Despite missing the podium at the São Paulo E-Prix, Mahindra demonstrated clear technical progress in Formula E Season 12, with strong pace, solid energy management and growing consistency in the final year of the Gen3 Evo era.
Mahindra arrived at the São Paulo E-Prix surrounded by high expectations. A strong pre-season performance in Valencia — where Edoardo Mortara topped the overall timesheets and Nyck de Vries finished inside the top five — reinforced the perception that the Indian manufacturer could begin Formula E Season 12 on a competitive note. And despite a race shaped by incidents and costly mistakes, Mahindra left the Sambódromo do Anhembi displaying clear pace and encouraging signs of maturity.
Both Mahindra drivers lined up as realistic podium contenders, but the race took a dramatic turn almost immediately. At the first corner, Mortara and De Vries made contact off the start, instantly compromising any initial strategy the team had planned. Although both cars continued, the incident disrupted their rhythm and track position from the very beginning.
Shortly afterwards, Mortara was handed a five-second time penalty for failing to follow Race Control instructions, while De Vries was forced into the pits, dropping him to the back of the field. From that moment on, any hopes of a straightforward points finish vanished, forcing the team into recovery mode.
Despite the setbacks, De Vries delivered one of the standout comeback drives of the race. Showing strong race pace and effective energy management, the Dutchman climbed back through the field to finish ninth, securing two valuable championship points after having started the race from fifth on the grid.
Reflecting on the result, De Vries remained optimistic about the team’s overall performance.
“I think we had a very strong and competitive package today,” he said. “We were quick from practice and executed a decent qualifying. We have a solid overall set-up, and that gives us confidence heading into the next races.”
Mortara, meanwhile, was running in ninth place when a sequence of incidents brought his race to an early end. On lap 23, he was involved in a collision with Lucas di Grassi of Lola Yamaha ABT. The impact left Mortara’s car stranded on track, triggering a Safety Car and resulting in retirement for both drivers.
How Mahindra rebuilt its foundations — and why attention is growing
Mahindra’s current momentum carries greater significance when viewed against the team’s recent history. At the Cape Town E-Prix in 2023, a suspension failure forced the team to withdraw both cars from the event, exposing deep structural issues. The unexpected departure of CEO Dilbagh Gill, the end of the partnership with ABT Cupra and Oliver Rowland’s mid-season exit only added to the instability.
The turning point came with the arrival of Frédéric Bertrand, formerly of the FIA. Under his leadership, Mahindra underwent a comprehensive internal restructuring. Processes were reorganised, the technical department was reinforced and stability became the central focus of the rebuild. The signing of Mortara and De Vries — an experienced and technically astute driver pairing — aligned perfectly with this new direction.
With the transition to the Gen3 Evo era, Mahindra introduced significant updates to its powertrain, allowing the team to compete on more equal terms with established frontrunners such as Jaguar and DS Penske. Podium finishes during the 2025 season confirmed that the rebuilding phase was bearing fruit, while the closing rounds of the championship saw Mahindra operating at a performance level close to Nissan.
Those positive indicators were further reinforced during pre-season testing in Valencia ahead of Season 12. Mortara once again topped the overall classification, De Vries featured consistently near the front, and the team left Spain sending a clear message: Mahindra enters the final year of the Gen3 Evo cycle as a more refined and competitive operation.
The São Paulo E-Prix may not have delivered the podium result that initially seemed within reach, but it highlighted the team’s underlying speed, resilience and capacity to recover under pressure. Looking ahead, optimism remains high within the garage.
“Our expectation is to deliver performance with more consistency at the front, which can give us even stronger weekends,” De Vries added. “That’s Formula E — anything can happen.”
In a championship defined by fine margins, where consistency often outweighs outright pace, Mahindra presents itself as a genuine dark horse. With a solid technical platform, experienced drivers and renewed internal stability, the team has all the ingredients to surprise as Season 12 unfolds.
Formula E now pauses for the festive break before returning on 10 January 2026 for Round 2 in Mexico City — a circuit that will offer another important benchmark for Mahindra’s growing ambitions.
