ePrix de Miami 2025: Penalized, Norman Nato hands victory to Pascal Wehrlein
Despite crossing the finish line first, French driver Norman Nato was finally classified 6th for not having used all his Attack Mode credit before the end of the race.
Formula E was back in Miami after a ten-year absence. Held at the Homestead Speedway in Miami, this fifth race of the season had its share of twists and turns, delivering on all its promises until several minutes after the waving of the checkered flag, which was brandished for the occasion by Günther Steiner.
Starting from pole position for the first time in his career, Norman Nato manages to maintain his leading position ahead of Jake Dennis and Antonio Felix da Costa. The Nissan driver delivers a strong race by effectively deploying his energy management strategy against the two Porsches of Da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein, who has moved up to the front since starting ninth on the grid.
It is on the 20th of the 26 laps of the race that the event takes a different turn. Too optimistic on an overtaking attempt at the chicane of turns 9 and 10, Jake Hughes is clipped by Maximilian Günther whose DS Penske climbs over the Englishman’s Maserati. Behind them, Mitch Evans can’t avoid the two single-seaters blocking the track, forcing race control to wave the red flag.
The race resumes on lap 22 with a rolling start. However, due to the Hughes-Günther-Evans collision, several drivers did not have time to activate their second Attack Mode. Those with six minutes left will not have time to use their full credit before the end of the race. This is the case for Norman Nato, who quickly activates it right at the restart. This power boost allows him to make a wild comeback to the front of the pack and overtake Wehrlein at the line!
The penalty is imposed a few moments later, and as per the regulations, drivers who have not used the entirety of their Attack Mode during the race are penalized by ten seconds on their race time. This applies to Nato, who drops to 6th position, as well as Robin Frijns, who was initially 3rd.
Wehrlein thus wins his first race of the season ahead of Lucas di Grassi’s Lola, marking di Grassi’s first podium in two years, and Da Costa. The two Porsche drivers help their team achieve a great result in the championship.
Drivers’ championship still led by Oliver Rowland despite his 10th place in Miami ahead of Da Costa, Wehrlein, Taylor Barnard, and Günther.
Next appointments with Formula E are on May 3rd and 4th with two races scheduled on the legendary Monaco circuit.
