Mitch Evans has set realistic expectations for this weekend’s Monaco E-Prix as he and Jaguar look to turn around a disappointing Season 11.
Mitch Evans and Jaguar have struggled for pace in Season 11, suffering a dramatic downturn in form.
Last season, Jaguar took a one-two victory at the Monaco E-Prix. This fantastic result was led home by a jubilant Mitch Evans. Repeating this result is now a pipe-dream, with points the best that the reigning team’s champions for hope for.
The last round in Miami saw no signs of the team’s struggles abating. Evans struggled home to a disappointing 16th on track. Once again, the car failed to show outward signs of progress.
Team Principal James Barclay stated that positives could be taken away from the team’s challenging race. He believed the car showed potential and could have better races during the rest of the season.
However Evans said he was not satisfied with the progress made. Responding to a question from Fastest Formula News in the Monaco E-Prix Friday Press Conference, he delivered a blunt assessment.
“To be honest, I think we would have liked to make more progress in Miami. Both cars qualified outside the duels.
“And in the races. it was okay, but nothing to what we’re used to. We’ve got work to do, for sure. We’re getting on the back foot compared to where we have been in the last couple of years and where we should be.
Evans did not hold back on the work required to get back on level terms with Porsche and Nissan. He revealed that the car struggles in both qualifying and the race, but said it struggled in one scenario more than the other.
“Quite a bit to done” for Jaguar to return to the front
“There’s still quite a bit to be done to bridge the gap to the Porsche and also to the Nissan and to the other guys. We’re still trying to understand the tyre and our new car. For sure, we’ve got some pace to find both in over one lap, but especially in the race, I would say.”
Jaguar is 70 points behind leaders Porsche in the Teams Championship, as the season approaches the half way stage.
Evans is 10th in the driver’s standings, 15 clear of teammate Nick Cassidy, who continues to endure a miserable season beset by poor luck and reliability.
Jaguar’s highets finish in Season 11 remains Mitch Evans’ shock victory in Sao Paulo. Since then, he has failed to finish twice and scored no points.
