Mitch Evans expects a “massive fight” for Formula E title in London

Evans arrives in London with title lead lost

Mitch Evans is preparing for a “massive fight” for the Formula E world title at the season-ending London E-Prix after a costly weekend in Tokyo.

The Jaguar driver travelled to Japan determined to end a run of three consecutive non-points finishes in China, a sequence that had seen him surrender the championship lead. He briefly restored his position at the top of the standings in the opening Tokyo race, recovering from 16th on the grid to finish fourth despite a disappointing qualifying session.

That advantage disappeared in the second race. Jaguar fitted Evans’ car with full wet tyre pressures in anticipation of further heavy rain, but the expected conditions failed to arrive. As the track dried, the decision left the New Zealander tumbling towards the back of the field. The outcome added to the drama of Tokyo’s title reshuffle, where tyre-pressure gambles played a major role.

Evans eventually retired on the final lap after suffering a right-rear tyre failure. By then, however, another scoreless result had already put his title defence under renewed pressure.

A forecast gamble that failed

Evans acknowledged that the earlier Shanghai experience had influenced Jaguar’s thinking. “Our forecast said there was going to be heavy rain, or heavier rain, as the race was starting, and that another patch was going to come in as well,” he told RacingNews365.

“So we’re still waiting for that to arrive,” he joked. “As soon as it didn’t, I knew we were going to be toast.”

He added that the team could not immediately know how many rivals had opted for dry tyre pressures while the circuit remained wet. Jaguar was competitive at the start, but Evans accepted that the decision was ultimately wrong.

Final Jaguar weekend carries added weight

Jake Dennis’ 37-point haul in Japan means Evans heads to London just two points behind. The finale will also mark Evans’ final weekend with Jaguar after 10 years, adding another layer to an already high-pressure title contest.

London has not been kind to Evans in previous season finales, while Jaguar’s complete collapse in Season 10 remains a warning of how quickly the championship can turn. With two races remaining, he knows execution will be decisive.

“We normally have a good package in London, and we hope that’s the same and that there are no surprises,” Evans said. His plan is straightforward: qualify well and deliver two strong races.

“Everyone’s going to be stronger. It’s going to be a massive fight. Yeah, look, I’m up for it.”