Mexico - Qualifying: Di Grassi first Gen3 pole-sitter

For the very first Gen3 qualifying session in Formula E, Lucas di Grassi will start from pole position for the Mexico E-Prix ahead of Jake Dennis. The two DS-Penskes failed to qualify for the duels and will start outside the top 8.

Published on 14/01/2023 à 17:56

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Mexico – Qualifying: Lucas di Grassi first poleman in Gen3, DS disappoints

Lucas di Grassi is the first Gen3 pole sitter © Germain Hazard / DPPI

The very first Gen3 pole-sitter is him: Lucas di Grassi (Mahindra) took pole position for the Mexico E-Prix (Mexico). The Brazilian dominated the debates to sign his 4th pole in Formula E, the first since the Montreal E-Prix in 2017! The 2017 world champion beat Jake Dennis (Andretti) in the final. Jake Hughes (McLaren) will start from 3rd place, accompanied on the 2nd row by André Lotterer (Andretti).

We have our first @juliusbaer Pole Position of Season 9!

Congratulations @LucasdiGrassi! #MexicoCityEPrice pic.twitter.com/HHQ4NNbF4e

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) January 14, 2023

Group A: Fenestraz narrowly, Vergne trapped!

For this first qualifying session of the year, each team is represented with a car in both groups. With a slightly warmer track than the morning's free practice and more crowded stands, the suspense lasted until the final seconds in Group A.

André Lotterer, nouveau pilote pour l’écurie Andretti motorisée par Porsche, a pris le meilleur temps de la session avec un chrono de 1’13″405. L’Allemand a mené un peloton extrêmement serré : seulement 2 dixièmes ont séparé le premier du septième, Sergio Sette Camara. Le top 3 est complété par les deux tauliers de la Formule E, Sébastien Buemi (Envision) and Lucas di Grassi (Mahindra).

And the first surprise of the season is the elimination of Jean-Éric Vergne (DS-Penske), who failed in only 6th place! The Frenchman, who stopped on the track a few seconds before his last flying lap to get some air, failed to realize the promises of free practice. Another Frenchman, however, stood out: Sacha Fenestraz (Nissan) managed to narrowly enter the top 4, only 2 thousandths ahead of Antonio Félix da Costa (Porsche).

Group B: Dennis impresses, the champion on the mat

In group B, it was the other Andretti-Porsche which occupied the top of the timesheet. Like André Lotterer, Jake Dennis was the fastest in his group with an excellent time of 1'13″074. The Briton set the best time ahead of Dan Ticktum (NIO 333) and Jake Hughes (McLaren). Pascal Wehrlein earned his ticket for the duels just ahead of world vice-champion Mitch Evans (Jaguar), who was the first to be eliminated.

Behind it, it's another big oops for DS. Stoffel Vandoorne, reigning champion, could not do better than only 7th time. Edoardo Mortara (Maserati) did not save the honor of the Stellantis group with a sad 8th place. Highly anticipated after their excellent pre-season tests, the single-seaters powered by DS are far from the mark in Mexico... On the French side, Norman Nato (Nissan) finished far from the Top 4, in 10th place.

Duels: Di Grassi takes advantage of Andretti's mistakes

For these first duels of the year, experience was essential with the new Gen3 single-seaters. And who better than Lucas di Grassi – the most experienced driver on the grid with 100 starts in 100 E-Prixes organized in Formula E – to take the first pole of the season?

The Brazilian first beat his former “worst enemy” Sébastien Buemi narrowly, before getting the better of the two Andrettis. André Lotterer in the semi-final then Jake Dennis in the final made the same mistake during their duel with the Mahindra, by braking too late at turn 5. In a final played too quickly, Lucas di Grassi only had to rally the finish line to win his 4th pole in the electric championship, the first in 68 races!

Despite the disappointment of the defeat in the final, it is also a huge satisfaction for Andretti who places his two cars in the top 4. Beaten in the quarter-finals, Sacha Fenestraz will therefore be the best placed Frenchman on the grid with an 8th place. . Jean-Éric Vergne will start from 11th place and Norman Nato will start from 20th position.