Andretti Formula E arrived in Mexico City carrying momentum and confidence after a winning start to Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Victory in São Paulo had already placed Jake Dennis at the top of both the Drivers’ and Teams’ standings. Now the focus shifted to one of the calendar’s most demanding stops, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Sitting 2,250 metres above sea level, the revised 16-turn layout combined long straights with the tight, atmospheric Foro Sol stadium section, creating a circuit where efficiency and race craft mattered equally. The Mexico City E-Prix had already proven its importance as a marker of championship success, while also marking Andretti’s 150th race in the series. Ahead of the event, the team also confirmed Nerea Martí as a Team Ambassador for Season 12, strengthening its on- and off-track programme as the early title battle began to take shape.
Early season momentum, historic milestones and Championship leadership set the tone ahead of Mexico City
Dennis carried his São Paulo momentum into Round 2 with a run of statistics that underlined his early-season form. Starting from pole position in São Paulo, he claimed his fourth victory from the front of the grid and secured his seventh career Formula E win, becoming the first driver in the series’ history to win the São Paulo E-Prix from pole. The result placed Dennis at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings and lifted Andretti Formula E to the lead of the Teams’ standings.
Mexico City has already marked a significant chapter in Dennis’s Formula E career together with Andretti. The Season 9 World Champion first led the Drivers’ Championship after winning the 2023 Mexico City E-Prix, where he also became the only winner at the venue to set the Fastest Lap in the same race. He has led 34 laps around the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and taken one front-row start. Championship leadership also moves the No. 27 driver into Group A qualifying in Mexico City for the first time.
“Heading into Round 2 with the Championship lead doesn’t really change our approach. Over the off-season, we focused on our weaknesses and worked hard to improve the performance of the car, which clearly paid off in São Paulo. Since then, we’ve kept our focus and composure whilst working hard over the Christmas period. We follow a consistent process of post-race analysis and review of previous E-Prix events at the next race location, so we’ll continue progressing through our standard pre-race checklist to ensure we’re ready to hit the ground running.”
Altitude, tyre management and qualifying focus shape a demanding Mexico City E-Prix for Dennis as the Championship fight continues
Dennis highlighted the complexity of the Mexico City challenge and the work required to unlock performance at altitude. He pointed to the reduced grip levels caused by the circuit’s high elevation, combined with thermal tyre degradation, as factors that place added pressure on both car balance and race execution. Qualifying was expected to play a decisive role, particularly on a circuit where track position often proves crucial. Welcoming the slightly revised layout for Season 12 in Mexico City, the Andretti driver felt it should encourage more overtaking and enhance the spectacle for fans of Formula E. Despite his strong start to the campaign, he stressed the importance of maintaining focus and progression. Emphasising that the Championship remained a long-term fight to be approached one race at a time.
“We’ve had some good results racing in Mexico in the past, but to have a good performance here, you need to do a lot of work to get the car into the right window. It’s a track at a very high altitude, which means there’s generally quite low grip. The low grip, coupled with thermal tire degradation, makes this race something of a challenge for the drivers and puts extra emphasis on the importance of qualifying. We have a slightly modified track layout this year that looks like it’s going to produce more overtaking, which is great for Formula E and the fans. Ultimately, there’s still a long way to go in Season 12, so we’ll keep our heads down, keep working hard and take everything race by race.”
Strong race pace and key lessons learned boost Drugovich’s confidence ahead of Mexico
Felipe Drugovich approached the Mexico City E-Prix with growing confidence after what he viewed as a positive first Formula E outing in São Paulo. He felt the debut weekend came together quickly but highlighted strong race pace. Challenging heat conditions added complexity to race management, yet the learning gained from his first competitive outing in the car proved valuable. Drugovich underlined that the focus remained firmly on development rather than immediate results, believing that steady progress and improved race reading would come with experience. Motivated by the steps already taken, he looked ahead to Mexico with optimism, eager to build on a solid foundation and race in front of one of Formula E’s most passionate fan bases.
“Given how quickly São Paulo came around, I think it was a good race debut overall. Our race pace was strong, and we managed to successfully implement a lot of things we had worked on since Valencia. The hot temperatures made race management a little trickier for my first time in the car, but we learned a lot, which gives me quite a bit of confidence heading to Mexico. We’ve got a solid base to build from, and there’s no pressure to expect big results straight away.”
“There are still aspects we can improve on, but with each E-Prix that passes, I’m going to improve my capability to read races better. I’ve got a lot of motivation, and as we take things race by race, I’m confident the results will follow. I’m really looking forward to getting back on track and heading to Mexico. The fans there are incredibly passionate, and it’s a race I’m excited to experience.”
A strong opening weekend puts Andretti on top as Griffiths emphasises patience, potential and a race-by-race mindset
Team Principal Roger Griffiths reflected on a strong start to the season while reinforcing Andretti’s measured approach to the campaign. He acknowledged the satisfaction of leaving São Paulo at the head of both Championships, but stressed that the team remained focused on steady progression rather than short-term outcomes. There was also a sense of missed opportunity, as the pace before the Full Course Yellow suggested the potential for an even stronger result, underlining the depth of performance within the team.
“Leaving São Paulo leading both Championships is extremely rewarding, but we’re very much taking it one race at a time. There’s also a feeling that we could have achieved more, because before the Full Course Yellow there was a real opportunity for a one-two finish, which shows the potential we have as a team. Felipe has a lot more to offer, and I know he’ll be disappointed not to have scored points in his first race with us.”
Confidence in Drugovich’s progression underpins Andretti’s focus on momentum and maximising performance in Mexico City
Griffiths expressed confidence that Drugovich still had more to show and viewed Mexico City as an important chance for him to build momentum after a learning-heavy Formula E debut with Andretti. While the Mexican capital has historically suited Andretti Formula E, he noted that its unique challenges demand quick adaptation, particularly in qualifying on a circuit familiar to much of the grid. With Dennis already a proven winner at the venue, the emphasis remained on extracting the maximum from both cars and continuing to move the programme forward as a united team.
“Mexico City will be a good opportunity for him to build momentum. Mexico has historically been a strong venue for our team, although it can present its own challenges. It’s a circuit many Formula E drivers know well, which means our priority will be getting Felipe settled in as quickly as possible, particularly in preparation for Qualifying. Jake is a past winner here and understands exactly what it takes to succeed, so our focus is on maximizing performance across both cars and continuing to move forward as a team.”
