Mitch Evans searching for answers after bizarre Formula E struggle

Mitch Evans is searching for answers as to why he suffered such a bizarre struggle during the opening race of Formula E's Shanghai E-Prix double-header.

The championship leader saw his title buffer take a major hit at a wet Shanghai International Circuit after finishing in eighth, with Pascal Wehrlein reducing the New Zealander's advantage to just three points by claiming victory.

Evans had hopes of being in the mix to fight for victory himself after qualifying on the front row but missing out on pole to Wehrlein.

However, as soon as the race got underway, Evans reported a complete lack of grip, an issue that worsened as the race progressed.

What makes the situation bizarre is that the same set of Hankook tyres that saw Evans qualify on the front row was used in the race, leaving the 32-year-old baffled as to how the performance of the rubber could change so dramatically.

Evans opted against commenting when asked whether it was a problem with his set-up or the set of Hankook tyres he used, although he did reveal that rotating the car was impossible.

Asked if it was simply a case of good qualifying and a tough race, Evans explained to RacingNews365: "Basically that. I don't know, but from lap one, Turn 1, I had no grip. It was so weird. 

"I don't really understand it because it never came to me in the race. It actually just progressively got worse with the front tyres. Someone said there was something wrong.

"Yeah, I couldn't rotate the car, and in the wet it was even worse. But, yeah, in either condition, I had no pace. So, in the pit window, I couldn't really put in good pace during those first few laps. I couldn't really make the progress that I would have liked.

"It was just odd. I almost felt like there was something not right. So, yeah, strange. A few hours earlier I was battling for pole, and then I felt like I could hardly turn the car. I don't get it."