the team’s maiden victory in the Gen 3 era of the championship.
How the Race Unfolded on the Streets of Monaco
De Vries started from second on the grid. Dan Ticktum of Cupra Kiro held pole position ahead of him.The Mahindra driver kept his composure off the line. He slotted in cleanly behind Ticktum. The race was far from over at that point.
The Pit Boost Call That Won the Race
Strategy decided this one. De Vries was among the first drivers to take his mandatory Pit Boost stop. That single call changed everything. Ticktum rejoined the track behind de Vries after his own stop. The positions had flipped without a wheel-to-wheel battle.
FIVE KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Nyck de Vries wins the Monaco E Prix for Mahindra and finally, after nearly five long years, the team triumphantly claims its first victory since the 2021 London E Prix.
- Mahindra claims its first-ever win in the Gen 3 Formula E era.
- Mitch Evans moves to the top of the drivers’ championship with a P2 finish.
- Dan Ticktum finishes third on the road but receives a 33-second penalty for contact with Da Costa, dropping to P12.
- Pepe Marti inherits third place — his very first Formula E podium.
De Vries Takes the Lead. And Holds It.
On Lap 20, de Vries made his move. He timed his Attack Mode activation to perfection. He passed Antonio Felix da Costa and grabbed the race lead. From that moment on, nobody got close. He held the position all the way to the flag. The gap at the end was 2.677 seconds over Mitch Evans.
Jaguar’s Evans Takes the Championship Lead
Evans finished second for Jaguar. That result was enough to hand him the drivers’ championship lead. He now sits 15 points clear of Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein
Marti Gets His Podium Moment
Cupra Kiro’s young Spaniard Pepe Marti finished third. It was a special moment for the 22-year-old. His maiden Formula E podium came in one of the sport’s most glamorous venues. His teammate Ticktum was not as fortunate. A penalty for contact with Da Costa dropped him from third to twelfth. That opened the door for Andretti’s Felipe Drugovich in fourth and Sebastien Buemi of Envision in fifth.
A Tough Day for Mortara
Edoardo Mortara, Mahindra’s lead championship contender, had a race to forget. A mechanical problem in qualifying left him starting from nineteenth. He clawed his way back into the top ten during the race. Then a puncture struck. He dropped back to seventeenth. And despite that, still holds on to third in the drivers’ standings. He sits eight points behind Wehrlein and 23 points behind Evans
Where Mahindra Stands Now
The win does more than just lift spirits in the Mahindra garage. It closes the gap in the teams’ standings. The Indian team remains third overall, but is now 44 points behind second-placed Porsche. A second Monaco race follows on May 17. Both de Vries and Mortara will look to carry the momentum forward.
For Mahindra Racing, Monaco 2026 will be remembered as the day the drought ended. On one of motorsport’s greatest stages, the Indian team reminded everyone they are still very much in this fight.
