Tag: Monaco

Team tactics satisfy both Jaguar teammates in Monaco

Mitch Evans praised “team player” Nick Cassidy as the pair secured a one-two finish for Jaguar TCS Racing at the Monaco E-Prix. Evans won by 0.946s over Cassidy, who himself had a 2.889s advantage over DS Penske’s Stoffel Vandoorne at the end of the …

Mitch Evans praised “team player” Nick Cassidy as the pair secured a one-two finish for Jaguar TCS Racing at the Monaco E-Prix.

Evans won by 0.946s over Cassidy, who himself had a 2.889s advantage over DS Penske’s Stoffel Vandoorne at the end of the race, but it was Cassidy’s control over those behind him that allowed Evans to maintain the lead after taking both of his Attack Modes.

“We knew it was going to be a tough race, we knew it was going to be all about the strategy around the attacks — obviously Nick and I started side-by-side so that kind of helped things as the race evolved,” said Evans. “We had a rough game plan before going to the race but I really owe this win to Nick — he really helped me when it mattered, I helped him when it mattered. I really appreciate the team player he was today.”

Expanding on the strategy discussions, Evans acknowledged that while races can often turn out differently to how they’re predicted, Monaco matched the Jaguar team’s expectations.

“Obviously we discuss all potential scenarios but the majority of the time when you get on track the race happens completely differently,” he said. “But the way it turned out, I think it was as expected and we knew we were going to be racing with each other on track instead of tripping over ourselves — we may as well help each other (and) it’s quite a bit Attack loss here.

“I think the DS guys were trying to do the same thing as well but we executed that perfectly. Obviously we discuss this pre-race but also other scenarios that could potentially happen, but it played out exactly as we wanted it.”

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While the result was a landmark one for Jaguar, it was also a big moment for Evans who was a six-time podium finisher across GP2 and Formula E prior to his win on Sunday.

“It’s just an amazing achievement for the team, and for me to finally get my first win here after trying — even before Formula E I was trying, in GP2 and everything — so to finally get on the top step here means the world,” he said.

Evans’ first Monaco win was also his first of the season, a season which has so far been disappointing for the New Zealander, who started the year as one of the championship favorites.

“I haven’t started the way I would’ve liked,” he admitted. “I came off the back of a really strong end of last season with many wins and podiums so I was expecting the same to start, or at least early on in the season.

“Obviously I had Brazil which was a second place, almost a win, but it’s not really gone the way I would’ve liked so far. So while this win’s come at a really good time, a really critical stage of the championship, to get my first win finally is nice — to get that first win of the season always feels like a monkey off your back and then you can try and carry that momentum through the rest of the championship.”

Cassidy, who won last year’s Monaco E-Prix for Envision Racing prior to switching to the factory Jaguar team this year, paid tribute to Evans, noting that he’d been the team’s leader in practice and qualifying at Monaco,

“Today’s about Mitch — he won the Monaco E-Prix, he’s a very deserving winner,” Cassidy said. “(He’s had) many, many podiums here (and been) very close. I was lucky enough to be in a position with him, the other way round, last year and got the win here. It’s very very special.

“We had the performance today — I think not quite as much as Mitch in practice and qualifying, we struggled a little bit, but we were there when it counted and it’s a great team result.”

Monaco podium return bittersweet for Vandoorne

Stoffel Vandoorne hasn’t been on a Formula E podium since winning the 2021-22 championship, but he finally snapped the unfortunate streak by finishing third in the Monaco E-Prix. But despite returning to the rostrum, the DS Penske driver conceded …

Stoffel Vandoorne hasn’t been on a Formula E podium since winning the 2021-22 championship, but he finally snapped the unfortunate streak by finishing third in the Monaco E-Prix. But despite returning to the rostrum, the DS Penske driver conceded that he was disappointed after failing to mount a sustained challenge for the win on the streets of Monte Carlo.

“It feels good although I’m almost a little disappointed because I think we had a strong car today,” he said. “We qualified very well, we managed the first part of the race very good.

“Where I feel like we lost the race is when I took the second (Attack Mode). We nearly pulled it off, to slot in between both Jaguars. I think if we would have managed that it would have been a different race and we might have had a real chance at winning it.”

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Jaguar TCS Racing’s mastery of Attack Mode strategy allowed Mitch Evans to effectively take two free passes, holding onto the lead as Nick Cassidy held up the field behind him.

