London E-Prix: Pascal Wehrlein takes championship lead in chaotic race

Pascal Wehrlein emerged victorious in the 2024 London E-Prix Round 15, navigating a chaotic race that significantly impacted the standings as the win propelled him to the championship lead.

Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein claimed a crucial victory at the London E-Prix, dramatically shifting the dynamics of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The race, held at the ExCeL London, was filled with intense battles, strategic maneuvers, and unexpected incidents that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

As the lights went out, Jaguar’s Mitch Evans launched perfectly from pole position, taking the lead into Turn 1. Wehrlein, starting from third, initially challenged Sebastien Buemi but found himself in a fierce battle with Norman Nato as they navigated the tight chicane at Turns 6 and 7 which saw him concede a position, dropping to fourth.

The opening laps were chaotic, with reigning champion Jake Dennis attempting a daring move on Robin Frijns at the fast Turn 10/11 chicane. Dennis’s aggressive maneuver resulted in contact, sending Frijns into the barriers and forcing a safety car to clear the wreckage. This incident set the stage for a race filled with strategic decisions and energy management.

When the race resumed on lap five, Nick Cassidy, who started deep in the pack, attempted to activate his first Attack Mode but missed the activation zone, leaving him further down the order. Meanwhile, Evans maintained his lead, with Buemi closely trailing him.

As the race progressed, Wehrlein began to make his move up the order as he executed a decisive maneuver on lap 22, overtaking Evans at Turn 1 to take the lead. This move was crucial, as the TAG Heuer Porsche driver had managed his energy efficiently, allowing him to ramp up his charge while Evans struggled with energy management.

However, the race saw further drama as Maximilian Guenther, who had climbed from 11th to second, suffered a technical failure and was forced to retire. This incident prompted another safety car, allowing Wehrlein to consolidate his lead.

With only six laps remaining, Wehrlein took his final Attack Mode on lap 27 after getting caught in a side-by-side battle with Evans. However, the Jaguar driver was unable to regain the lead, and Wehrlein pulled away decisively.

As the race neared its conclusion, Wehrlein’s dominance became apparent while Evans found himself under pressure from a charging Guenther. However, the latter faced a dreadful setback after his car came to a halt on track, prompting yet another safety car.

Ultimately, Wehrlein crossed the finish line first, securing his third victory of the season. Evans finished in second place, closely followed by Buemi in third. Nyck de Vries and Edo Mortara rounded out the top five, showcasing strong performances from Mahindra Racing.

Nick Cassidy managed to recover to finish seventh after a challenging race, which included missing two Attack Mode activations and sustaining damage from contact with Stoffel Vandoorne. Despite his efforts, Cassidy’s points haul was not enough to maintain his championship lead, leaving him seven points behind Wehrlein as the season heads into its final race.

With Wehrlein’s victory, he now leads the drivers’ standings with 180 points, followed by Evans with 177 and Cassidy with 173. The intense competition among these drivers sets the stage for a thrilling finale, where the championship will be decided in the next race.

2024 London E-Prix Round 15 Results