Exclusive: Evans accepts 'luck' needed in latest Formula E title 'rodeo'

With four races remaining in the current Formula E season, Mitch Evans finds himself in a "very similar" position. He is the title outsider again, a label he knows all too well; however, as explained in a RacingNews365 exclusive, the New Zealander is more "relaxed" than ever before. 

Ahead of every Formula E season, you can always count on the Jaguar driver to be in the championship fight come the closing rounds, with 2024 being no different. 

The 30-year-old is 35 points adrift of championship leader and team-mate Nick Cassidy ahead of this weekend's Portland double-header, with Evans pointing out it is not his "first rodeo" being the title outsider. 

Evans has come close the last three seasons, with each year something getting in the way to deny him the crown which, arguably, he more than deserves. In Season 7 and Season 8, technical gremlins effectively ended his title chances, whilst his accident in Rome with Cassidy – which Evans accepted blame for – saw him fall short in 2023. 

Missing out on the crown last year hit Evans hard, as was clear to see in interviews both at the end of 2023 and in the opening stages of this season. However, he has brushed the disappointment aside and is back in title contention again. 

This time around, the third-place driver has taken a different approach into the closing races, one of calmness. He recognises, though, that he must deliver in the United States this weekend.

"I'm relaxed, it's not my first rodeo in this situation, it feels very similar to last year in terms of being at this stage of the championship, kind of in contention, but not in control of a championship," Evans exclusively told RacingNews365. 

"I've just been a little disappointed about the year to be honest. I feel like I've had some really good races, but some really poor races as well. I feel like, I wish I could do some of the races again. 

"So I'm, obviously, really focused on trying to give myself the best shot this year, but I'm also half looking towards next year already, and having a clinical year. But as I said, I think Portland will kind of give me a clearer perspective on where I'm at. 

"But honestly, I'm super relaxed. Probably the most relaxed I've been in this stage of the championship before. So insanely good, feeling good, but just want to have a clean weekend in Portland and see where we get in London."

Portland 'curveball'

Four races remain in Formula E Season 10, two in Portland and two in London. London is always a strong venue for Evans and Jaguar, with there being no reason why it will be any different in the end of July.

Portland is the bogey ground, it is the place where, as proven last season, anything can happen. Last year, 403 overtakes took place at the Portland International Raceway, with it having been the most energy demanding race ever in the Gen3 era. 

It is expected to be the same across both races this weekend, adding a huge element of unpredictability. Quite literally, anything can happen in Portland. What makes Evans' situation more difficult is that he needs big points in both races. 

Evans' task is simple, needs to master the peloton. 

"I think the Portland race are gonna be, as we all expect, quite chaotic," continued Evans. "So a lot can happen in those races. So I think London will be a bit more straightforward and more kind of one that's pace dominant to get track position for the race. 

"So I think Portland's the curveball in there, just in terms of how random it can be. And that can be good or bad for you. But honestly, I'm pretty chilled. 

"To be honest, I'm not putting too much pressure on myself, I feel like I've got no idea if I'm in a better position or worse position compared to last year, I've actually not worked that out. 

"But I'm just mentally a lot more relaxed compared to last year, it might well be what I need. If I have any kind of chance at winning, I need a bit of luck."

Must reduce gap

Heading into Portland, Evans is 35 points behind Cassidy with a total of 116 points still up for grabs. Becoming world champion this year is still very much on the cards for Evans, but he needs to reduce his deficit ahead of London. 

In London, overtaking is on the edge of being impossible, with qualifying typically determining the race winner. 

As a result, Evans believes he needs to be within 15-20 points of the championship lead after Portland to have a serious chance of becoming New Zealand and Jaguar's first Formula E world champion.

"Tough to say, but I would say you need to be within a maximum 15-20 points to give yourself a really good shot," assessed Evans. "But, yeah, the smaller the better. But I think within 15 points, a lot can happen. 

"We'll have to wait and see if that is the case. But, obviously 35 right now is close, but not super close. So it's kind of in an awkward position. But if I can obviously decrease that going into London, then you're still going to mathematical have a chance. 

"And anything can really happen, especially in this category. So yeah, we'll do it and see, but it's kind of hard to put a kind of rough figure on it."