“Having both of them in front of us, that’s where all the games started to play out and where the gaps got created and where they could just take their Attack Modes for free, basically,” Vandoorne said.

Nevertheless, Vandoorne says the podium is a confidence booster for him, and his team with the Stellantis package used by DS Penske improving in relation to the pace-setting Jaguar and Porsche powertrains in race trim.

“It obviously helps. It’s always good to pull off a good result and I think our races have been the difficult point — I think we’ve always been able to qualify well but we’ve never really been able to capitalize on that and really play the race well,” he admitted. “I think now we’ve got a better understanding of that, we’re improving our car race-by-race as well and that’s starting to pay off, so I think we’re on the rise.”

Jaguar dominates Monaco E-Prix as Evans leads Cassidy home

Mitch Evans won the ABB Formula E championship’s Monaco E-Prix, leading home Jaguar TCS Racing teammate Nick Cassidy, after a chaotic race on the streets of Monte Carlo. Both Jaguars started on the second row of the grid and wasted no time moving …

Mitch Evans won the ABB Formula E championship’s Monaco E-Prix, leading home Jaguar TCS Racing teammate Nick Cassidy, after a chaotic race on the streets of Monte Carlo.

Both Jaguars started on the second row of the grid and wasted no time moving forward, pressuring second-placed starter Stoffel Vandoorne into Sainte Devote on the first lap. The DS Penske man held firm, though, and the Jaguars had to wait to move into second and third.

Polesitter and race leader Pascal Wehrlein of TAG Heuer Porsche went for the Attack Mode power boost on lap three, opening the door for Evans to take the lead — a position he would not relinquish for the rest of the race. Cassidy followed him through, but was facing pressure from a charging Jean-Eric Vergne.

A lap later, the race got its first safety car, after Mahindra’s Edoardo Mortara slammed into the wall in the Swimming Pool section after an apparent brake failure. On the same lap, ERT driver Sergio Sette Camara forced Envision’s Sebastien Buemi up onto two wheels and then into the barrier at the Grand Hotel hairpin. Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa was also collected in the scuffle, while Sette Camara was slapped with a five-second penalty as a result.

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The race resumed on lap 9, with Evans taking his Attack Modes on laps 11 and 13. Such was Jaguar’s control at the front of the field, with Cassidy serving as a rear gunner to Evans, Evans was able to maintain the lead despite both times he took the slower, longer line.

Cassidy served his final Attack Mode pass-through on lap 17, and five laps later had it confirmed over the radio that the team was looking to maintain position — thus it was formation flying for the tow Jaguars out in front for the remainder of the race.

A brief second safety car didn’t deter them, either. The caution period came about after NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes forced ABT Cupra driver Nico Mueller into the wall at Rascasse on lap 25 of what was initially a 29-lap race, but extended to 31 as a result of the two safety car periods.

It was a first Monaco victory for Evans — who topped both practice sessions at the start of the day — and the factory Jaguar team, but second consecutive win in the Principality for it as a powertrain supplier following Cassidy’s win for former team Envision last season.

Stoffel Vandoorne took his first podium finish since his championship-winning season in 2021-22. He ended the race third, almost four seconds adrift of Evans, while Vergne maintained the two-by-two formation at the head of the field by finishing behind his teammate in fourth, the first safety car period destroying his challenge on Cassidy.

Wehrlein couldn’t recover from slipping down the field during his Attack Modes and wound up fifth, while Oliver Rowland put on another fine display for Nissan, clawing through from 15th on the grid to take sixth.

Da Costa recovered from the incident with Sette Camara and Buemi at the Grand Hotel hairpin to finish sixth, ahead of Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz, Maserati MSG’s Maximilian Guenther, and Andretti’s Norman Nato who rounded out the top 10.

Taylor Barnard took 14th, behind Lucas di Grassi, Nyck de Vries and Dan Ticktum, on his debut for NEOM McLaren in place of the injured Sam Bird. He initially finished behind teammate Jake Hughes too but Hughes was handed a five-second penalty for his avoidable contact with Mueller. Mueller was subsequently one of two retirements along with Mortara.

Jake Dennis was the final runner to cross the line, in 20th, following a pit stop after sustaining front wing damage after being squeezed by Robin Frijns in the tunnel on lap 10. Frijns sustained front wing damage of his own on lap 17 after contact with da Costa. He finished 17th.

