Lucas di Grassi turns Shanghai E-Prix into late-career fairytale
Di Grassi delivers from the back in Shanghai
Lucas di Grassi’s Shanghai E-Prix victory was the kind of result Formula E has trained its audience never to rule out, yet still managed to feel almost impossible. Round 13 of the 2026 season became a remarkable late-career statement from the Brazilian, who started at the back of the grid and ended the race on the top step of the podium.
After 12 seasons in the all-electric championship, unpredictability is part of Formula E’s identity. Even by that standard, di Grassi’s charge for Lola Yamaha ABT stood out. The team took a bold setup gamble at the start of the race, and on a drying track it gave him the platform to cut through the field with precision and aggression.
For the full race context, see our report on how Lucas di Grassi stunned the Shanghai E-Prix with a comeback victory from the back.
A decisive final-lap strike
The decisive phase came after the Full Course Yellow ended. Di Grassi still had his remaining 50kW all-wheel-drive boost, and he used it to close on the cars ahead at exactly the right moment. He passed Eriksson at the hairpin on the penultimate lap as Vergne moved into the lead, then dispatched the Citroen driver half a lap later at Turn 1 on the final lap.
It was his 14th Formula E victory, his first since 2022, and his first visit to the top step since winning with Venturi in London. The emotional weight was obvious, especially after confirmation earlier this season that the 41-year-old will retire from professional racing at the end of the campaign.
“This win means a lot,” di Grassi said. “It has been four years driving without a win. My last win was with Venturi in London. So it has been a lot of work, a lot of sacrifices to be on the top spot of this podium today.”
Still pushing before the final chapter closes
Di Grassi also underlined the conviction behind the comeback. “I don’t think anybody believed we could do it. But at one point, you have to believe, and you have to push. And, you just have to take the right risks, or you have to take the risks at the right time and move forward.”
The result strengthens his place in Formula E’s record book. He remains the championship’s oldest race winner at 41 years and 328 days, while also setting a new benchmark as its oldest podium finisher.
Shanghai may look like the perfect closing scene, but di Grassi is not finished yet. With four races remaining, he made clear that the final chapter still has competitive intent.
“It’s a long way, it’s a great story,” he said. “12 years and still winning races. Still got it and it’s a good end to this chapter with this win, but there is still four races to go. We’re going to push very hard and see what we can do.”
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.