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Mitch Evans has explained the technical problem that prevented him from starting the second race of Formula E’s Shanghai E-Prix double-header, a setback that turned a difficult China run into a damaging championship swing.
The New Zealander arrived at the Shanghai International Circuit with a 19-point lead in the drivers’ standings. He left nine points behind Pascal Wehrlein, after a weekend in which pace, confidence and reliability all slipped away at critical moments.
Evans had already endured a frustrating opening race on Saturday. After qualifying second, he fell back to eighth, with the drop largely linked to his belief that there was an issue causing a complete lack of grip. Sunday then brought an even harsher blow: he qualified 14th in wet conditions and never took the start.
For more context on how the title picture was already tightening in Shanghai, read our report on Pascal Wehrlein’s Shanghai Formula E win and title statement.
The problem appeared before Evans had even reached the grid on his reconnaissance lap. The issue was described as a suspected DC/DC fault, involving a championship specification component used by all teams.
Speaking to RacingNews365, Evans said the warning signs emerged only once he was already strapped into the car.
“So it was basically when I was strapped into the car that I started noticing, while doing some power cycles, that it was taking more than a couple. I was like, ‘Okay, something’s a bit off or not right.’”
He added that the situation escalated as he attempted to head to the grid.
“And then, yeah, it was basically when trying to go to the grid, so I had no idea until I was strapped into the car. So I got out. We were hoping it was just the DC/DC, but it can have a knock-on effect on the battery, so that’s unfortunately what happened.”
The three Chinese rounds, including the Sanya E-Prix a fortnight earlier, have proved punishing for Evans. What had been a strong championship position has been sharply reversed, underlining how quickly Formula E momentum can collapse.
Evans pointed out that Antonio had suffered the same issue in practice in Mexico, calling it identical, but admitted the timing before a race was especially painful.
“This whole China weekend has been brutal for me, and I haven’t really done anything wrong. Apart from the wet today, I’ve actually been pretty quick.”
Evans insisted the fight is not over, but acknowledged that the initiative has shifted away from his side.
“It’s just been a bit of a kick in the teeth, so we’re still in it, but obviously the momentum has stopped on our side. We’ve got to try to turn that around and pick it back up.”
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.