Mahindra Racing delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Mexico City E-Prix, securing second place in what marked the team’s 150th race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Edoardo Mortara’s podium finish represented the team’s best-ever result at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and provided a major boost early in the 2026 season. The result demonstrated Mahindra Racing’s ability to compete at the sharp end of the field, even on circuits historically challenging for the team.
Positive return after a winter pause
Following a five-week break after the São Paulo E-Prix, Mahindra Racing returned to competition with renewed focus. The high-altitude conditions in Mexico City placed an emphasis on energy efficiency, tyre management, and precise race strategy. Both drivers, Mortara and Nyck de Vries, were determined to rebound after a mixed start to the season, aiming to extract maximum performance from the Mahindra M12Electro in one of Formula E’s most demanding venues.
In qualifying, Mortara showed strong form, progressing smoothly through the group stage and the first Duel. He narrowly missed the final shootout for pole by just 0.021 seconds, a testament to both his skill and the competitive balance at the top of the grid. Securing third on the grid set him up as a strong contender for the race, while de Vries faced a more difficult session. Failing to advance from his group, the Dutchman was forced to start 19th, requiring a strategic and patient approach to move through the field.
Early race developments favour Mahindra
At the lights, the race delivered immediate drama. Sébastien Buemi locked up into Turn 1, allowing Mortara to gain a position, while de Vries also moved up slightly, taking advantage of the first lap chaos. Mortara quickly established himself among the leaders, defending assertively from Nico Müller while applying pressure to early frontrunner Taylor Barnard.
As the race progressed, Mortara’s tactical awareness shone through. He took the lead on lap five, but as drivers deployed Attack Mode, positions at the front continued to fluctuate. Mortara cycled through the top three before returning to second on lap 15, following intense battles with the Porsche duo of Müller and Pascal Wehrlein. This phase of the race highlighted both the strategic complexity of Formula E and Mortara’s ability to read the race, manage energy efficiently, and maximise performance in high-pressure situations.
Race interruptions alter the complexion
Two laps after Mortara settled into second, de Vries encountered a technical issue. The Dutch driver pulled over at Turn 1, triggering a Full Course Yellow. Marshals faced difficulty recovering his car, prompting race control to deploy the Safety Car and compress the field.
When green-flag racing resumed on lap 22, Mortara remained firmly in contention. He deployed his two remaining Attack Mode activations on laps 27 and 34, strategically balancing energy management with the need to defend and challenge at the front. In the final stages, Mortara briefly reclaimed the lead before dropping back to second as Nick Cassidy’s alternative Attack Mode strategy proved decisive. This sequence of events illustrated the fine margins in Formula E, where energy, timing, and tactical decisions often determine the final outcome.
Mortara reflects on a hard-fought podium for Mahindra at 2026 Mexico City E-Prix
After the race, Mortara reflected on the weekend, highlighting the team’s ability to turn a challenging start into a strong result. He described the unexpected satisfaction of a podium after initially struggling in Free Practice.
“I’m very happy with today’s results, it came a little bit unexpectedly because we were struggling to extract the maximum performance out of the car in Free Practice.”
He also emphasised the positive impact of qualifying, which gave him a strong starting position and confidence heading into the race.
“We were able to turn things around and progress through qualifying to the Semi Finals which was very positive.”
Mortara described the final laps as some of the most stressful of the weekend, highlighting the pressure of defending against top drivers while managing limited energy reserves.
“Having a clean race is always very difficult and I found the last 10-15 laps extremely stressful. Nick was able to create a gap when he was in Attack Mode and we had to spend quite a lot of energy to close the gap, meaning I was left with less energy than those around me.”
Despite these challenges, Mortara praised his final Attack Mode and the traction it provided in the closing laps, allowing him to fend off competitors and secure the podium.
“I was lucky to have Attack Mode with the traction in the final stages, especially fighting against Oliver [Rowland], but we were able to stay in front and I’m very happy with second.”
De Vries shows promise despite early retirement
Although de Vries did not finish the race, he took positive lessons from the weekend, particularly regarding race pace and energy management. He reflected on the team’s approach and the work put into adapting to challenging conditions.
“Generally I was happy with the approach of our weekend. We were just not as competitive as we were in the in the previous events. I had to work harder for it, and we probably didn’t quite find the performance we were looking for.”
He highlighted how Mortara’s strong qualifying and race performance reflected the car’s underlying competitiveness, despite the setbacks he himself faced.
“Thankfully Edo did a great lap in the group as we were especially struggling in 300Kw/h mode but we turned it around and that gave us an opportunity to be further up.”
Finally, de Vries expressed optimism about upcoming races, showing determination to rebound in Miami.
“I think we had strong cars for the race, as we had very good energy management and it was a very energy sensitive race. Unfortunately, we had to retire with an issue. Looking ahead to Miami, we will prepare the same as we always do and hope to come back stronger.”
Team leadership highlights progress and confidence at Mahindra after 2026 Mexico City E-Prix
Mahindra Racing CEO and Team Principal Frederic Bertrand praised Mortara’s performance, noting the precision and consistency that led to the podium. Bertrand emphasised the importance of strategic execution in converting a strong qualifying into a race result.
“On Edo’s side, it was a near-perfect weekend. A strong qualifying performance was followed by an excellent race, during which he executed the team’s instructions flawlessly. He improved consistently throughout the event, and managed an almost perfect strategy. He ultimately finished in an impressive second place, pushing close to the win.”
Bertrand also acknowledged the contrasting challenges de Vries faced, recognising both his race intelligence and the unfortunate circumstances that led to his retirement.
“For Nyck, the weekend proved more challenging. Fine margins in qualifying affected tyre preparation, resulting in a start from the back of the grid. Despite this, he delivered a strong and intelligent opening phase of the race, carefully managing energy and staying in contention. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue forced him to retire.”
Finally, Bertrand highlighted the broader significance of the weekend, stressing the team’s competitiveness and future potential.
“We have learned that the car is competitive and capable of delivering strong qualifying performances, winning duels, and fighting at the front and that pace pace is genuinely strong, even on circuits that have historically been challenging, such as São Paulo and Mexico, with clear podium potential.
“The next round takes place in Miami in two weeks, where the team will aim to confirm this positive momentum and continue building on its strong form.”
With confidence restored and momentum building, Mahindra Racing now sets its sights on the Miami E-Prix on 31 January, aiming to extend its strong form and continue fighting at the sharp end of the Formula E field.
