Interview: 'Qualifying has Been One of Our Strengths,' Says Formula E Season 10 Champion Pascal Wehrlein
Pascal Wehrlein of the Porsche Formula E Team discusses how his qualifying performances were key to securing the Season 10 Formula E World Drivers' Championship.
By Divyam Dubey
In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events, Pascal Wehrlein clinched the Formula E Drivers’ Championship in the season finale in London. While the spotlight was initially on the Jaguar duo of Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans, it was Wehrlein who stole the show. The Porsche driver defied the odds to secure a crucial second-place finish, edging out his closest rival Mitch Evans by a narrow margin. The race itself was a thrilling spectacle, with Oliver Rowland from Nissan taking the victory. However, the championship was Wehrlein’s to lose, and he held his nerve to claim the coveted title. The race was marked by misfortune for Cassidy, who was forced to retire early after a collision with Antonio Felix Da Costa. This incident effectively ended Cassidy's championship hopes. Wehrlein’s victory marks a stunning upset in a season that culminated in one of the most exciting Formula E finales to date.
Also Read: Formula E London E-prix: Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein Wins Drivers' Championship in Thrilling Finale
When asked what was the key highlight in the season for him that contributed to his title fight, the Season 10 champion replied: ‘I think it's hard to pinpoint one key moment or key moments. Overall, we've made another step forward this year compared to last. We've improved, especially in qualifying, which was a significant target for us because last year slipped out of our hands due to poor qualifying results. This year, however, qualifying has been one of our strengths, and we achieved three pole positions. Last year, we were already competitive in the races, but this year we've made further progress in that area as well. On the whole, our performance level suggests that we truly deserve to win the championship. We have been consistently competitive and fast on various types of tracks. The key points are that we've made progress, becoming a championship-winning team with a championship-winning car and driver.’
Formula E: Wehrlein and Porsche
It was a strong start for Pascal Wehrlein and Porsche in the Formula E season opener in Mexico City. This momentum continued with consistent points finishes and another pole position in São Paulo.
The Misano E-Prix was a rollercoaster for Wehrlein. A collision with Jean-Éric Vergne in race one was followed by a fortunate victory in the second race due to a rival's strategic error. Despite securing a pole in Monaco, Wehrlein finished fifth in a race dominated by Jaguar.
Berlin brought challenges as Wehrlein was involved in incidents with defending champion Jake Dennis. However, he rebounded with a second-place finish in Shanghai, narrowly missing out on victory. Unfortunately, a clash with Sam Bird in the second Shanghai race forced him to pit for repairs, leaving him outside the points.
Two top-ten finishes in Portland brought Wehrlein within striking distance of championship leader Nick Cassidy heading into the London finale. A thrilling victory in the first London race propelled him to the top of the standings. In the championship-deciding race, Wehrlein employed a conservative strategy, carefully managing the gap between himself and the Jaguar drivers. With a rival's retirement and a strategic error by another, Wehrlein secured a crucial second-place finish to clinch the Formula E Drivers' Championship by a narrow margin.
