The first Qualifying session of the Jeddah E-Prix took place under the sun for Round 4 of the Formula E Championship. Fine margins and high-speed precision defined the battle for pole position on the fast street circuit.
Decisive Tight Margins
Group A featured Nick Cassidy, Jake Dennis, Nico Müller, Norman Nato, Edoardo Mortara, Nyck de Vries, Lucas Di Grassi, Sébastien Buemi, Jean-Éric Vergne, and Pepe Martí. The group included the current championship leader and race winner, Nick Cassidy, alongside the most recent polesitter, Nico Müller.
In the final stages of Group A, just three-tenths separated the four drivers who made it to the Duels. Edoardo Mortara set the fastest lap as Dennis and Cassidy struggled, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively.
Jake Dennis was under investigation for impeding Nyck de Vries in his final lap. Meanwhile, Di Grassi served a grid penalty following an impeding incident during Free Practice 2.
Group B delivered a Qualifying session just as tight, warming up the tyres until the final minutes of the session. Pascal Wehrlein opted for an earlier fast lap. After nerve-wracking last laps, Wehrlein led the group, as Oliver Rowland found himself out of qualifying. Taylor Barnard knocked Mitch Evans out on his final flying lap.
Duels deliver High-Speed Precision
In the first duel, Jean-Éric Vergne faced Norman Nato, with Nato advancing comfortably. Edoardo Mortara kept the momentum and beat Müller. Maximilian Günther overcame António Féix da Costa, while Pascal Wehrlein defeated Taylor Barnard and progressed to the semi-finals. Mortara faced Nato, as Wehrlein went up against Günther. Mortara and Günther advanced to the pole position duel.
Mortara Takes Pole Position
After a close final duel for pole, a slight mistake from Maximilian Günther on his final flying lap proved costly, allowing Edoardo Mortara to secure pole position. Mortara claimed his first pole of the season with Mahindra Racing, his first since Berlin 2024 and the fourth of his Formula E career.
Mortara delivered an almost flawless performance during this Qualifying session in Jeddah, from the opening laps, consistently extracting pace when it mattered most.