RESULTS

Wehrlein takes Monaco E-Prix pole ahead of Vandoorne

Pascal Wehrlein secured his second consecutive Formula pole, and third of the season, by defeating Stoffel Vandoorne on the streets of Monaco. The TAG Heuer Porsche driver’s best time of 1m29.861s was 0.433s quicker than the DS Penske man, with both …

Pascal Wehrlein secured his second consecutive Formula pole, and third of the season, by defeating Stoffel Vandoorne on the streets of Monaco.

The TAG Heuer Porsche driver’s best time of 1m29.861s was 0.433s quicker than the DS Penske man, with both making it through to the Duels final after defeating both Jaguar TCS Racing drivers in the semifinals.

Wehrlein defeated Mitch Evans, who’d topped both practice sessions earlier in the morning, but an error at the Nouvelle Chicane cost him. Vandoorne recovered from a mistake at the start of his lap to overhaul Nick Cassidy who lost time at the swimming pool section towards the end of the lap.

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Ahead of the Jaguar Duels, Wehrlein beat Maximillian Guenther (Maserati MSG Racing) while Vergne knocked out his teammate Jean-Eric Vergne. Evans and Cassidy defeated Antonio Felix da Costa (Porsche) and Sebastien Buemi (Envision Racing) in their respective opening Duels.

Wehrlein’s route to pole began by finishing second to Evans in the first part of group qualifying, ahead of Guenther and da Costa, with Robin Frijns (Rnvision), Sergio Sette Camara (ERT), Nico Mueller (Abt Cupra), Nyck de Vries (Mahindra), Oliver Rowland (Nissan), Lucas di Grassi (Abt Cupra) and Norman Nato (Andretti) all failing to advance.

Vandoorne, meanwhile, topped his group, ahead of Cassidy, Buemi, and Vergne, with Jehan Daruvala (Maserati), Edoardo Mortara (Mahindra), Sacha Fenestraz (Nissan), and the British quartet of Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren), Jake Dennis (Andretti), Dan Ticktum (ERT), and Taylor Barnard (McLaren) all failing to advance.

Behind the front row of Wehrlein and Vandoorne, it will be Cassidy in third and Evans fourth on the grid, with champions Vergne, Buemi, and da Costa behind in fifth, sixth, and seventh. Guenther will start eighth, with Frijns and Daruvala completing the top-10 grid positions.

Sette Camara will line up 11th, ahead of Mortara, de Vries, Fenestraz, Rowland, and Hughes, with de Grassi, Dennis, Nato, Ticktum, Mueller, and Barnard completing the grid.

Mueller initially qualified 13th, but was dropped to the penultimate position due to a discrepancy with the torque being applied by his car’s rear wheels.

RESULTS

Evans remains on top in Monaco E-Prix FP2

Mitch Evans remained on top in second practice for the Monaco E-Prix as once again Jaguar powertrains took the top two spots. Factory team driver Evans set a best time of 1m29.521s, 0.129s ahead of Envision Racing driver Robin Frijns, while TAG …

Mitch Evans remained on top in second practice for the Monaco E-Prix as once again Jaguar powertrains took the top two spots.

Factory team driver Evans set a best time of 1m29.521s, 0.129s ahead of Envision Racing driver Robin Frijns, while TAG Heuer Porsche improved to muscle into the top five. Pascal Wehrlein was third, 0.151s off the top spot, with Antonio Felix da Costa improving two places from his FP1 performance to finish fourth, albeit 0.308s off his teammate.

Maximilian Guenther was fifth for Maserati MSG Racing, ahead of ERT’s Dan Ticktum and Nissan’s Oliver Rowland, with DS Penske driver Stoffel Vandoorne, Nyck de Vries of Mahindra, and Andretti’s Norman Nato rounding to the top 10.

Nick Cassidy was 11th in the second Jaguar TCS Racing entry, one spot ahead of Edoardo Mortara who spent much of the session in the top-five, until he crashed out of the session in the final five minutes.

In an incident reminiscent of Sam Bird’s in FP1 — which has forced him to sit out the remainder of the day — the Mahindra driver locked up going into Sainte Devote and slid into the wall, the hard contact breaking his car’s steering.

