The Formula E Miami E-Prix returned to the U.S. on Friday, April 12, for a high-speed weekend filled with drama, comebacks, and emotional victories. From a three-car pile-up and McLaren’s dramatic drop to Lola Yamaha’s first ever podium, the all-electric championship’s Round 5 delivered high-stakes action. Staring off with Norman Nato’s stunning pole comeback in qualifications after scoring zero points this season, the race reached a finale of reigning world champion Pascal Wehrlein reclaiming the top step of the posium in sunny Miami in front of thousands of fans alongside his TAG Heuer Porsche teammate Antonio Felix Da Costa and Lola Yamaha’s Lucas Di Grassi.
A dramatic three-car collision between Maserati, Jaugar and Envision Racing, brought out yellow flags and shuffled the standings. Although no drivers were injured, the crash added tension to an already high-stakes race. Maserati’s driver, Jake Hughes, involved in the crash shared it was caused by a late brake from another driver. “The Envision braked far too late” he said during Saturday’s race.
McLaren’s rising star Taylor Barnard, who is in contention to become the youngest Formula E race winner in history, narrowly missed out on pole this weekend, not placing in qualifications and falling to 20th place in the race after placing first in the free practice 2 that same morning. Barnard, the 20-year-old British motorsports driver, has broken the record for the youngest driver to debut in Formula E, score points, finish on the podium, reach pole, and lead a lap. He is currently fourth in the standings this season after his loss this weekend.
The spotlight shifted to Lola Yamaha as the team earned its first pole position of the season. Lucas Di Grassi crossed the line in second place, celebrating on the podium with a Brazilian flag and his two children. Di Grassi shared that the team, with his teammate Zane Maloney, is new, so changes and improvements will be steep race-to-race.
Norman Nato, who entered the weekend with zero points, surged in Miami. He clinched pole in qualifying, beating out Dennis, and finished the race in first place with Pascal Wehrlein following close behind. After receiving penalities, Nato shifted to sixth place in Miami race standings – giving Pascal the first-place win. In a conversation with Nato after the race, he shared his positivity regardless of the penality-driven fall in race standings “The car was fast. I’m really happy with the job we’ve done,” he said. Nato credited his team’s preparation and noted that avoiding penalties is key to maintaining momentum.
After their eight-week break since the last race in Jeddah, drivers battled high track temperatures and the abrasive tarmac in the high-heat Miami circuit. Not everyone adapted easily — current points leader Oliver Rowland struggled to find balance in his car and failed to qualify for duels, citing brake issues. “I don’t have any confidence after yesterday,” he admitted on race day, finishing in 10th place at the final race a fall from his first and second pole positions in the prior races in Saudi Arabia.
Jake Dennis, the 2022-23 season world championship winner made a thrilling return to form. Dennis, racing for Andretti, reached the finals of the qualifying duels — his first since 2024 — after a smooth session where he mastered sharp apexes and recovery from early-lap instability. In the final showdown of qualification, he fell short to ex-teammate Norman Nato but drew praise from commentators who stated “This is the Jake Dennis we missed.”
Zane Maloney, Lola Yamaha’s 21-year-old Barbadian driver, crossed the line in seventh but was demoted to 19th after a five-second penalty for shortcutting Turns 10 and 11. Post-race, he expressed optimism about the rest of the season, sharing that Monaco—set for May 3–4—is his favorite circuit.
With seasoned champions and promosing talent rising, the 2025 Formula E season is only just heating up.
