The Monaco E-Prix marked the start of the second half of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. At the Principality’s street circuit on the Côte d’Azur, the squad from Weissach, which has won three races so far this year, earned one point for Pascal Wehrlein’s tenth place in the Porsche 99X Electric.

Travelling to Monaco as the leader of the team classification, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team made a disappointing start into the second half of the season at the most prestigious race of the year. Although Pascal Wehrlein finished in the points, he lost his lead in the drivers’ standings. His teammate António Félix da Costa (POR), the 2021 Monaco winner, crossed the finish line in 15th. After a strong performance through the spectacular wall-fenced labyrinth of corners, the Porsche customer squad Avalanche Andretti was rewarded with third place thanks to Jake Dennis in the Porsche 99X Electric.

In the teams’ classification for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team ranks second after nine out of 16 races with 169 points behind Envision Racing (182). Avalanche Andretti (119) advanced to fourth place. Pascal Wehrlein also lies second in the drivers’ championship. With 101 points, the two-time winner in Diriyah trails Nick Cassidy (NZL/121). Jake Dennis (96) ranks third with António Félix da Costa (68) in sixth. André Lotterer (GER/23), who finished outside the points in Monaco in Avalanche Andretti’s Porsche 99X Electric, currently occupies P13.

Race 9
After a difficult qualifying on the world’s most spectacular street circuit, Pascal Wehrlein started from P12. After six laps, he was in the points with eighth place at the wheel of his Porsche 99X Electric, only to lose ground with the activation of the Attack Mode. In the closing laps of an action-packed race with gripping wheel-to-wheel duels, he overtook several rivals and ultimately saw the flag in tenth. Heading into the race from P19, António Félix da Costa fought his way up the order to eighth place. When a competitor hit the rear of his car, he was forced into the pits with a damaged rear tyre, which cost him positions.

Comments on the Monaco E-Prix, Race 9

Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E: “This is a disappointing result. António made up a lot of ground in the race but had to pit with tyre damage due to a rear shunt. More points would’ve been possible for Pascal, as well, today. During the first half of the season, we underlined that we are capable of fighting for wins and podium spots on a variety of racetracks. We still have seven races to go. We’re in the championship fight and we’ll do our very best to once again earn significantly more points in the next races.”

Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche works driver (#94): “As expected, it was a tough race. We’d hoped for better in Monaco and we’re disappointed not to have been able to showcase the true potential of our car. We now have to focus on our strong points and regain the performance that we’ve demonstrated so often this year. The second half of the season has only just begun. There are still a lot of races and a lot of points to be won. We’ll work hard and I’m confident that we’ll achieve better results again in the upcoming races.”

António Félix da Costa, Porsche works driver (#13): “After going from strength to strength during the first half of the season, we travelled to Monaco with high expectations. Unfortunately, we couldn’t fulfil these. We’ve had a tough day. I made a mistake in qualifying and subsequently had to start from far down the grid. In the race, I made up positions from lap to lap and had my sights set on a top-five result when I got hit and had to pit for a new right rear tyre. That was the end of my race. But we’ll come up with further opportunities that we can hopefully take advantage of.”

Next up
The next race for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team is the Jakarta E-Prix on 3 and 4 June, with rounds 10 and 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Porsche in Formula E
In 2023, the squad contests its fourth season in the world’s first all-electric racing series with the new Porsche 99X Electric. Avalanche Andretti fields two Porsche 99X Electric as the first Porsche customer team in Formula E. As an accelerator for innovative and sustainable mobility technologies, Formula E has brought thrilling motorsport to people living in major cities since 2014. With the all-electric Taycan Turbo S, Porsche again supplies the official safety car, and thus underlines the importance of Formula E for Porsche Motorsport.