Nick Cassidy took a surprise win in Race 1 of the London E-Prix weekend. In his final weekend with Jaguar TCS Racing, the victory was deemed the best of his Jaguar tenure.
When Nick Cassidy qualified fifth for the 2025 London E-Prix, a win wasn’t off the table. However, it would be difficult. Especially with the added challenge of Pit Boost. However, into the final stint the win was not only possible but assured.
He admitted in the post-race press conference, “Yeah, it’s really unbelievable how the race has played out and also this last few events. But really since Monaco, not always it’s worked and there have been difficulties, but more or less we’ve been scoring consistent points again.”
Last year Nick Cassidy came to London with a possible championship in tow. However, the weekend that looked like a dream quickly became a nightmare as Cassidy’s championship hopes slipped away.
Cassidy admitted it was difficult coming back to London after last year. He said, “Honestly, coming into this building this weekend I thought everything was fine, but today I had a meeting, I just feel anxious, I feel weird for being probably the grumpiest guy inside my team, and I’ve just felt, you know, London always kicks me in the nuts somehow, and I was kind of expecting it.”
“So yes, I’m relieved that I’ve finally had a race here that’s gone to plan, and we can show the performance we had, because the car that I had in free practise, in qualifying and in the race was really unbelievable and that’s a credit to the team.”
What a race win means for Nick Cassidy
He continued his run of form continued from Berlin where he also managed to find himself on the top step of the podium. The New Zealander admitted that he was ‘super proud’ of the win in London.
Nick Cassidy said he viewed his London E-Prix win as one of being achieved on pace rather than strategy and circumstance.
He told media, “Super proud to have a race win and a race, you know, the season that we win on pace. There’s no doubting that Berlin, you know, was all about strategy, a different style of race.
“Shanghai was in the wet, but today was about being efficient and fast. Yeah, before the end of the season and coming to the end of our chapter, it was super nice to be able to take that pause.”
Nick Cassidy also said said he was not frustrated with his difficult opening races. Instead, he praised champion Rowland.
“I wouldn’t say frustrating. Of course, it wasn’t ideal to go through a rough start, but honestly, when I look at Oliver Rowland, he’s been the benchmark this year. I feel like he should have more points than he does.
“He dominated Sao Paulo and didn’t get the 25 there, and I think Miami or something else was the same.
“So everyone’s got their story, everyone’s got their races where they missed something big. And I’m just more grateful than anything that we’ve ended up getting our things together, coming into the season and being in a position to fight these guys hard.
Nick Cassidy on setting up the race winning move
His Attack Mode strategy required aggressive passes on track. Explaining his strategy, Cassidy said clean air was critical.
“Yeah, honestly, it wasn’t easy. Max is a very hard guy to pass. He raises his own phrases hard.I think the difference today was the first stage of the race, but also the pace that we had in the summer. I was very worried that we were undercut by one lap.
“Two guys that were in three or four positions behind us.I actually, in the pit stop, was sitting there and not happy on the radio that we were going to be undercut because it would destroy our race for the energy advantage that we had.
“Today was all about needing to find that clean air to have speed. The key for me, in all honesty, was when I came out of the pit stop, I just jumped Stoffel as he took attack.He had three minutes 50 of attack on me.
“We had the speed in that pit stop window to keep up virtually with Nick and Pascal, but I could keep the position on Stoffel. As soon as his attack ran out, then I knew it was game on and we were in a good position.Keen to have the attacks at the end, but I’d say the bigger thing was that pace and that period.
Nick Cassidy’s final victory for Jaguar?
Asked where this victory ranks in his achievements in Formula E, Cassidy gave an open and honest response.
“Genuinely at the top It’s not really sunk in, but it’s been a tough one, as I said, coming back to this building 12 months on.
“Gone through a lot this season. It’s hard, obviously, knowing it’s the last weekend.My family here, the team’s got a lot of partners here. It just makes it incredibly special. When you can do it with a fast car and the team operating flawlessly, then it’s very nice.”
