Cassidy wins Monaco ePrix from fifth row of the grid

The ninth 2023 ePrix in Monaco was won by Nick Cassidy. The New Zealander put in a clever catch-up race on the street circuit, as he had to come from P9. It is the twelfth time in a row in Formula E that there has not been a win from pole position. Mitch Evans and Jake Dennis finished second and third.

The start was quiet by Monaco standards. Pole-sitter Jake Huges managed to defend his first position, despite insistence from Sacha Fenestraz. On the third lap, André Lotterer crashed out after colliding with his compatriot René Rast. The McLaren driver also sustained damage himself and fell all the way back to the back of the field. Oliver Rowland then loses part of his front wing on lap six. The British driver dropped back to last place as a result, driving a losing race early on.

Nick Cassidy got off to a particularly good start in the streets of Monaco. In the first eight laps, he climbed from ninth position to first. Cassidy duelled with numbers two and three Evans and Dennis for the win. As is often the case in Monaco, the middle part of the race sees little exciting happening and little overtaking.

Safety cars in Monaco

Some more chaos ensues in the closing stages. On lap 22, the safety car comes out. Norman Nato stopped his Nissan, but that is not the reason why the whole field comes back together. Indeed, it is Maximilian Guenther who collides with a somewhat lurching Ticktum. Guenther cannot continue his way, while Ticktum manages to drive on with major damage.

After three laps behind the safety car, the race resumed. Racing did not continue for long, as Nico Muller crashed in an awkward spot after contact with Sam Bird. The safety car is sent back onto the track. Cassidy's victory is not really in danger anymore due to the chaotic final phase. Evans and Dennis completed the podium.

New leader in FE championship

So Cassidy took the full win and that consequently brings him the lead in the world championship. Pascal Wehrlein, the previous number one, could not make a difference and finished outside the points in eleventh place. Who also failed to play a leading role was Robin Frijns. The Dutchman came no further than fourteenth place.