Several drivers opted to not push for a strong starting position ahead of Formula E’s second race in Berlin, not for the first time in the Gen3 era.
Pascal Wehrlein criticized Formula E qualifying after the Berlin E-Prix, calling it “boring” that a race can be won from anywhere on the grid. Many drivers were unhappy with the chaos of the peloton race, feeling qualifying was irrelevant. The new Gen3 peloton races have sparked mixed reactions, with Sunday’s race at Tempelhof Airport Circuit being particularly extreme. Some drivers chose to use old tires in qualifying to preserve fresh ones for the race, sacrificing starting positions. Wehrlein took pole at Porsche’s home event while eventual winner Mitch Evans began from 17th. The strategy of starting at the back to conserve energy and then make a late surge has become common, leading Wehrlein to question the necessity of qualifying for pack races.
