You never forget your first Formula E podium, and that will definitely be the case for Jake Hughes of NEOM McLaren. The Brit has looked fast around this Shanghai circuit before he secured the Julius Baer Pole Position ahead of Round 12 and went on to finish in second.
Hughes has been a part of Formula E for several years, working closely with Mercedes when they competed in the all-electric championship. Yet, got the call up to a full-time race seat in Season 9 and has continued to impress at NEOM McLaren since then.
This piece of silverware marks his first top three finish since making his Formula E debut in 2022.
“I am over the moon,” Hughes said on his podium result. “I honestly feel like it's been a long time coming, even going back to the first race in Mexico City last season. I finished fifth then and I felt like we could have done it that day. So after 27 races, it's about time.”
NEWS: Hughes takes pole in Shanghai by 0.001s
The celebrations come just days shy of Hughes’ 30th birthday, which he wasn’t happy about being told on the broadcast!
“Thanks for telling the whole world,” he joked after being reminded. “It's gonna be a good day. Hopefully tonight is going to be even better, the team all deserve it. The last three months have been hard on everyone, it's been a very busy schedule and I'm so happy they finally have some success.”
One individual delighted with the result was Team Principal of NEOM McLaren, Ian James.
“He's had that single lap pace, as we know, throughout [the weekend] and we've just struggled as a team to convert it. For him to get on the podium today, especially after such a difficult day yesterday, means the world so he's going to be a very, very happy man when he gets back to the garage.”
RECAP: All the key moments from Round 12 in Shanghai
“I said to him on the radio that for him to come back from yesterday, put on pole today and then manage the race as he did shows the calibre of driver that he is and I couldn't be happier for him. It's just a major job all around.”
Hughes has raced at the Shanghai International Circuit before, winning all three races at the track during his 2018 Asian Formula 3 campaign.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the same story on the other side of the garage as Sam Bird was forced to retire with damage. Bird returned to racing in China after sitting out for the previous three rounds, as he recovered from a broken hand from a racing accident in Monaco last month.