Buemi ends win drought at wet Monaco

After 78 races without a victory, Sébastien Buemi returned to the top step of the podium this Sunday in Round 7 of the 2024/25 Formula E World Championship. The Swiss driver dominated Monaco's rain-soaked street circuit to claim his third win at this legendary venue.

Historic Monaco Double-Header

For the first time, Monaco hosted a Formula E weekend featuring two full championship races. Oliver Rowland took victory in Saturday's race (May 3) starting from second position in his Nissan. Sunday's wet-weather spectacle completely transformed the competitive picture, with Buemi charging through from midfield positions.

The weekend proved especially productive for Rowland, who followed his Saturday win with a second-place finish on Sunday. These results solidify his championship lead with 115 points, putting him 48 points clear of António Félix da Costa who sits second with 67 points.

The Winning Move

Sunday's race began with Jean-Éric Vergne controlling the early laps. The Frenchman held off his pursuers until Lap 21 when Rowland attempted an overtake at the chicane.

Race officials deemed the move illegal, forcing Rowland to surrender the position. However, the British driver executed this strategically just before activating his second ATTACK MODE, allowing him to quickly regain ground with the additional 50kW of power.

During this critical moment, Buemi and Nyck de Vries capitalized to move into podium positions as Vergne lost momentum. The Swiss driver then took command of the race and never relinquished his lead, crossing the finish line four seconds clear of Rowland.

Nick Cassidy completed the podium after starting 14th, benefiting from exceptional energy management that propelled him through the field in the closing stages.

Monaco's Most Successful Driver

This victory establishes Buemi as the most successful Formula E driver in Monaco history with three wins. The Season 2 champion has consistently excelled on these streets, which perfectly complement his precise driving style.

The result also provides a crucial boost for Envision Racing, who entered this round at the bottom of the teams' standings and hadn't won since their previous Monaco appearance in 2023.

Championship Shakeup

The double-header weekend caused significant movement in the standings. Nissan now leads the manufacturers' championship with 191 points, ahead of Porsche on 163. However, in the teams' championship, Porsche maintains a slender advantage with 133 points compared to Nissan's 126.

Mahindra Racing enjoyed their strongest weekend since Mexico 2023, with de Vries securing second place on Saturday and fifth on Sunday.

Next Stop: Tokyo Debut

The championship now heads to Japan for the first time, with Tokyo's Odaiba street circuit hosting a double-header on May 17-18.

Rowland arrives as championship leader for what promises to be a special home event for Nissan. Da Costa, Cassidy and Vergne will all be looking to close the gap at a brand-new circuit that will challenge all competitors equally.