LONDON: As the Formula E paddock descends upon the ExCeL Circuit for the double-header season finale this weekend, Mahindra Racing – the only Indian team on the grid – finds itself in a vastly different position than it did in the past five years.
Armed with two hard-fought victories this season and a package that has consistently challenged the frontrunners since the Monaco E-Prix, former world champion Nyck de Vries is eager to close out a redemptive campaign on a high note.
The journey back to the top step of the podium was far from straightforward. The transition into the Gen3 era – defined heavily by energy-sensitive, peloton-style racing – demanded a steep learning curve. Early season snags, including grid penalties, software glitches, and broken hardware, wiped out crucial races and threatened to derail Mahindra’s campaign.
However, resilience has been the cornerstone of the Indian outfit. “We’ve had a good package from midway through last season,” de Vries told HT on Thursday. “We probably needed a little bit of time to learn how to extract the potential. But from Monaco onwards, we’ve had a pretty good and consistent run.”
Those two victories – in Monaco and Tokyo – stand as a testament to a revitalised team. De Vries, who joined Mahindra at arguably its lowest ebb after concluding his stint in Formula 1, saw potential where others saw struggle. A chance meeting with Mahindra team principal Fred Bertrand while walking off the grid at the 2023 London E-Prix laid the groundwork for his arrival.
“Fred explained his vision and what changes he wanted to implement. It’s a people business, and he convinced me with his plan and the people he was bringing on board,” said the Dutchman.
On the track, the internal team dynamics have been equally fascinating. De Vries and teammate Edoardo Mortara have formed a highly complementary pairing. While Mortara has been a formidable force in qualifying, stringing together consistently impressive single-lap performances, de Vries has emerged as the ultimate Sunday specialist, expertly navigating the complex pack racing.
“Edo has certainly been very strong in qualifying,” de Vries said. “But ultimately, as a team, we care about the points. We score collectively, and we race for Mahindra.”
De Vries credits his raceday prowess to meticulous preparation and a strategy team that clearly defined its goals – mastering the 350kW duels and executing flawlessly in chaotic battles. While the competition remains tightly clustered at the end of this current car generation, the team’s operational step-up has clearly made the difference.
As Formula E prepares to close the chapter on Gen3 racing, the focus remains strictly on the present. “It was an incredible feeling to be back on the top step, but more so to reward our journey, our learning curve, and our hard work. For the final round here, priority No.1 is to score good points for the team and wrap this chapter up as successfully as possible,” he concluded.