Mitch Evans reflected on the significance of racing in Monaco as he prepares for the upcoming Formula E Monaco E-Prix, with the Jaguar TCS Racing driver hoping to build on a strong start to the season.
Evans sat just three points off the lead in the Drivers’ Championship ahead of the weekend. With nine races still to go, the New Zealander remained firmly in contention as he aimed to end his long partnership with Jaguar on a high.
Evans on the meaning of a Monaco win in Formula E
Evans knows what it takes to succeed on the streets of Monaco, having previously stood on the top step there. For him, winning in the Principality carried a special weight. He described racing in Monaco as a privilege, noting that all drivers valued the chance to compete on such iconic streets. Evans had already stood on the podium several times before finally taking victory, including during his GP2 days, which made the win even more meaningful.
He said it had taken him a long time to secure that result, but finally doing so made the achievement stand out. After a difficult Monaco weekend last year, Evans hoped Jaguar could respond strongly this time around. For Evans, Monaco remained one of the races every driver wanted to win. While the Formula E championship title stayed the ultimate target, Evans admitted that a Monaco victory was the next best thing. Having already won there once, he wanted to add another triumph to his record.
“It’s incredible. It’s a privilege for all of us to race here. We get the opportunity to. I’ve been on the podium loads. Even in GP2. It took me a long time to win. So finding that win was great. Last year was a horrible weekend. So hopefully we can bounce back from what we had last year.“
“But, yeah, winning here is… If you can’t win the championship, it’s the race that you want to win. So to get it done once is great. Obviously, I want to try and add to that. But, yeah, it was a special moment.”
Evans wary despite Porsche’s Monaco podium record
Evans was also asked about Porsche’s record in Monaco, with the German manufacturer yet to score a podium at the venue. With Pascal Wehrlein leading the championship by just three points, the statistic added another layer to the title fight heading into the weekend.
However, Evans did not read too much into it. While he acknowledged it was an unusual record, he believed it had little relevance going into the E-Prix. The Jaguar TCS Racing driver pointed out that Porsche remained one of the strongest teams on the Formula E grid. He expected them to change that record sooner rather than later, especially given their usual strength and strong qualifying form.
Evans also noted that qualifying carried extra importance in Monaco compared to some other venues, including Berlin. With Porsche often competitive over one lap, he expected them to start near the front and remain a major threat throughout the weekend. Although he hoped their podium drought would continue for at least one more event, Evans made it clear that Porsche would likely be in the mix.
“Yeah, it’s true. It’s a crazy stat.”
“But I think it doesn’t really mean much. I mean, they’re arguably one of the best teams, or if not the best, so it’s only a matter of time before they stand on the podium here and maybe show in good form, like they usually do. And they’re also very good in qualifying, so they will start towards the front, which is a bit more of a priority here compared to Berlin.”
“So, yeah, I think it’s a great stat, but I think they can change this weekend. Hopefully not, but they’ll be there for sure.”
Evans targets “fairytale” Jaguar ending
Evans enters the Monaco weekend having finished on the podium in half of the races held so far this season. That consistency had kept him close to Wehrlein in the standings and placed him firmly in the title conversation. This season also marked Evans’ final campaign with Jaguar TCS Racing. After a decade with the team and several near-misses in the championship, the possibility of finally winning the Drivers’ title carried extra meaning.
Evans admitted that securing the championship in his final season with Jaguar would mean everything. He said the team had worked towards that goal for several years, only for the title to slip away on more than one occasion. He believed winning it now would create a fitting end to his long chapter with Jaguar TCS Racing. However, Evans remained cautious, knowing how quickly momentum could shift in Formula E.
Staying consistent until London
With the season only at its halfway point, he stressed that the focus remained on collecting points and staying in contention until the finale in London. For now, the goal was to keep building the campaign race by race. Still, Evans admitted that ending his 10-year partnership with Jaguar as champion would be an awesome way to close that story.
“It would mean everything. We’ve been working towards that driver’s title for a while now. Obviously, it slipped through our fingers a number of times. So it would be a bit of a fairytale ending if we could pull it off. But I’m trying not to think about it too much. I mean, we’re only halfway in this category.”
“Things swing from weekend to weekend, so just trying to accumulate the points like we have been doing. And the main priority is just to put ourselves in that position come London. But if we can pull it off, it would be an awesome way to end my 10-year partnership with them. Let’s see, hopefully we get it done.”