Jehan Daruvala wound up 13th in the second Maserati, ahead of Jake Hughes and Jake Dennis of Andretti and NEOM McLaren respectively, Nico Mueller of Abt Cupra, Sacha Fenestraz of Nissan, and DS Penske driver Jean-Eric Vergne.

Lucas di Grassi was 19th for Abt Cupra, ahead of Envision’s Sebastien Buemi and Sergio Sette Camara who once again faced issues with ERT. Taylor Barnard rounded out the field, the McLaren driver playing catch-up after the late call for him to step in for the injured Bird.

RESULTS

Evans leads opening Monaco E-Prix practice

Mitch Evans set the pace in the opening practice session for the Monaco E-Prix as Jaguar-powered cars swept the top-three positions. His best time of 1m30.414 was 0.299s quicker than Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns, with his Jaguar TCS Racing …

Mitch Evans set the pace in the opening practice session for the Monaco E-Prix as Jaguar-powered cars swept the top-three positions.

His best time of 1m30.414 was 0.299s quicker than Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns, with his Jaguar TCS Racing teammate Nick Cassidy a further 0.393s back in third. NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes was fourth, ahead of Andretti driver Jake Dennis, the top-five covered by just over a second.

TAG Heuer Porsche driver Antonio Felix da Costa was unhappy with the balance of his car in the session and wound up sixth, 0.043s off Dennis. Behind him was the Mahindra pairing of Edoardo Mortara and Nyck de Vries, with Andretti’s Norman Nato and Sebastien Buemi in the second Envision rounding out the top-10.

Maximilian Guenther finished the session in 11th for the Monaco-based Maserati MSG Racing team, ahead of series champions Lucas de Grassi (Abt Cupra) and Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Penske), with Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) and Dan Ticktum (ERT) 14th and 15th respectively.

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Misano Race 1 winner Oliver Rowland was 16th quickest, despite a spin at the Grand Hotel Hairpin in the final minute of the session. The Nissan driver finished ahead of Nico Mueller in the second Abt Cupra entry, Jean-Eric Vergne int he other DS Penske, teammate Sacha Fenestraz, and Maserati driver Jehan Daruvala.

McLaren’s Sam Bird finished the session 21st after going into the barriers at Sainte Devote in the final 10 minutes following a lockup of his right-front tire. The incident didn’t bring out a red flag, although there was one halfway through the session after an advertising hoarding was pulled onto the track on the run down to Mirabeu.

ERT driver Sergio Sette Camara completed the field, albeit more than 11 seconds off the pace.

RESULTS

Balogun responds to penalty nightmare with ruthless goal vs. Marseille

It only took one game for the USMNT forward to bounce back from a brutal outing against Nice

After a brutal game that saw him miss not one, but two penalties, Folarin Balogun produced an ideal response.

The Monaco forward bounced back from last week’s nightmare by scoring in the first half against Marseille on Saturday, leveling the score at 2-2 in just the 23rd minute at Stade Louis II.

Maghnes Akliouche received a pass and quickly found Balogun streaking in behind the Marseiile backline. From there, the USMNT forward was ruthlessly efficient, taking just two touches before slamming an overpowering low strike that beat Pau López at his near post.

It was Balogun’s second goal in four Ligue 1 games so far this season.

Akliouche would end up as the difference-maker on the night, scoring Monaco’s other two goals as the principality side won 3-2 to move into first place in Ligue 1, at least before Sunday’s game between high-flyers Brest and Nice.

The goal was a perfect way for Balogun to put the heartbreak of last week’s 1-0 defeat to Nice behind him.

Playing in his first-ever Derby de la Côte d’Azur, the 22-year-old saw penalties on either side of halftime saved by Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bułka.

After the game, Monaco manager Adi Hütter backed the summer arrival from Arsenal, saying: “Sometimes this is football in the end. We have to help him and we will.

“In the end, we have good conversations and positive communication. In the future, he will help us a lot.”

It only took a week for Balogun to prove his manager right.

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Balogun has a day to forget, missing two penalties for Monaco in 1-0 loss vs. Nice

It could have gone worse for Balogun on Friday, but not by much

Folarin Balogun will want to forget his first-ever Derby de la Côte d’Azur.

The U.S. men’s national team striker was denied on two penalty kick attempts, a disappointment compounded as Nice pounced with a stoppage-time winner to claim a 1-0 victory at Stade Louis II.

