When the rain falls, the Kiwis rise, and in Shanghai, Nick Cassidy proved exactly why he’s one of motorsport’s finest wet-weather warriors, mastering the treacherous conditions to claim a flawless lights-to-flag victory at the 2025 Shanghai E-Prix, Round 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
With rain hammering the Shanghai International Circuit and standing water turning corners into traps, Cassidy delivered a masterclass in control and composure.
The Jaguar TCS Racing ace stormed to pole position in a weather-shortened qualifying session and never looked back, leading every lap of the sodden race to secure his first win of the season and the first flag-to-flag triumph of the GEN3 Evo era.
“This weekend is a massive highlight,” said a jubilant Cassidy.
“Qualifying form yesterday was huge for us; we were in the game, and I’m just proud that we’ve come back today, and our pace was absolutely unbelievable – what a race.
“I feel like there have been so many wins that probably should have been ours at the end of last season that never happened… now to get that monkey off the back is awesome.”
It wasn’t just the weather Cassidy had to tame. The race unfolded with all the drama that defines Formula E: championship stakes, strategic masterstrokes, and more than a few sideways moments.
While Cassidy was untouchable out front, the battle behind him provided the tension. Reigning World Champion Pascal Wehrlein overcame an early mistake and outmanoeuvred teammate António Félix da Costa during the first round of attack mode activations, locking in a crucial 2-3 finish for TAG Heuer Porsche.
The German squad made the most of a non-score by rivals Nissan to seize the lead in the FIA Teams’ World Championship, an incredible reversal of fortunes after failing to score on Saturday.
Maserati MSG Racing’s Jake Hughes continued his rise with a solid fourth-place finish, while DS PENSKE’s Jean-Éric Vergne showcased his wet-weather finesse to take fifth. Andretti’s Nico Müller followed in sixth, just ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne, who dramatically spun his Maserati with two laps remaining but still salvaged seventh.
Robin Frijns (Envision Racing), Lucas di Grassi (Lola Yamaha ABT), and McLaren rookie Taylor Barnard rounded out the top ten, with Barnard impressing once again amid the chaos.
Several of Formula E’s biggest names, including Jake Dennis, Nyck de Vries, Dan Ticktum, and Sam Bird, were caught out by the treacherous conditions. Still, remarkably, 21 of the 22 starters made it to the finish, including Cassidy’s teammate and fellow Kiwi Mitch Evans, who started 13th on the grid and finished the race 14th.
Championship Tightens as Porsche Surges
With just five races remaining, the title fight is heating up. While championship leader Oliver Rowland’s advantage has narrowed to 68 points, Wehrlein now sits second on 103, and da Costa moves to third with 88.
Porsche’s resurgence sees them leapfrog Nissan to top the Teams’ standings, though Nissan still leads in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Cassidy’s race win moves the Kiwi up to 7th in the standings with 58 points, while Evans finishes the weekend 18th in the standings with 25 points.
Formula E Makes Waves in Shanghai
The Shanghai round was a landmark weekend for the series. On a weekend where fashion, innovation, and weather collided, it was Nick Cassidy’s brilliance behind the wheel that stole the spotlight.
From heartbreaks in seasons past to a faultless wet-weather symphony in Shanghai, the Kiwi has firmly reinserted himself into the Formula E conversation, and with Jakarta next on 21 June, don’t count him out yet.
Header Image: Simon Galloway/LAT Images for Formula E
