After the unprecedented cancellation of Friday’s qualifying due to torrential rain, Formula E returned to action today with a dry and overcast session for the first qualifying bout of the Tokyo E-Prix double-header. With conditions stable, the drivers seized the opportunity for a more conventional shootout – and what unfolded was nothing short of dramatic.
Drama Strikes as Evans Crashes Out
The qualifying session began with Group A, featuring championship leader Oliver Rowland and his Nissan teammate Norman Nato, as well as both Jaguars, yesterday’s race winner Stoffel Vandoorne, and veterans Jean-Éric Vergne and Sébastien Buemi. Also in the mix were the Lola Yamaha Abt drivers, Lucas di Grassi and Taylor Barnard, and Nick Cassidy, who has struggled in qualifying this season.
Despite being the best qualifier of the season with an average starting position of 4.6, Rowland faced stiff competition as Group A hit the track. Early times were somewhat shy of the benchmark 1:13.529 he had set in free practice without the benefit of full power. The session turned chaotic when Mitch Evans crashed heavily at Turn 15, losing a wheel and bringing out a red flag. His laptime was deleted, and he will start from the back – if at all – due to the severity of the damage.
Di Grassi Dazzles as Group A Concludes
Once the green flag flew again, drivers had little time to complete their outlaps, warm-up laps, and push laps. Under pressure, Nyck de Vries managed to jump into fourth, while Lucas di Grassi boldly opted for a one-lap strategy. It paid off handsomely – the Brazilian surged to the top of the standings, securing a sensational Group A victory for the Lola Yamaha Abt team. He was joined in the duels by Nato, Rowland and Vergne. Cassidy once again missed out, finishing seventh, with Vandoorne languishing in tenth.
Porsche Bounce Back in Style
Group B saw Porsche aiming to bounce back from a poor showing yesterday, and they certainly did. Pascal Wehrlein, winner of the third free practice session, took command early on. He was joined by Edoardo Mortara, Dan Ticktum, and Antonio Félix da Costa in the duels. Mortara led briefly, but Wehrlein reclaimed the top spot with a 1:13.671 – the fastest group time overall. Sam Bird heartbreakingly missed the duels despite setting the same time as da Costa; the Portuguese advanced by virtue of setting the time first.
Duels Begin: Rowland Advances, Nato Crashes Again
The duel phase opened with an all-Nissan faceoff: Rowland versus Nato. Rowland, who had claimed pole in the last two events, continued his form. Nato, despite a fast opening sector, made a critical error in the second and hit the wall, handing the win to his teammate. Vergne then edged out di Grassi in a close battle that turned in the Frenchman’s favor in the final corner.
Ticktum Shines, Wehrlein Dispatches Da Costa
Ticktum, in the Cupra Kiro, impressed by beating Mortara by over half a second – a commanding performance that reinforced his growing reputation in the series. The final quarterfinal saw the two Porsche drivers square off in a rematch of the Mexico final: Wehrlein versus da Costa. Wehrlein was clinical, beating his teammate by six tenths of a second.
Semi-Finals: Rowland and Ticktum Set Up a Final Duel
In the semi-finals, Rowland made short work of Vergne, pulling out a six-tenth gap. The other duel was much tighter, but it was Ticktum who stunned the paddock by defeating Wehrlein – the reigning champion – by just under a tenth. It marked a major milestone for the young Brit and a rare defeat for the dominant Porsche powertrain at the hands of its older counterpart.
As Nato’s earlier contact with the wall came under investigation for potential dangerous driving with a damaged car, attention turned to the final showdown: Ticktum vs Rowland.
Rowland Holds Nerve as Ticktum Cracks Under Pressure
Ticktum, gunning for his first-ever Formula E pole, began strongly. He set the fastest first and second sectors of the entire qualifying. But heartbreak struck in Turn 15 – the same corner that claimed Evans – where Ticktum pushed too hard and clipped the wall. Rowland capitalised, completing his lap cleanly and clinching his eleventh career pole position.
Rowland on Pole Again, But Ticktum Sends a Message
The final duel between the two had all the ingredients of a classic, and although Ticktum’s pace was electric, Rowland’s composure and consistency proved decisive. Behind them, Wehrlein and Vergne secured the second row, followed by Mortara, di Grassi, da Costa and Nato – though the latter awaits the stewards’ decision.
The qualifying session was a thrilling reminder of Formula E’s unpredictability and drama. While Rowland extends his reputation as the best qualifier of Season 11, Dan Ticktum’s breakthrough performance – despite the late error – shows he may be a pole winner in waiting. Tomorrow’s race promises fireworks as the drivers regroup and prepare to tackle the Tokyo circuit once again.