Nick Cassidy rages after early Formula E crash on Shanghai Saturday: "He thinks he's world champion..."

Nick Cassidy's Saturday race at the Shanghai E-Prix was already over on lap 2. A collision occurred in the battle with Jean-Eric Vergne and Edoardo Mortara, causing Cassidy and Mortara to drop to the back of the field. After his spin, the Jaguar driver complained loudly to his team - although at first it was not entirely clear which driver he was referring to. After the contact, Cassidy was unable to make up any more places and came home frustrated in 21st place.

The Jaguar driver's race actually started promisingly. Starting from a strong fourth place, the New Zealander was in the leading group at the start of the race and conserved as much energy as possible in the slipstream of the cars in front. While attempting to take the final chicane three abreast, a collision occurred between Cassidy and Mortara, whereupon Cassidy spun and immediately asked his race engineer: "Who was that?

"He's driving like an idiot!"

"I just saw an orange car crashing into everyone like crazy," said Cassidy, adding: "I'm out..." As he drove on, he was initially unsure whether he had suffered tyre or suspension damage as a result of the crash. But he had to pit either way.

On the journey there, he really stepped up the pace against the man who had allegedly caused the accident: "I mean, from the first lap onwards, the guy just couldn't drive. He thinks he's world champion, but he hasn't done anything. The guy really deserves a penalty! He's in the best car in the field but drives like an idiot," he complained to his team.

Since Cassidy was talking about an orange car, he probably meant Taylor Barnard. However, it can be assumed that he was mistaken and actually meant DS Penske's Jean-Eric Vergne. It was the Frenchman who entered the final corner in a threesome with Cassidy and Mortara.

"Should have turned in from Taiwan"

On Instagram, the 30-year-old could not resist a snippy response to a fan who analysed the situation as a "racing accident" but also criticised him somewhat at the same time: "Yeah definitely. Because it's such a passing opportunity that corner. Maybe I shouldve turned in from Taiwan," he wrote to the fan, who felt that Cassidy could have left more space.

Although Cassidy was still able to finish the race, he was unable to make up any ground. In the end, he could do no better than an extremely disappointing 21st place. He even finished behind his team-mate Mitch Evans, who still had a 10-second stop-and-go penalty in his luggage from Tokyo. Cassidy has no choice but to tick off the miserable result and try to do better on Sunday. Formula E will then hold the second part of its double-header in Shanghai.