Balogun got the nod for Monaco, starting for the first time since a €40 million summer move from Arsenal, but had two spot kicks saved by Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bułka. Unfortunately for the USMNT striker, it was truly a day to forget.

Bułka denied Balogun for the first time in the 12th minute. Aleksandr Golovin was clipped after racing in behind the Nice defense, but Balogun couldn’t fool the Polish goalkeeper.

In the second half, the situation was only marginally different. Takumi Minamino won the penalty this time, but once again Balogun shot low and to Bułka’s right. This time Balogun offered more power, but Bułka was still quick enough to get down and block the shot.

Monaco’s suffering was compounded seconds into stoppage time, when Jeremie Boga curled home a stunning winner.

Monaco boss Hütter backs Balogun

On the plus side, Monaco manager Adi Hütter told reporters after the match that he still believes in Balogun.

“He was unlucky today, but we win together and we lose together. We have to help him a lot because he is frustrated too,” Hütter said. “He wanted to score the second penalty, but sometimes this is football in the end. We have to help him and we will.

“In the end, we have good conversations and positive communication. In the future, he will help us a lot. He is a young striker. This evening isn’t one of his best, but as I said, we win together, we lose together.”

Still, Balogun made some unwelcome history, becoming the first player in Ligue 1 to miss multiple penalties in a single game since Toifilou Maoulida did the same for Auxerre in 2007.

In his time in France, Balogun has missed three of his nine penalty attempts, with the other miss also coming against Nice last season while he was on loan with Reims.

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USMNT striker Balogun scores first Monaco goal in Lorient draw

Balo is off the mark in just his second appearance for the principality club

Folarin Balogun is off the mark at Monaco.

The U.S. men’s national team striker came off the bench in the second half against FC Lorient on Sunday and within three minutes, he gave his new team the lead.

Balogun’s goal made it 2-1 in the 69th minute and appeared like it would give the principality side all three points.

But with virtually the last kick of the game, Romain Faivre equalized to earn the home side a 2-2 draw.

Monaco still remained in first place in Ligue 1 with the result, having taken three wins and two draws from its first five league matches.

For Balogun, who arrived last month in a €40 million transfer from Arsenal, it was an encouraging start to life with his new side. The 22-year-old was prolific on loan at Reims last season, and he appears set to continue his goalscoring ways in Ligue 1.

Aleksandr Golovin found the USMNT forward in the box, and Balogun did well to quickly turn away from his man and crack a left-footed shot that beat Yvon Mvogo at his near post.

It was just the second Monaco appearance for Balogun, both of which have come of the bench.

Balogun has now scored in two straight games in all competitions, though, as he found the net with the USMNT in Tuesday’s comprehensive 4-0 win over Oman.

Watch Balogun’s first Monaco goal

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USMNT star Balogun says Henry influenced his decision to join Monaco

The 22-year-old striker left Arsenal to join the Ligue 1 side in a reported €40 million deal

Folarin Balogun has said France legend Thierry Henry helped convince him to choose Monaco as his new club.

Balogun completed a transfer to the Ligue 1 side on Wednesday, joining in a reported €40 million move from Arsenal.

The U.S. national team striker starred on loan with Reims last season, scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 to send his transfer stock soaring.

Speaking at his introductory press conference on Thursday, Balogun said he had been in touch with Henry, who began his professional career with Monaco before eventually becoming a legendary figure at Arsenal.

“When I played against Monaco with Stade de Reims last season, he sent me a message to congratulate me on my goal,” Balogun said of Henry.

“He was just telling me about the the club, the history, he also said the city is very nice. That put the thought in my mind, and over time it became more clear that this is the next step for me and the step I wanted to make.

“Yesterday, after my signature, he congratulated me again, I am very happy to have his encouragement.”

Unlike Henry, Balogun did not get the chance to establish himself as a regular during his time with the Gunners. The 22-year-old played just 10 games with Arsenal, and took in a loan spell at Middlesbrough before his time at Reims.

Balogun said that despite his lack of opportunities with his boyhood club, he left Arsenal without any hard feelings.

“As a young player, I want to play,” he said. “I want to prove what I’m capable of. What’s done is done. You don’t always get the opportunity. Sometimes that opens door to new opportunities. I am happy with the way things turned out. I wish Arsenal all the best for the season. We’re looking to achieve great things at Monaco this season.”

Balogun could make his debut for Monaco on Saturday in a league match against Lens.

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