Pascal Wehrlein delivered a masterclass in London on Saturday, converting pole position into a commanding victory that has swung the Formula E world championship firmly in his favour. The Porsche driver now leads the standings by five points over Jake Dennis, setting up a winner-takes-all finale on Sunday at the ExCeL circuit.
The race, which ran for 39 laps around the tight indoor-outdoor venue, was never truly in doubt once Wehrlein swept into the lead at the start. From there, he controlled the pace at the front, while his factory Porsche teammate Nico Mueller played the perfect rear gunner, holding up a train of challengers that included title contender Mitch Evans, the customer Porsches of Dan Ticktum and Dennis, and others.
Wehrlein’s strategy was patient. He bided his time before taking his mandatory PitBoost, and the timing proved immaculate. A full course yellow period, triggered by Lucas di Grassi’s stranded Lola-Yamaha Abt car after a heavy impact with the wall, allowed Wehrlein to serve his stop without losing ground. The German emerged with a net gain over his rivals and cruised to the chequered flag, finishing 5.777 seconds clear of Dennis.
The win, combined with three points for pole, gave Wehrlein a 28-point haul for the day, moving him to the top of the table with 198 points. Dennis, who started fifth, also benefited from the full course yellow to make a cheap pitstop. The Andretti driver had saved more energy in the opening phase and used it to devastating effect, making two forceful overtakes at the first corner—first on Antonio Felix da Costa and then on Ticktum a lap later—to secure second place. Da Costa completed the podium for Jaguar, finishing third.
Evans’s gamble backfires
Mitch Evans arrived in London as one of the favourites, but his hopes took a significant hit. The Jaguar driver appeared to have the pace to clear Mueller early on but found no way past on the tight, twisty layout. Jaguar opted to bring Evans in for his PitBoost earlier than any other frontrunner, hoping to undercut the Porsche. The move initially worked, with Evans clearing Mueller thanks to the stop and an attack mode activation on his outlap.
However, the full course yellow undid all that good work. Evans was briefly repassed by Mueller once his attack mode expired, and although he fought back ahead of the Porsche, he could not recover the lost ground. A late charge from former Jaguar teammate Nick Cassidy in the Citroen added to his woes, but Evans held on to finish eighth, half a minute behind Wehrlein. That result leaves him 21 points adrift, mathematically still in contention but realistically needing a miracle on Sunday.
A straight fight for the title
Nine drivers had started the day with a mathematical chance of taking the championship, but after Saturday’s events, the title race has boiled down to a two-way battle. Wehrlein and Dennis will go head-to-head on Sunday, with Wehrlein holding a five-point advantage. Both are former champions—Wehrlein took the title in 2021, Dennis in 2023—and both will be desperate to add a second crown.
Wehrlein’s form has been impeccable in recent rounds, and his Porsche powertrain has looked the class of the field. Dennis, meanwhile, has shown remarkable consistency and racecraft, and his energy-saving skills could prove crucial in the finale. With the championship on the line, Sunday’s race promises to be a tense, tactical affair.
The London E-Prix has often produced dramatic finales, and this year’s edition is set to be no different. The ExCeL circuit’s unique characteristics—part indoor, part outdoor, with tight corners and limited overtaking opportunities—mean that strategy and pit timing will be paramount. Wehrlein will be looking to control the race from the front again, while Dennis will need to find a way to leapfrog his rival.
For the neutral observer, the prospect of a straight fight between two of the series’ most accomplished drivers is mouth-watering. Wehrlein has the momentum, but Dennis has the hunger. The only certainty is that Sunday will deliver fireworks.
