In a dramatic turn of events at the São Paulo E-Prix, Nyck de Vries has stepped into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, taking full accountability for a shocking clash with his Mahindra teammate, Edoardo Mortara, on the very first lap. What started as a promising season opener quickly spiraled into chaos, as de Vries, who launched from fifth on the grid, found himself in a precarious position behind Mortara, who had qualified an impressive third.
The anticipation was palpable as both Mahindra drivers showcased their prowess during practice and qualifying, leading fans to believe a significant points haul was on the horizon. However, that optimism came crashing down as the race unfolded. De Vries’s race took a disastrous turn when he “misjudged” his braking point at the first corner, resulting in a collision not only with Mortara but also with Dan Ticktum of Cupra Kiro. The aftermath was brutal: Ticktum suffered a puncture that shattered his chances while Mortara, though fortunate to escape major damage, faced the repercussions of the incident.
Surprisingly, de Vries skated by without penalty for his role in the chaos, a twist that left many in disbelief. Meanwhile, Mortara found himself on the receiving end of a five-second time penalty for a critical error — failing to stop before re-entering the track after being forced off, a strict rule enforced at the São Paulo circuit. His struggles didn’t end there; he later crashed into a wall after being squeezed by Lola’s Lucas di Grassi, marking a dismal outing for the Mahindra team.
As for de Vries, his day was far from smooth. After suffering a puncture of his own, he was forced to pit mid-race but managed to claw his way back to finish in ninth place, aided by a late red flag that halted the race. The Dutch driver candidly reflected on the chaotic events when speaking to RacingNews365, expressing regret over his costly mistake. “I misjudged my braking point,” he admitted, clearly feeling the weight of his actions.
De Vries did not shy away from expressing his frustration about the missed opportunity for valuable points, stating, “Well, obviously it’s always disappointing to go backwards and to kind of lose out on an opportunity. So yeah, of course, I’m disappointed and frustrated by that. I just misjudged that, and that was on me. There’s not much else to say, really.”
As the dust settles from this tumultuous start to the Formula E season, both de Vries and Mortara are left to ponder what could have been, their hopes of a strong campaign now hanging by a thread. With the stakes set high, fans will be eager to see how both drivers respond in the coming races, as redemption and revenge loom large on the horizon.
