After a wet day yesterday and a rain Free Practice Session 3 earlier today, the cars a ready to go out for Qualifying at the Berlin E-Prix.
Mitch Evans got pole position yesterday, looking forward to getting the same pace out of the car again. Antonio Felix Da Costa lost a wheel during FP3, causing the first red flag. Followed by Lucas di Grassi crashing into the barrier, causing yet another red flag.
Sébastien Buemi, led the pack after FP3, followed by Taylor Barnard and Championship Leader Oliver Rowland. Clashing with Stoffel Vandoorne during yesterday’s race, Rowland will serve a five-place grid drop for Round 14. With his eyes set on the championship, Rowland aimed to put in a good lap at the Berlin E-Prix Qualifying.
Group A
As group A got out of the pits, there was no rain in sight. Though, the Tempelhof Airport Circuit was not completely dry yet. With Lucas Di Grassi out of the qualifying, due to his car being too damaged, only 10 cars took to the again. As the first lap times come in, both DS Penske’s seemed to dominate the first group.
Though, the Maserati boys seemed to follow suit during the Qualifying of the Berlin E-Prix. As the top 4 are currently made from those two teams with a little more than 6 minutes left. Though, the other drivers are pushing to get into the top 4, with Jake Dennis and Dan Ticktum pushing out fast laps.
With four minutes left on the clock, Maserati and DS Penske are still the teams to chase. Rowland got up into the top 4 of Group A of the Berlin E-Prix Qualifying, fighting to stay up there.
With a little less than a minute left on the clock, Jake Hughes hit the barrier, causing a red flag. Vandoorne, Hughes, Barnard and Ticktum made it through to the duels, Rowland breathing a sigh of relief as Hughes’ time was deleted for causing that red flag. This means that Oliver Rowland made it through to the duels.
Through in Group A: S.Vandoorne, T. Barnard, D.Ticktum, O. Rowland
Out in Group A: M.Günther, J. Hughes, Z. Maloney, J. Dennis, J. Vergne, S.Sette Câmara, L. Di Grassi (DNS)
Group B
While the rain seemed to stay away, the second group of the Berlin E-Prix Qualifying, needed to wait as the barrier required repairs. As the green light comes on, the remaining 11 drivers made it out on track, warming up their tyres to start their push lap. With the first lap times coming in, it is clear, that the lap times are faster than those of Group A during the Berlin E-Prix Qualifying. As Wehrlein does test laps to warm up, Nick Cassidy brought his car back into the pits. Followed by his teammate Mitch Evans.
As the sun comes out for the first time this weekend, Edo Mortara led the Group with 5.5 minutes left on the clock. With three cars in the pits, it was to be expected that those standings could change at the end of this Qualifying Group at the Berlin E-Prix. Only two minutes left on the clock, all drives are out to push for at least one other fast lap. Felipe Drugovich is under investigation for FPK usage.
Through into the Duels: P. Wehrlein, A. Da Costa, R. Frijns, N. Müller
Out in Group B: M. Evans, E.Mortara, D. Beckmann, S. Bird, S.Buemi, F. Drugovich, N. Cassidy
Quarter Finals
Dan Ticktum vs. Taylor Barnard
Ticktum goes out first on track, starting his push lap ahead of Barnard. As light rain was reported again in the pit lane. With Ticktum starting, he slightly missed the apex in T2, but came out on top, as Barnard seemed to lose time. Barnard crossed the line, as he started chasing, with a 0.606 gap to Ticktum. The Brit in the Cupra KIRO goes through to the Semi Finals.
Oliver Rowland vs. Stoffel Vandoorne
As Rowland started his fast lap, he did have some oversteer, with Vandoorne chasing him. Rowland seemed to have some grip issues as he kept sliding around. While Vandoorne chased Rowland, he had an oversteering moment. Leaving Rowland to go through into the Semi Finals with a 0.349 seconds gap.
Robin Frijns vs. Antonio Da Costa
The Dutch man started his push lap, as Da Costa is slightly ahead in the first sector. Keeping the gap close, Frijns tried to catch the TAG Heuer Porsche Driver. In the end, Da Costa goes through with a tiny gap of 0.088 seconds.
Nico Müller vs. Pascal Wehrlein
For the first time in his Formula E career, Nico Müller drove a duel. Müller started the last Quarter Final on track, with Wehrlein getting ahead of Müller. While Müller tried to chase Wehrlein, he could not go through to the Semi Finals. As the Gap between him and Wehrlein was the biggest out of the Quarter Finals, with 0.618 seconds.
Semi Finals
Dan Ticktum vs. Oliver Rowland
Ticktum started his push lap, having a slight advantage ahead of the current championship leader. As Rowland tried to chase Ticktum around the Tempelhof Airport Circuit. Rowland lost time during the third sector, helping Ticktum to go through to the Final.
Antonio Felix Da Costa vs. P. Wehrlein
As the Porsche teammates head into the second semi-final during Qualifying of the Berlin E-Prix, Wehrlein has an advantage. With Da Costa being extremely close to the wall, but keeping it on track. Leaving a gap of 0.648 seconds between him and his teammate, Wehrlein went through to the Finals against Dan Ticktum.
Final
Dan Ticktum vs. Pascal Wehrlein
This could be Dan Ticktums first Pole position in his Formula E career, against the current world champion nonetheless. Ticktum went out first, starting his push lap with a slight disadvantage to Wehrlein. As Ticktum chased Wehrlein, the German takes pole position during the Qualifying of the Berlin E-Prix. Making it the first Pole position for Porsche at home.
Provisional Classification
- P. Wehrlein
- D. Ticktum
- A. Da Costa
- R. Frijns
- N. Müller
- S. Vandoorne
- T. Barnard
- O. Rowland (penalty)
- M. Evans
- E. Mortara
- J. Hughes
- D. Beckmann
- M. Günther
- Z. Maloney
- S. Bird
- J. Dennis
- S. Buemi
- J. Vergne
- F. Drugovich
- N. Cassidy
- S. Sette Câmara
- L. Di Grassi
