Mortara's results nourish the flame of hope for Mahindra ahead of Berlin

Crossing the finish line in second place, Edoardo Mortara delivered an electrifying performance at the Jakarta E-Prix, particularly in the intense final laps. After a late full-course yellow, Mortara relentlessly chased down Dan Ticktum, showcasing a powerful blend of skill and tenacity. It was a result that not only underlined his racing craft but also reflected the growing competitiveness of Mahindra Racing, now emerging as a renovated force in the Championship.

Image credit: Alastair Staley/LAT Images

The Swiss-Italian driver, now in his second season with Mahindra, had been quick right from free practice. Mortara’s consistent pace and strategic driving were significant in securing his and Mahindra’s first podium of the season.

“I'm disappointed for the team because I think we could have achieved more. But this podium has actually been a long time coming; in other locations, we were just unlucky. We could have won, but I’m really happy with today's race,” Mortara reflected after the race.

“The strategy was pretty good, especially the first attack mode. We were unlucky with the safety car because we had made good use of my second attack mode and overtaken Dan. Nevertheless, I'm super happy with second place and am looking forward to the next race.”

The strongest weekend for Mahindra

The podium in Jakarta wasn't just a personal achievement for Mortara: it represented a turning point for Mahindra Racing. The team’s journey through Seasons 9 and 10 has been marked by challenges and transformation. A fresh approach to both hardware and software development is beginning to give its awaited results, as Mahindra positions itself to challenge more consistently for podiums in the remaining rounds of the season.

“It’s hard to explain to people out of our team what is happening,” Mortara said. “We have been focusing and spending so much time on trying to improve the operations, the software, the hardware and it’s been quite difficult because at the end of season 9 the package wasn’t showing great competitiveness.”

“By the end of season ten, the package still wasn’t good but we improved it, changed the hardware, and operations got much better. We are now showing more competitiveness. This year has been crucial for us. We brought some big updates in terms of software which made us close up the gap with the front runners.”

“Now the package we have is capable, not always, but on certain weekends to challenge the front. I feel like today we probably had the best package.”

This evolution has been critical. Mahindra has moved from the back of the grid to become a genuine threat on selected weekends. Their improvement is not merely theoretical, but it’s now visible in race results.

Image credit: Alastair Staley/LAT Images

Eyes on Berlin

As the season progresses toward its final four rounds, optimism is growing within the Mahindra camp. Particularly promising is the prospect of racing in Berlin, which is historically a strong venue for Mortara. As a matter of fact, he won Race 1 there in 2022 from pole position, stormed from P11 to lead the race in 2023, and clinched pole again in 2024.

“It’s a shame that we only have one race here in Jakarta, we would have hoped for a second one tomorrow,” Mortara admitted. “Nevertheless, I think this is showing good promise for the last race weekends that we will have, especially Berlin, which has always been good for me.”

The chemistry between Mortara and Mahindra is beginning to flourish, and with it comes the real possibility of more podiums (or even victories) as the season heads toward its climax. The combination of a renewed car package and Mortara’s undeniable talent could prove a powerful weapon in the final push.

The Jakarta E-Prix wasn’t just a thrilling race; it was a statement. Mahindra’s persistence, combined with Mortara’s capabilities, delivered a result that anyone who loves this sport is happy to witness.

While the top step of the podium remained out of reach for just 0.371, Mortara's performance shows that it’s not over yet and we should focus on what lies ahead. With momentum now on their side, the path to Berlin and London holds great promise.