Nick Cassidy finds trust in 'super open' Citroën Formula E moment

Nick Cassidy found immense trust in Citroën following a "super open" discussion mid-race in Mexico City, which played a significant role in a stunning victory.

Cassidy's move from Jaguar to Citroën has so far proven to be nothing short of magical, having secured a podium and a victory in the opening two races of the Formula E season.

Despite Citroën being a new team and Cassidy having never previously driven its Stellantis Gen3 Evo package, it has quickly become a match made in heaven.

In pre-season testing last November, the Formula E championship leader outlined in great detail the sheer mountain he had to overcome to get up to speed. Based on the opening two rounds, Cassidy has climbed that mountain in record time.

The opening two races in São Paulo and Mexico City this season have seen Cassidy at his usual tricks: spending the bulk of a race in the midfield, preserving more energy than those around him, before a late charge to the front.

In Mexico City, he replicated the approach perfectly—going from 10th to first in the final 13 laps. Cassidy opted to use six minutes of attack mode at his first activation following a full-course yellow (which became a safety car) and the remaining two minutes in the second activation.

Taking six minutes first and then two minutes was an unusual approach, but one that Citroën immediately supported when the idea was raised by the 31-year-old.

Addressing his strategy, Cassidy told RacingNews365: "Yeah, interesting one. I do think it was a—yeah, let’s say a typical me race, if that makes sense. It was a bit different taking the six and two [minutes of attack mode], and it was also really cool just to have the team on the same page as me.

"We were under full-course yellow, and it wasn’t something that was discussed in our pre-event or pre-race meeting. I threw the idea out there on the radio. In that situation, you’re a bit stuck, because every team tunes in to all the radios, and I’m sure there are people listening or who will listen back.

"But our guys were super open to change and could see where I was coming from. They had a good idea of when that would be best to do, and we just worked together well. So yeah, let’s say a typical race—but one that I’m proud of.

"You know, being in a new environment and being able to make that work like that was really cool."

Cassidy's defence as good as his attack

After two seasons of success, but at times fractious radio conversations with Jaguar, having Citroën onboard with his ideas will come as a breath of fresh air to Cassidy, creating immediate and crucial trust for a title push.

Despite his win in Mexico City having the usual Cassidy-style to it, he still had to perform an incredible late defensive display against Edoardo Mortara. 

The Mahindra driver had attack mode remaining when Cassidy's ran out, and yet, despite the power and four-wheel-drive advantage, Mortara failed to find a way past.

Cassidy had accepted that he could slip to fourth—not only due to Mortara, but also because Oliver Rowland and Jake Dennis behind him had some attack mode remaining as well.

"And then yeah, at the end, I was surprised to keep Mortara back," added Cassidy. "When I got to the last lap, and we were on the same power level, I felt a lot more confident.

"But when he was [in attack mode], I thought I was a sitting duck. And I was quite prepared to be P4, with Dennis and a couple of others behind coming too. So yeah, quite relieved to hold on."