Nyck de Vries looked back on Mahindra Racing’s strong Monaco memories as the team returned to the Principality for the 2026 Monaco E-Prix weekend.
Speaking to Pit Debrief ahead of the Monaco E-Prix, de Vries reflected on last year’s podium, the team’s form so far this season, and the challenge awaiting the field across the double-header.
De Vries hoping Mahindra can rediscover consistency in Monaco
Mahindra Racing returns to Monaco with positive memories from the previous season, when the team achieved a podium in the Principality. For de Vries, the venue of the Monaco E-Prix also carries personal significance, with the Dutchman having enjoyed success there earlier in his career in Formula 2.
He explained that Monaco remained one of the most exciting events of the year, not only because of its history and setting, but also because of how familiar he felt with the circuit and its surroundings.
However, de Vries also recognised that Mahindra’s 2026 campaign had not been completely straightforward so far. After what he described as a bumpy start to the season, the Monaco weekend offers the team a chance to return to a more stable and consistent level of performance. For Mahindra, the goal is clear. The team wants to build on its positive memories from last year while showing how far it has developed since then.
“I mean you’re right we have good memories from Monaco last year I have good memories and feelings with Monaco anyway from F2. But also because I know the place quite well and yeah, it’s also I think one of the most exciting races of the year because it’s Monaco and yeah we’re excited to see how we can get on. Of course, we had a little bit of a bumpy ride since the start of the season so it would be nice to come back here in some I would say some kind of consistent solid shape of form.”
Energy saving set to make race two the bigger Monaco challenge
This year’s Monaco E-Prix also brings another key talking point, with Pit Boost forming part of the weekend format. However, de Vries believed the second race will likely be more difficult to manage.
With no Pit Boost in race two, the focus would shift even more heavily towards energy saving. Around a circuit as narrow and tight as Monaco, that created a complicated racing dynamic. Drivers often did not want to lead for too long, as running at the front could make energy management harder.
That meant the pack could become difficult to control, with drivers trying to save energy while also protecting track position. de Vries felt those conditions could create tricky moments, especially on a circuit where overtaking remained limited and margins were small.
“I actually think that race two will be harder because race two there is no pit boost there is more energy saving there’s more energy sensitivity and that generally makes the racing tricky. And here it’s quite narrow and tight so yeah obviously no one wants to be in front everyone is trying to manage and save the energy so that usually causes some tricky situations.”
De Vries says execution will be key as Gen3 field closes up
He also suggested that rain could reduce the energy sensitivity and make the race less dictated by saving, although conditions remain uncertain heading into the weekend.
Beyond the specific Monaco challenge, de Vries pointed to the closeness of the current Formula E field. Now in the fourth year of the Gen3 era, the gaps between teams had become extremely small. As a result, execution had become more important than ever.
For de Vries and Mahindra, Monaco is therefore about more than past success. It is a chance to maximise every detail, avoid mistakes, and show that the team can return to the front in one of the most demanding races of the season.
“So I think race two will be particularly hard you know if I had a choice I would have liked rain on day two because it dilutes that you know. No, but it dilutes that effect because then it becomes less energy sensitive and yeah. Apart from that, I mean developments I think now we’re in the fourth year of Gen3 that everyone has you know clustered so close together that it’s very important to maximise and execute everything perfectly on the day. Which is obviously a challenge and everyone is very close and tight so yeah you got to do the job to yeah be at the front”
