Sébastien Buemi was the maestro of Monaco in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship today (4 May), as the Envision Racing ace returned to the winners’ circle for the first time since 2019 – setting a new series record in the process.

In very different conditions to 24 hours earlier following heavy rain, Buemi began the E-Prix from eighth on the grid – his best starting position of Season 11 to-date – but he immediately served notice of his intent by snatching seventh from CUPRA KIRO’s Dan Ticktum.

The Swiss star was the first driver in the 22-strong field to deploy Attack Mode on lap three, and that aggressive approach would prove key to hauling him into contention by carrying him up the order. As a dry line increasingly emerged, Buemi turned up the wick, grabbing fourth from DS Penske rival Maximilian Günther on lap 16. When the leaders then tripped over one another approaching two-thirds distance, he was poised to pounce.

As others entered their final Attack Mode, the 2015/16 champion undercut his adversaries to climb to second behind Mahindra Racing’s Nyck de Vries, and when the Dutchman’s extra power ran out, Buemi made his move, blasting past on the run up the hill on lap 22 and going on to sprint comfortably clear of his pursuers.

At the chequered flag, the 36-year-old was more than four seconds ahead, with the result – his 14th career triumph and third on the streets of Monte-Carlo – making Buemi the fifth different podium-topper from seven races in the all-electric single-seater series in Season 11 and the winningest driver in Formula E history. Notably, it was also the first victory for Envision since the British outfit was crowned Teams’ champion in 2023, lifting the squad off the bottom of the Teams’ table.

For much of the E-Prix, Oliver Rowland appeared to be odds-on to repeat his Saturday success, as the Briton held sway from pole position. By saving his two Attack Modes for later on while expertly staving off threats from behind, the Nissan Formula E Team star seemed to be in the pound seats, but a couple of mid-race incidents would harm his challenge.

Twice, Rowland endeavoured to pull off a pass around the outside of the Nouvelle Chicane, and on both occasions, he came unstuck. The championship leader’s duel with Jean-Éric Vergne (DS Penske) saw him clatter over the kerbs into the lead – but his team subsequently instructed him to give the place back to avoid a penalty. By then, however, Vergne’s pace was fading, and the consequent loss of time allowed Buemi to make good his escape.

Still, the runner-up spoils enabled Rowland to further extend his advantage at the summit of the standings to a commanding 48 points as he chases his maiden Formula E title, while barely two seconds behind, Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy finally quashed the ill-fortune that has hounded him throughout the current campaign by rounding out the rostrum in third.

From down in 14th on the grid, the New Zealander exploited a similar Attack Mode strategy to Rowland to pick his way through the pack, before spending the last few laps fending off a fired-up António Félix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team). The fact that the top four were all former Monaco winners emphasised the importance of experience in such a demanding race.

After at one stage looking to be a contender for victory, de Vries ultimately wound up fifth – capping a highly competitive weekend for Mahindra – with DS Penske drivers Vergne and Günther sandwiching reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) in sixth, seventh and eighth positions as the Franco-American operation struggled to maintain its wet-weather prowess on the drying track.

Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E) and Stoffel Vandoorne for home favourite Maserati MSG Racing completed the top ten points-scorers.

The 2024/25 Formula E season continues with a double-header in the Japanese capital of Tokyo on 17-18 May.

Sebastian Buemi, No. 16, Envision Racing said:

“I thought I would never win again at some points, so you know you need a bit of luck, you need the right timing, you need the right car, a good team, and today everything just came together, so I’m so happy. I’m actually speechless because you know it’s been a long time. It was obviously quite tricky at the beginning with the fight with António [Félix da Costa] and Max [Guenther], but in the end the timing of the ATTACK MODE was good, I was able to make a gap and I was safe when Oli [Rowland] took his second one. I was able to read where the track was drying up, especially in Turns 3 and 4, there was lots of lap time to be gained, but you needed the confidence and today I had it. I thought that my number of wins would never change but it did today, so I’m very proud.”

Oliver Rowland, No. 23, Nissan Formula E Team said:

“I think honestly when he [Buemi] took his ATTACK MODE, he knew I had more to do - I think he was trying to back me into the pack, so when I took it I lost quite a lot. But, first and second here doesn’t get much better so I’m really really pleased. We just need to keep pushing, we’ve got Tokyo next week where I was really strong last year, so hopefully we can have a real big push for that double-header and then keep pushing in the right direction.”

Nick Cassidy, No.37, Jaguar TCS Racing said:

“It feels very very sweet. I can’t fault my guys - it’s been an extremely tough start to the year, it’s no secret I’ve not been the happiest guy at times, but this one feels like a big monkey off the shoulders and I’m really proud of everyone’s efforts. On the inside I’m jumping up and down, I’m very very happy - it doesn’t get more special than here. Obviously the last couple of years have been nice to us here and it’s super special to carry that on.”