In the first practice session (FP1) of the doubleheader weekend in Shanghai, Mitch Evans led the pack. During the second practice session (FP2), Norman Nato and Jean-Éric Vergne posted identical times, setting the stage for an exciting first Shanghai E-Prix Qualifying.
Pascal Wehrlein Leads in Pole Positions This Season
So far this season, Pascal Wehrlein has secured the most pole positions, with three to his name. The cooler conditions in Shanghai could play to his advantage, as he currently sits second in the championship standings. Although he has consistently scored points for TAG Heuer Porsche, he has only reached the podium twice this year.
Group A
One by one, the drivers in Group A took to the track for the first Shanghai E-Prix Qualifying, aiming to set their initial times within the first six minutes. Stoffel Vandoorne kicked off the session with a time of 1:14.242s.
Evans and Nick Cassidy showed strong form at 300kW, placing the Jaguar duo in second and third, with Oliver Rowland close behind. Despite finishing FP2 on a high, Nato found himself in sixth, narrowly missing a spot in the Duels by just five hundredths of a second.
As the drivers pitted for fresh tires for their final flying laps, the competition remained tight. With two minutes left, the top four drivers seemed secure, but the gaps between them were minimal. The top eight were closely matched.
As they prepared for their final flying laps, both Jaguars were nearly identical in time, separated by just nine thousandths of a second.
In the closing moments, Rowland improved to second, Nato moved up to third, and Cassidy was knocked out of the Duels.
Vandoorne’s time held, making the DS Penske driver the fastest in Group A. He was joined in the Duels by Rowland, Nato, and Evans.
Group B
Group B then took to the track, with Jake Dennis starting the second phase of Qualifying. The reigning Formula E champion has not been happy this weekend but saw potential as his teammate advanced to the Duels in Group A.
Wehrlein, also in Group B, has the most duel stage appearances this season, with seven in a row.
António Félix Da Costa quickly took the top spot, but Wehrlein edged him out by just one-thousandth of a second. Ultimately, it was Vergne who secured the top position by a clear tenth.
The session heated up as NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes moved into second on the last lap before the cars pitted for a tire change. With one minute remaining, the gap between the top four was just 0.145s.
Dennis, starting his final lap from ninth place, saw Robin Frijns move into the top four. However, Hughes set the best time with 1:14.140s.
Despite his efforts, Dennis finished in sixth. Da Costa reclaimed a top-four spot after briefly falling out, while Frijns was knocked out.
Joining Hughes in the Duels were Vergne and the TAG Heuer Porsche duo.
Duels
In the first round of the Duels, Rowland and Nato faced off, with Rowland’s strong second sector helping him eliminate Nato.
Evans proved faster than Vandoorne, who lost time due to a mistake in the first sector and could not recover, trailing the Jaguar driver by over three-tenths.
Next, Vergne and Da Costa battled it out. Vergne started strong and finished two-tenths ahead. Although Da Costa pushed hard and gained pace, Vergne edged out his former teammate by just six-thousandths.
Jake Hughes missed out on a semi-final spot as Wehrlein delivered a stunning lap that eliminated the NEOM McLaren driver.
Semi-Finals
The semi-finals began with Rowland and Evans. Rowland, who has never lost a semi-final duel, continued his streak by defeating Evans by a mere 0.001s.
Vergne then secured a spot in the finals of the first Shanghai E-Prix Qualifying after Wehrlein made small errors in the last sector.
Finals
The final duel for pole saw Vergne start with a quick first sector. Rowland caught up slightly in the second sector, but Vergne maintained his lead. Despite Rowland’s efforts, it wasn’t enough to surpass the DS Penske driver.
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Featured Image Photo Credit: Formula E | Sam Bagnall