Mitch Evans has outlined the key reasons behind his decision to leave Jaguar and explore a new opportunity elsewhere in Formula E.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Evans will leave the British manufacturer at the end of the 2025-26 season ahead of an unexpected move to the new Opel team.
The decision will bring an end to a 10-year stint that began when Jaguar made its high-profile motorsport return towards the end of Formula E’s Gen1 era in 2016-17.
Over this period, Evans became synonymous with Jaguar’s Formula E programme, winning 15 races – the most of any driver in history – and twice finishing second in the championship.
However, his relationship with Jaguar has also been fractious at times, and he publicly criticised the team after some questionable strategic calls cost both him and team-mate Nick Cassidy the title in 2024.
There have been several changes in Jaguar’s management since then, with Ian James joining as the team principal ahead of the current season, but Evans had been considering an exit for some time.
Speaking on the eve of this weekend’s Berlin E-Prix, Evans said the introduction of the new Gen4 car in 2026-27 gave him the ideal opportunity to jump ship.
“It’s been talked about for a while, [but] I decided recently to move on,” the Kiwi told Motorsport.com. “With the regulation change coming up next year, I just felt like it was the right time to do it.
“I’ve been with the team for a long time, 10 years. It’s unusual in our sport. With the regulation change coming up, I just thought it was a good time to change.
“It was mainly down to that. I had good opportunities, good offers on the table. I just thought now was the right time.”
Mitch Evans, Jaguar TCS Racing
Photo by: Jed Leicester / LAT Images via Getty Images
Jaguar’s time in Formula E has been marred by missed opportunities. While it has been constantly fighting at the front in the last six seasons, it has only scored one teams’ championship and no drivers’ titles.
Apart from the disappointment of 2024, it lost another title opportunity in 2021 when Evans’ car failed to start in the Berlin finale due to a mechanical problem.
Fellow Kiwi Cassidy also left Jaguar at the end of last season, joining the rebranded Citroen team as part of an all-new line-up.
Asked if those frustrations contributed to the decision, Evans said: “Yes and no. What happened at Jarama [with team orders] had no impact on that. But for sure, some of the last few London races weren’t great. That’s not great for the relationship.
“But on the other hand, it wasn’t really a big factor in why we’re not going to be with each other in the future.”
Evans said there were varying reactions after he communicated his decision to Jaguar.
“I think some were maybe thinking it could happen, some were a little bit more shocked,” he said.
“But everyone knew that my contract was finishing this year anyway. So everyone knew there was a chance that I could either stay or potentially leave. I guess there are maybe some happy people and some sad people. I don’t know, it’s natural.
“But generally we’re all just focusing on trying to finish well together and close the chapter out the way that we want to. And that’s hopefully with another teams’ world championship and a drivers’ world championship.”
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