*This post was made by a robot, so it can contain mistakes, errors and early technology issues*
Round 01: Google Cloud São Paulo E-Prix
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship roared back into life for Season 12 with a sweltering opener in Brazil. The Google Cloud São Paulo E-Prix delivered everything we love (and fear) about electric street racing: scorching 50°C track temperatures, a grid shaken up by stewards’ decisions before the lights even went out, and a race of attrition that tested the new Gen3 hardware to its breaking point.
While the record books will show a Jake Dennis victory, the story of how we got there is far more complex. Here is the deep-dive analysis of the weekend.
The Penalty Shake-Up: The “Real” Grid
To understand the race dynamic, we first have to correct the narrative around qualifying. While Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche Formula E Team) was the fastest man over one lap, securing the Julius Bär Pole Position with a blistering 1:09.812 in the Final Duel, he did not start from the front.
Reports that Wehrlein simply “failed to convert” pole are misleading. The German driver, along with Oliver Rowland and Lucas Di Grassi, carried over grid penalties from the previous season finale in London. Wehrlein was hit with a 3-place grid drop (Stewards Decision NR. 6), meaning despite his one-lap dominance, he was forced to start P4. This crucial detail changed the complexion of the race immediately, handing the clean air to the Andretti of Jake Dennis.
Qualifying: Porsche Power vs. The Field
Before the penalties applied, the on-track pace told a clear story: the Porsche powertrain is the benchmark for one-lap speed.
The Final Duel: It was a heavyweight clash. Pascal Wehrlein took Pole Position with a time of 1:09.812, edging out Jake Dennis by 0.302 seconds. Jake Dennis recorded a time of 1:10.114 in the Final Duel.
Surprise Speed: The Mahindra M12Electro showed massive improvement. Nyck De Vries was just +0.057s off the top pace in practice, and Edoardo Mortara made the Duels, knocking out veteran Jean-Éric Vergne in the Quarter Finals.
Nissan’s Pace: Norman Nato topped Group B (1:12.308), proving the Nissan e-4ORCE 05 is quick, even if their race execution was mixed.
The Race: Survival of the Coolest
With Wehrlein demoted, Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E) inherited the prime starting spot and drove a race of champions. In conditions where battery temperature management is critical, Dennis controlled the pace from the front, keeping his nose clean while chaos erupted behind him.
The Podium:
- Jake Dennis (Andretti): A flawless drive to win by 1.349s.
- Oliver Rowland (Nissan): The drive of the day. Despite his own grid penalty, Rowland fought through the pack to finish P2. He also secured the Fastest Lap in the Top 10 (1:12.475), proving Nissan has the race pace to challenge the German manufacturers.
- Nick Cassidy (Citroën Racing): A quiet, calculated run to P3. The rebranding to Citroën Racing hasn’t dulled the edge of the Jaguar-powered machinery; Cassidy remains a constant podium threat.
The Attrition: The “survival” aspect of the race cannot be overstated. The official classification lists major championship contenders as NOT CLASSIFIED, including:
- Mitch Evans (Jaguar)
- Jean-Éric Vergne (DS Penske)
- Lucas Di Grassi (Lola Yamaha ABT)
- Edoardo Mortara (Mahindra)
For drivers like Evans and Vergne to leave Round 1 with zero points is a disaster for their title campaigns. Turn 1 track limits and mid-pack collisions were the primary culprits, with the stewards handing out heavy sanctions, including grid drops for the next race to Felipe Drugovich, effectively ruining his home race weekend.
Technical Verdict
The data from the event booklet highlights the extreme disparity between Qualifying and Race modes in these conditions.
Top Speed: Pascal Wehrlein hit 151.2 Kph in practice, showing the raw potential of the cars.
Race Pace Management: The fastest race lap (Nato’s 1:12.239) was nearly 2.5 seconds slower than Wehrlein’s qualifying pace. This delta is huge and indicates just how much energy and thermal management the drivers were doing. This wasn’t a flat-out sprint; it was a high-speed chess match.
Championship Standings (Round 1)
Leaving São Paulo, the table reflects a mix of raw speed and strategic fortune:
- Jake Dennis: 25 Points (Max points for the win)
- Oliver Rowland: 19 Points (P2 + Fastest Lap)
- Nick Cassidy: 15 Points
- Pascal Wehrlein: 15 Points (P4 + 3 Points for Pole)
Final Thoughts
São Paulo proved that while Porsche has the ultimate one-lap pace, they are vulnerable to strategic disruptions, whether self-inflicted (penalties) or race-craft related. Andretti and Jake Dennis, meanwhile, reminded the paddock that consistency and clean driving are still king in Formula E.
With high-profile DNFs for Evans and Vergne, the pressure is already on for Round 2. If the attrition rate remains this high, reliability, not just speed, will decide Season 12.