Mitch Evans set for staggering 80-place Formula E Shanghai grid penalty

Mitch Evans is set for an 80-place grid penalty for the opening race of this weekend's Formula E double-header in Shanghai. 

Due to being demoted 80 places not actually being possible, the Jaguar driver will also receive a 10-second stop-and-go penalty to be served at the end of the first lap – the standard additional punishment in FE when the entirety of a grid penalty cannot be served. 

The penalties, effectively, mostly stem from Evans having heavy contact in the opening race in the recent Tokyo E-Prix, which took place almost a fortnight ago.

He was the victim of contact with Nyck de Vries, which saw the Dutchman receive a five-second time penalty.

Ahead of Shanghai, Jaguar had to fit a new inverter, Motor Generating Unit (MGU) and gearbox. 

Each new component triggered a separate 20-place grid penalty, with each new piece being outside the legal pool. It meant that Evans was already aware ahead of travelling to China that he would serve a 60-place grid penalty. 

Evans was also unable to compete in the second Tokyo race following a crash in qualifying.

However, this penalty has increased to 80 places, due to the gearbox being changed also in Evans' spare rear end at the Shanghai International Circuit.

It is almost the biggest grid penalty in FE history, although that record is held by Evans' team-mate Nick Cassidy who received an 85-place grid penalty in Berlin whilst racing for Envision in 2022.