Can Jaguar finally claim a first Formula E title?

Formula E has delivered another entertaining season of racing in 2024 with eight different winners from six different teams, and the climax in London this weekend is poised to close the book in style.

It would appear on the surface that both championships are Jaguar’s to lose. Cassidy’s relentless run of consistency through the mid-season, where he scored five podiums in a row, has put him and his team in a commanding position, but as is often the case in Formula E, the form book can very quickly be turned upside down.

Because, while Cassidy scored zero points at the last double header in Portland, the late resurgence of Antonio Felix da Costa, who was in danger of losing his seat earlier in the year, went into overdrive as he took his second and third wins in succession to make it four victories in five races and jump to fourth in the drivers’ championship.

Felix da Costa is the only driver with any meaningful form coming into the final two rounds in London; of the three drivers ahead of him, only Evans managed to podium finish in Portland. London was a happy hunting ground for the Jaguar drivers in 2023, though, as Evans and Cassidy took a win each with Jaguar powertrains one year ago.

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard we asked Jaguar Team Principal James Barclay about the team’s preparations ahead of this weekend’s title showdown.

“It's pretty straightforward,” he said. “We're leading the teams’ championship, first and second in the drivers’ championship. Our goal is just to go and try and get our first team championship.

“We've been the most consistent team in Formula E – we fought for a driver and teams’ championship every year in the last four years. We've led the championship twice in the last day in those four years.

“It's easy to say it's our time, but the reality is we have to get it across the line. We're not being complacent, we're incredibly hungry for this first title and the team have worked incredibly hard to get to ourselves again to this point. And all we can go and do is give it our best next weekend.”

Jaguar has been here before, on numerous occasions. The team has indeed entered the final round in both 2021 and 2023 at the top of the team’s standings, but on both occasions fallen short. Last season it was Cassidy, then driving for Envision, who ended Jaguar’s dream of victory, this year the team will be hoping his speed carries them to their first title.

He won’t go unchallenged though, and Jaguar’s management will be well aware that the radio waves have not always been cordial between the two New Zealanders behind the wheel. Cassidy and Evans have both cut frustrated figures at times as both at certain moments have been asked to help the other achieve a better result. It’s Evans who has fared the better since Cassidy’s last win six races ago, even as he fumed at a five-second penalty that cost him vital points in Portland. One thing’s for sure, that 12-point gap between the pair could disappear incredibly quickly come Saturday.

It's going to be a fascinating contest. Jaguar was busy testing in Spain while Cassidy was putting on a show at the Festival of Speed, the team is clearly putting everything into finding some much-needed pace ahead of the London finale. You can bet there will be a substantial challenge from Porsche, while DS Penske continues to showcase glimpses of speed. Cassidy could wrap it all up with a win on Saturday, but that would be very much against the run of play.