The London E-Prix qualifying session delivered a thrilling qualifying session as drivers battled through damp conditions to secure their positions for the weekend’s race. Mitch Evans emerged victorious, claiming pole position and closing in on championship leader Nick Cassidy.
Group A: Surprise Results
Group A featured McLaren, Envision, and Mahindra drivers, alongside key championship contenders like Nick Cassidy, Pascal Wehrlein, Oliver Rowland, and Jake Dennis. Envision drivers were the first to hit the track, setting the stage for a highly competitive session. Cassidy, the championship leader, posted an early best time of 1:15.06s, moving forward to the Duels with Wehrlein, Hughes, and Dennis.
The session saw rapidly evolving times as rain intensity decreased. Dennis set the pace with a 1:12.88s, and Buemi momentarily led the pack with Wehrlein, Frijns, and Rowland also in the top four. However, Hughes faced an unfortunate pit stop due to front tyre damage, relegating him to start from the last place.
In a dramatic turn, Wehrlein clocked the fastest lap at 1:10.927s, securing his place in the Duels along with the Envision drivers and Rowland. Cassidy, surprisingly, did not advance, finishing ninth in the group, thereby favouring other championship contenders like Evans and Wehrlein.
HUGE NEWS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE 🤯
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) July 20, 2024
Our Championship leader is OUT of Qualifying ❌
Title contenders Wehrlein and Rowland secure their spots in the Duels with Buemi and Frijns! @Hankook_Sport #LondonEPrix pic.twitter.com/EdoFHf3i9O
Group B: Evans Dominates as Da Costa Falls Short
Maximilian Günther initially led Group B with a time of 1:11.085s, closely followed by Mitch Evans, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Jehan Daruvala. Evans then lowered the benchmark to 1:10.878s. Despite Gunther hitting the wall at Turn 9 and losing a piece of his car, he managed to continue without significant issues.
The battle for advancement was fierce, with ABT’s Nico Muller, set to leave the team after this weekend, jumping to P2. Jean-Eric Vergne also moved up to P3. Evans’s early effort held up, allowing him, Muller, Nato, and Vergne to advance. Antonio Felix Da Costa narrowly missed out, just 0.020s behind Vergne.
Quarter Finals: Tight Battles and Narrow Margins
The quarter-finals kicked off with Buemi facing Rowland. Buemi began with a 0.185s advantage, which he extended to 0.305s by the second sector, ultimately prevailing despite a late push from Rowland. Next, Frijns and Wehrlein went head-to-head, with Wehrlein edging out Frijns by a mere 0.004s.
Quarter-Final 1: Rowland 🆚 Buemi
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) July 20, 2024
The @Envision_Racing driver keeps it neat and tidy to secure a place in the Semi-Finals!@Hankook_Sport #LondonEPrix pic.twitter.com/fZUpIkdgAg
Nato and Muller’s duel was equally intense, with Nato gaining a 0.137s lead at the halfway point and securing victory. Evans faced Vergne in the final quarter-final, starting strong with a 0.160s advantage and extending it to over half a second by the end.
Semi Finals: Buemi and Evans Fight for Pole Position
In the first semi-final, Wehrlein initially led, but Buemi pulled ahead with a 0.136s advantage in the first sector, finishing 0.425s ahead. Evans dominated his semi-final against Nato, furthering his quest to close the gap on the championship leader Cassidy.
Final Duel: Evans Takes Pole
Photo Credit: Formula E | Simon Galloway
The final showdown saw Buemi and Evans face off. Buemi began with a slight lead, but a mistake at Turn 16 allowed Evans to gain a 0.069s advantage, enough to secure pole position. This pole not only grants Evans three additional points but also solidifies his P2 in the standings, bringing him within nine points of Cassidy.
The moment @mitchevans_ secured a CRUCIAL @juliusbaer Pole Position! ⚡️@Hankook_Sport #LondonEPrix pic.twitter.com/5GbzyMzWk5
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) July 20, 2024
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