Shanghai – Race 1: Werhlein wins comfortably in the rain
- Published on 04 / 07 / 2026 at 06: 44
- Modified on 04/07/2026 at 10:48
Pascal Werhlein triumphs over António Félix da Costa and Jake Dennis in the first race of the penultimate round of the 26/27 Formula E calendar in Shanghai!
On the starting grid, Pascal Wherlein was ahead of championship leader Mitch Evans and Jake Dennis, his closest rival in the standings. After an eleventh round, also in Japan, on the streets of Sanya, won by Dennis, the asphalt of the Shanghai circuit this time held very different fates for these three protagonists in the title fight of the 2026-2027 season. Formula E.
The German pole-sitter maintained his lead at the start and comfortably led the pack at the wheel of his Porsche at the start of the race. Starting second, the world championship leader, New Zealander Mitch Evans, who will leave Jaguar at the end of this season, dropped to sixth place in the early laps.
In the slipstream of the reigning world champion, Oliver Rowland, who envisions his first title no later than London in August 2026, watched the pole-sitter he was supporting at the start pull away and increase his lead at the front of the race, setting lap records of 1:14.180 (Oscar piastri holding the record in Formula 1 with her McLaren in 1:30.641).
Werhlein at ease in the Shanghai rain
Briefly threatened, even dropping to third place before regaining the lead, Pascal Werhlein delivered the ideal intensity of performance in the light rain that graced the 5,451km course. Shanghǎi Guójì Saichēchǎng (Shanghai International Circuit, Ed.).
At the halfway point, the PIT BOOST cycle began: a 34-second pit stop, including 30 seconds of charging, to recover approximately 10% of the battery. Pascal Werhlein was leading the race, so he was leading the way (to continue the metaphor) with these mandatory pit stops, and emerged in first place once all the PIT BOOSTs were completed, ahead of António Félix da Costa, his former teammate at the Stuttgart team.
With just one additional lap after a brief safety car intervention, Wherlein cruised to his second victory of the season, following his win in the opening race at Jeddah last February. It's worth noting that da Costa won the second race, a sign of things to come for the second start this weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday, July 5th at 6:00 AM French time? The stage is set for a showdown between former teammates, now rivals, in this battle for the title.
On the French side, we note the respectable sixth place of Jean-Éric Vergne and the timid twentieth and last place of Norman Nato.
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The peloton, led by Pascal Werhlein, crossing the finish line at the end of this first race of the weekend in Shanghai:
Formula E – Shanghai E-Prix 1
The classification of the race
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