P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A chaotic first qualifying session of the new Formula E season – Jake Dennis will start on pole despite not being quickest.
Pascal Wehrlein secured pole position for the Formula E’s season-opening São Paulo E-Prix, but will start from fourth due to a grid penalty for wheel spinning in the pit lane. Jake Dennis will start from pole, with Dan Ticktum in second. Edoardo Mortara secured fourth place, followed by Nyck de Vries in fifth. Felipe Drugovich and Oliver Rowland faced difficulties in qualifying, with Drugovich causing a red flag and Rowland being eliminated in the group stage.
Wehrlein overcame his penalty to claim pole position and defeat Dennis in the final with a time of 1m 09.812. Despite knowing about his penalty, Wehrlein pushed for pole to earn three championship points. In the duel stages, Wehrlein defeated Jean-Éric Vergne and Dan Ticktum to secure his spot in the final. Dennis advanced to the final after beating Antonio Felix da Costa and Edoardo Mortara.
Qualifying began in hot conditions, with battery-related issues anticipated due to the heat. Each group lasted 10 minutes, accommodating 10 drivers each following McLaren’s departure from the series. Reigning champion Rowland faced setbacks and failed to improve his time, starting from the seventh row of the grid. da Costa topped the timings in the first group, with Vergne, Mortara, and Dennis also advancing to the duel stages. Drugovich crashed in the second group, and Nato emerged as the fastest, joined by Wehrlein, de Vries, and Ticktum in the top four.
