Jaguar TCS Racing had pace and promise at Round 2 of the 2026 Mexico City E-Prix on 10 January, but incidents and bad luck left both cars outside the points. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted the second round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship — a race that ultimately saw Nick Cassidy take victory for Citroën Racing.
Jaguar’s cars looked competitive at times, with Mitch Evans even leading briefly after an early Attack Mode, and António Félix da Costa climbing from tenth to fourth. But contact, steering issues and traffic derailed both races.
Race Summary
Evans started strongly from fourth on the grid and used his first Attack Mode well, gaining five places to lead the race for a period. But after missing his second Attack Mode activation and getting caught in midfield traffic, contact led to a puncture and an 11th-place finish.
Félix da Costa had climbed to fourth early but then suffered contact with another car, which damaged his steering. A Safety Car and subsequent incidents forced him off-line into the grass, and he retired later in the race.
Team Reaction
Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal Ian James summed up the weekend honestly:
“Today was tough. We had great pace at times and leading the race after ATTACK MODE showed what was possible, but the midfield was incredibly tight and a few things didn’t fall our way. We’ll regroup, learn from it, and come back stronger.”
Evans was clear about the frustration of the result:
“It was a frustrating race because we were moving forward well and the car felt strong in the early phases. Being forced to retire due to contact is never how you want to end a race. There were positives in the pace we showed, so we’ll reset and focus on the next one.”
And António Félix da Costa reflected on his own tough opening rounds:
“While there were definitely positives to take from this weekend, it’s no denying that today was a challenging Round 2 and not the result we were aiming for. Mitch showed what the car could do when he got to the front in ATTACK MODE, but we couldn’t hold onto it as the race unfolded. António was making great progress before the contact that ended his race early.”
What’s Next
Jaguar TCS Racing will head to Round 3 in Miami on 31 January looking to turn their pace into points. There were glimpses of strong race performance in Mexico City, but the chaotic midfield and bad luck left them without reward this time and focused on regrouping ahead of the next race.
Mexico City E-Prix: The Race in Brief
Round 2 of the 2026 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship delivered a familiar Formula E mix of strategy, aggression and attrition around the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Victory went to Nick Cassidy, converting pace and positioning into a controlled win in a tightly packed field. Behind him, the midfield remained brutally close throughout, with positions changing constantly through Attack Mode cycles, Safety Car interruptions and late-race energy management.
For Jaguar TCS Racing, the headline was unfulfilled potential. Mitch Evans briefly led the race after a decisive early Attack Mode, underlining the raw speed of the Jaguar package. However, missed timing on his second activation and contact in traffic led to a puncture and an eventual 11th-place finish.
On the other side of the garage, António Félix da Costa made strong early progress, climbing from tenth to fourth before contact damaged his steering. A Safety Car compressed the field, and further incidents ultimately forced his retirement.
The race reinforced a key truth of the current Formula E era: outright pace is only part of the story. Track position, Attack Mode timing and survival in the midfield remain decisive.
With Mexico City complete, the championship picture is already tightening — and Jaguar leaves knowing the speed is there, but results will demand cleaner execution.
Formula E 2026: Championship Standings Explained After Round 2
Two rounds into the 2026 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the picture is already taking shape — but only just. With the field as close as ever, Mexico City reinforced how quickly momentum can swing.
Drivers’ Championship: Early Leaders, No Clear Breakaway
After victory in Mexico City, Nick Cassidy moves to the front of the early Drivers’ Championship fight. His win follows a strong opening round and places him as the first driver to convert consistency into a points advantage.
Behind him, the standings remain tightly compressed. Several drivers are separated by only a handful of points, reflecting how qualifying position, Attack Mode timing and late-race energy management are proving decisive. No driver has yet established dominance — and that keeps the title wide open.
Crucially, with only two races completed, one strong weekend or one non-finish is already enough to significantly alter the order.
Teams’ Championship: Margins Matter
In the Teams’ standings, early points accumulation has rewarded those who have escaped trouble rather than those showing outright pace.
Jaguar TCS Racing sits lower than its raw speed would suggest. Mexico City underlined that reality: a car capable of leading the race, but leaving without points due to timing issues and contact. At this stage of the season, that kind of result carries real weight.
Other leading teams have benefited from cleaner execution across both cars — something that often defines championships long before the halfway point.
What This Tells Us After Two Rounds
This early phase of the season is less about control and more about survival. Formula E’s midfield density means:
- One Safety Car can undo a perfect strategy
- Missing an Attack Mode window can cost multiple positions
- Contact in traffic remains a constant threat
Teams and drivers already face a clear choice: push aggressively for early gains or prioritise steady points accumulation.
Looking Ahead
With Round 3 still to come, the standings are far from settled. But the warning signs are there. Pace alone will not win this championship — precision will.
For Jaguar, and others in a similar position, the task now is simple in theory and brutal in execution: turn front-running speed into points before the gap hardens.
