First qualifying session of season 12 for Formula e. And one thing is for sure, you have to expect the unexpected. Between first timers, surprised eliminations and touching the limits, here’s how the session went.
Even before the qualifying session, drama was happening. António Félix da Costa received his first Driving Infringement Reprimand of the season.
Group A
Zane Maloney was the first driver to go on track. With the tyres preparation time, only one lap time was made with five minutes remaining on the clock. It seemed like it took two build laps for the tyres to work properly. Maloney was first with a 1:17.326 time, a second in front of Oliver Rowland. Jake Dennis improved with a 1:12.419, taking first place and Josep Maria Martí, for his first qualifying session, went second, only 0.346 behind Dennis. Maloney pitted with three minutes remaining on the clock, putting an end to his attempt. Da Costa, Vergne and Rowland all improved their time. Martí is the last driver crossing the line to try and make a lap time, with four seconds on the clock but aborted his lap. Oliver Rowland didn’t make it to the top four, 0.050 behind Dennis.
Top four in group A : Da Costa, Vergne Mortara and Dennis
Group B
All drivers went out together. The first time came with five minutes on the clock, with Sébastien Buemi putting a 1:24.110 time. Felipe Drugovich, for his first qualifying session, improved the time on a 1:21.080. However, the Brazilian driver hit the wall on Turn 5 during his flying lap, ending his qualifying. A red flag was called and it put all of the other drivers in a complicated situation as they only have 2:30 minutes remaining, so it means only one preparation lap. Lucas Di Grassi decided to not go on track again, probably still with the same issue as Free Practice 2 and his teammate. Both Lola’s cars are then out. All the cars improved, with Norman Nato going first in a 1:12.308 time. Near the finish line, Taylor Barnard clipped the wall and despite having the quickest third sector, stayed in P7.
Top four in group B : Nato, Wehrlein, De vries, Ticktum
Get ready to duel
Quarter-finals
Mortara vs Vergne
It was very close between both drivers with only 0.40 in the first sector. The gap increased as Mortara made a clean lap. Jean-Éric Vergne was 0.5 behind the Mahindra driver. The Swiss driver went to semi.
Dennis vs Da Costa
The lap started wrong for Da Costa, however he managed to close the gap and even took the upper hand. But Jake Dennis was not letting it slip and did a 1:10.218 time. Da Costa crossed the finish line only 0.112 behind the Andretti driver.
De vries vs Wehrlein
The Porsche driver was just unstoppable as he made two purple sectors. Even when he took the curb, he was more than 0.3 seconds in front of the Dutch driver.
Ticktum vs Nato
If it was close at the beginning, but a gap was quickly created between the two as Dan Ticktum was quicker than the Frenchman by 0.299 seconds.
Semi-finals
Mortara vs Dennis
Mortara and his Mahindra were flying on track for this semi finals. He even slightly touched the wall. However, Dennis is a fighter and wanted to fight for pole. It was really close between the two, but Dennis managed to take the upper hand, only 0.029 seconds quicker than his opponent.
Ticktum vs Wehrlein
Wehrlein was much quicker into the first sector but Ticktum was catching him. In the end, the Porsche driver kept the upper hand with a 0.074 seconds gap. However, due to a change of regulation for this season, the German driver, who made a wheelspin in the pitlane during quarter finals, will receive a three-places penalty for the race.
Final
Dennis vs Wehrlein
Jake Dennis arrived in Turn 1 really fast and had to adjust in Turn 2, making him lose time. Pascal Wehrlein found himself 0.184 seconds quicker in the first sector and 0.271 in the second. The mistake from the British driver gave the Pole Position to Pascal Wehrlein with a 0.302 seconds gap between the two. With the penalty, Wehrlein will start the race in P4. He however took the three points for the Pole.