Sebastien Buemi Stuns Monaco with Wet-Weather Masterclass Ending Six-Year Victory Drought

Buemi Ends Six-Year Formula E Drought with Masterful Monaco Win in Wet Conditions

Sebastien Buemi captured his first Formula E victory in six years during Sunday’s Monaco E-Prix, navigating treacherous wet conditions in what became the series’ first fully rain-soaked race in recent memory.

The Envision Racing driver started seventh on the grid but executed a perfectly timed strategy to claim the win ahead of championship leader Oliver Rowland and Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy.

All 22 competitors took the start on the rain-soaked street circuit. McLaren’s Sam Bird joined from pit lane after his team worked frantically to rebuild his car following a qualifying crash.

Pole-sitter Rowland initially controlled the race, fending off Nyck de Vries in the opening laps. Jean-Eric Vergne briefly seized the lead using attack mode, which provided crucial additional grip in the slippery conditions.

By Lap 7, most frontrunners had used one of their mandatory attack mode activations.

The challenging conditions soon took their toll. Lucas di Grassi triggered the first Full Course Yellow after hitting the barrier at Portier. Dan Ticktum narrowly avoided disaster with a remarkable save after overshooting into the Mirabeau run-off area.

Vergne maintained a narrow advantage over Rowland and de Vries at the front, though Rowland held a strategic edge with both attack modes still available. A safety car deployment on Lap 13 following Nico Müller’s crash at Massenet briefly neutralized the race.

When racing resumed, Vergne employed defensive tactics, backing up the field behind him.

Rowland finally activated his first attack mode on Lap 18, dropping just one position to de Vries before quickly reclaiming it. His rhythm was disrupted during a chaotic battle with Vergne at the Nouvelle chicane, where Rowland was forced to cut the corner twice and eventually surrender the position.

The lead changed hands multiple times within a few laps as de Vries capitalized on Rowland’s difficulties. Buemi, with perfect timing, activated his attack mode and surged past both Rowland and de Vries to seize the lead on Lap 21.

The Season 2 champion then pulled away, building a 3.3-second gap while managing his energy reserves in the closing laps.

Rowland recovered to finish second, maintaining his championship momentum. Cassidy timed his final attack mode perfectly to secure third place, fighting his way up from 13th on the grid for his first podium appearance in nearly a year.

Antonio Felix da Costa made a late charge to finish fourth, with de Vries fading to fifth by the checkered flag.