Miami E-Prix: First setback of the season for Citroën Racing in the Florida rain

Formula E is widely recognized as one of the most unpredictable disciplines in global motorsport. In a championship where energy management and technical precision are pushed to the limit, rankings can shift radically from one race to another. This is exactly the scenario that the Citroën Racing team experienced during the very first Miami E-Prix, held at the Miami International Autodrome. After a roaring start to the season marked by victories, the brand with the double chevron suffered its first significant setback of 2026. Despite promising qualifying sessions, weather hazards and racing incidents thwarted podium ambitions in Florida.

A Florida weekend defined by moisture and strategic challenges

The 2.32-kilometer track, winding around Miami's famous sporting complex, promised an intense show with its 14 technical corners. From the very first free practice sessions, the Citroën Racing cars displayed a very solid intrinsic pace, confirming that the technical foundation for the season is highly competitive. In qualifying, Nick Cassidy, fresh from his recent victory, once again proved his speed by securing an encouraging seventh place on the starting grid. Meanwhile, Jean-Éric Vergne started from seventeenth position, with the firm intention of performing one of his signature comebacks through the field.

However, Florida's tropical weather played spoilsport shortly before the start. With rain falling on the track, race control mandated a start behind the safety car. The green flag was only waved on the fifth lap, but under precarious grip conditions. For Citroën Racing, the challenge was to find the right balance between tire temperature and energy consumption on a constantly evolving track surface.

Unfortunately, the strategy did not yield the expected results. Nick Cassidy, although combative within the pack, saw his chances evaporate as the laps went by, eventually crossing the finish line in 16th position. Jean-Éric Vergne, in a tactical and demanding race, managed to gain a few places to finish in 15th place. For the first time this season, no Citroën car finished in the points. In the overall standings, the situation remains positive: Nick Cassidy maintains his lead in the Drivers' Championship, while Citroën Racing holds second place in the Teams' Championship, just behind Porsche.

Voices from the team: A constructive disappointment for the future

Despite the legitimate frustration, team members spoke transparently about the difficulties encountered during this American round. Data analysis will be crucial to understanding the lack of performance in wet conditions.

Cyril Blais, Team Principal of the Citroën Racing Formula E Team, provided a clear-headed analysis: "Clearly, it was not our day and the result is very disappointing for the team. We showed good pace throughout the weekend, but in these conditions, it is obvious we were missing something, which is extremely frustrating. We have to take it on the chin, analyze exactly what went wrong, and understand where we can improve before Jeddah. There are important lessons to be learned from this race, which will be useful later in the season when we encounter similar conditions. It’s hard to accept, but we must learn from it to come back stronger."

For Nick Cassidy, the focus is already on the next events on the calendar: "It was a very difficult race. Qualifying went well, so I approached the race with high expectations, but nothing really fell into place and it was a complicated day for the team. We are going to turn the page, try to understand what happened, without dwelling on it too much. Now, the focus is on Jeddah, in just over a week, where I would be very surprised to find rainy conditions."

Jean-Éric Vergne also highlighted the team's inability to react to the elements: "It’s the end of a difficult weekend. The result is clearly below our expectations and what we hoped for. Our performance in wet conditions was very insufficient during the race, and we felt we had no levers to reverse the situation. This kind of result hurts, but we will regroup as a team, analyze areas for improvement, and focus on a stronger return in Jeddah."

Finally, Théo Pourchaire, who performed the Rookie tests for Citroën with great skill, shared his perspective on the overall performance: "The race result is a bit disappointing for the team, especially since our actual performance level was much higher than what the final standings reflect. The day was difficult; it was our first experience in wet conditions and, clearly, something was missing. That said, it is in these moments that we learn the most, and it is essential for progress." The young driver expressed satisfaction with his FP0 session, already feeling at home within a team he considers family.

Cap sur Djeddah pour une revanche immédiate

En conclusion, ce week-end à Miami rappelle que les vérités d'un jour sont rarement celles du lendemain en compétition automobile. Si le résultat final est frustrant, le potentiel de la monoplace Citroën n'est pas remis en cause. Les excellentes performances de Nick Cassidy en qualifications prouvent que la vitesse est là. Les conditions climatiques exceptionnelles ont simplement agi comme un grain de sable dans une mécanique par ailleurs bien huilée.

L'équipe ne dispose que de peu de temps pour ruminer cette contre-performance. Le rendez-vous est déjà pris pour le prochain e-Prix à Djeddah, en Arabie Saoudite, les 13 et 14 février. Ce format de "double-header" (deux courses en un week-end) sera l'occasion idéale pour Citroën Racing de reprendre sa marche en avant et de consolider ses positions aux sommets des championnats du monde.