Following an unconventional first race of the Berlin E-Prix weekend, Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy pulled off an impressive recovery to finish in fifth place, despite starting well down the order due to a grid penalty and a 10-second stop-and-go. It was a race that tested energy management, timing, and driver awareness to the limit, with changing conditions and multiple phases of close combat across the midfield.
The New Zealander had limited track time leading into the race, with second practice cancelled due to heavy rain. Qualifying itself was damp and tricky. And with no duels taking place, Cassidy found himself unable to show his true pace. Grid penalties then further complicated his race prospects. He, along with several other drivers, had to contend with both starting position drops and in-race penalties. In Cassidy’s case, a 10-second stop-and-go served early on.
Tough day for Cassidy from the beginning
Despite the challenge, Cassidy remained composed and worked his way through the chaos in a typical measured fashion. Reflecting on the result when asked by Pit Debrief, he was pragmatic yet satisfied: “I’m just really relieved to have the result. It was certainly tough. It’s not been an easy day, especially with the pace and qualifying, so I think we really maximised what we had.”
The race was characterised by heavy midfield battles and an evolving strategy around the newly introduced pit boost feature, which added another layer to the tactical game. Cassidy and his team timed his pit boost well, allowing him to emerge in clean air during a key phase of the race when he had strong pace. “The timing of the pit boost put me into clean space at a stage of the race where I had really good pace, so I could use my speed, which was helpful.”
What happened during the race?
While multiple investigations and car-to-car contact marked the midfield, Cassidy kept clear of incidents. Though others were tripping over each other in the second half of the race – including contact between Müller and Bird, and Rowland’s retirement after clashing with Vandoorne – Cassidy remained undistracted and efficient in his moves. “I didn’t see any kind of contact.”
In a race that saw yellow flags, safety car interruptions, changing track grip, and even a late rain shower, Cassidy’s calm, calculated drive ensured he extracted the most from a day that began in difficulty. His fifth-place finish, in the end, was not only a strong recovery but a valuable haul of points in what could have easily been a write-off.
