Mitch Evans outlines 'curveball' as heavy rain threatens Formula E

Mitch Evans has outlined that this weekend's Shanghai E-Prix and Formula E's two races in Tokyo later this month both present a key "curveball" regarding unpredictable weather.

While the weather changes rapidly in China, current forecasts suggest that both races at the Shanghai International Circuit are set to take place in very wet conditions.

The forecast has improved heading into the 12th and 13th rounds of the season, although what has remained consistent is the expectation of heavy rain across both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Formula E experienced torrential rainfall during one of its races in Shanghai last season, resulting in the third practice session being red-flagged after seven minutes, while only the group stage of qualifying determined the grid for the second race of the 2025 event.

Lessons have been learned from the delays and difficulties caused by the wet weather last year, with Nissan team principal Tommaso Volpe confirming that discussions have already taken place with the FIA to create an action plan should heavy rain arrive.

For Evans, a mixed-weather weekend offers a tricky challenge to navigate as the championship leader, and he expects the same in Tokyo.

"I think London is... we'll know what we'll get in terms of conditions," Evans told RacingNews365 during an interview. "You know, it's been at a similar time of year every year. 

"We can get a bit of rain, but it's the same track. I think Shanghai and Tokyo are going to be the ones that could throw up a curveball, purely because of the time of year and the climate that we're dealing with. 

"So, yeah, you just want to be good in all conditions, but the main thing that concerns me is that, in the wet, there just seems to be a big swing in performance between tracks and between cars and stuff."

Evans belief growing

Evans enters Shanghai with his 19-point lead still intact after the top four in the standings all failed to score in Sanya a fortnight ago.

The Jaguar driver was the first of the four to be effectively ruled out of scoring, yet, remarkably, Sanya became a race in which nothing was lost but nothing was gained.

He has often referred to himself as always the bridesmaid and never the bride, but his belief is growing that, at long last, this season could be the one in which he becomes world champion.

Asked if he is beginning to believe it could be his year to become world champion: "I don't know. Potentially, yes. I'm in a great position.

"I've never been in this good a position, I would say. But, as I've said, what happened to me in Sanya is a gentle reminder that things can go bad very quickly; it can also go the other way very quickly.

'So I think I'm quite satisfied with where we're at in terms of overall performance. I feel like we're very, very consistent now."