In the first-ever Formula E qualifying in Indonesia, Jean-Éric Vergne came out on top. Thus, he starts in pole position for the Jakarta eP
The first pole-position in the history of Formula E in Indonesia is Jean-Éric Vergne. The DS Techeetah driver flew in the qualifying session that took place in the early morning hours of Saturday (4). As a result, he will start in the position of honor for the Jakarta eP, scheduled for later today at the Ancol Beach Tourist Complex.
From the start, DS Techeetah showed the strength of recent years. Fastest in free practice with Vergne, it saw the Frenchman advance and António Félix da Costa be fastest of his group. The two also went ahead in the quarter and semi-finals for what became an internal duel for pole. Vergne managed to get the better of them.
In the starting order, Vergne and Da Costa closed the front row, while Mitch Evans, Edoardo Mortara, Jake Dennis, Sébastien Buemi, Stoffel Vandoorne, André Lotterer, Nyck de Vries, and Lucas Di Grassi rounded out the top-10.
Pascal Wehrlein would have been sixth, but he carries a five-place penalty for an engine change. He will start 11th. Sérgio Sette Câmara will start only 17th.
The start of the Jakarta eP is scheduled for 4:50 am (Brasilia time, GMT-3).
Check out how the standings went:
Group A - Stoffel Vandoorne, Jean-Éric Vergne, Robin Frijns, André Lotterer, Lucas Di Grassi, Jake Dennis, Nick Cassidy, Sébastien Buemi, Maximilian Günther, Oliver Askew and Sérgio Sette Câmara
One of only two drivers on the grid still without points in 2022 - the other is his teammate - Sette Câmara came out ahead to try to get some advantage in Jakarta. The reality is that, since it is a brand new track, the layout was better than in free practice, but still quite dusty. It was clear that the situation would improve with each lap.
Frijns was warned that he would be punished and would not be allowed to drive. The FIA's warning was only that Envision's qualifying procedures were under investigation. He would go out last, therefore.
In the first round of fast laps, Dennis had a head start on the rest, but it was clear that this would all change as the cars returned to the track in the last of the 12 minutes available on the circuit. And so it did.
As the drivers returned, they overtook Dennis and the first round of lap times. Vandoorne put Mercedes in front with 1min08s829. Vergne came in second, only 0s069 behind. Dennis managed to put in another good lap and moved into third, while Buemi qualified Nissan for the knockout stage.
Lotterer was fifth fastest and already eliminated, followed by Cassidy, Günther, Sette Câmara, Askew, and Frijns.
Group B - Edoardo Mortara, Mitch Evans, Nyck de Vries, Pascal Wehrlein, António Félix da Costa, Sam Bird, Oliver Rowland, Oliver Turvey, Alexander Sims, Dan Ticktum, Antonio Giovinazzi
As with the opening group, Dragon sent its zero championship representative, Giovinazzi, out on track ahead of the rest. The opening fast lap was a mistake and a very high lap for the Italian.
The initial round of fast laps saw Da Costa out front - only he and Mortara got within 1min08s. Wehrlein and Rowland followed, opening the list of seven drivers at 1min09s, while Turvey came in at 1min10s. Giovinazzi? 1min18s.
In the second group, the times did improve, but not as expected. Da Costa kept the lead with an opening lap of 1min08s715. Mortara grew and did 1min08s716 - yes, 0s001 slower than the Portuguese. Wehrlein followed in 1min08s974, while Evans did 1min09s045. All four qualified for the duels.
The first one eliminated was the champion De Vries, followed by Rowland, Bird, Turvey, Ticktum, Sims, and Giovinazzi. As Buemi took Nissan to the Duels for the first time this season, NIO is left as the only team still zeroed out of advancing.
Quarterfinals: Vandoorne vs. Evans, Vergne vs. Wehrlein, Mortara vs. Dennis, and Da Costa vs.
The first battle already presented a big surprise: on the decisive lap, Vandoorne missed turn one and ended up unable to recover. Point to Evans! Next, Vergme overtook Wehrlein - who carries a five-place penalty - by only 0s112. Mortara took out Dennis in the third confrontation, while Da Costa, flying, left Buemi behind.
Semi-final duels: Evans vs. Vergne and Mortara vs.
The superiority of the DS Techeetah was obvious. Evans was fast within the Jaguar's possibilities and improved his lap within the Duels, but he was still swallowed by Vergne in the initial confrontation. The second was missing, which was even more lopsided. Da Costa put 0s4 on Mortara, who made a mistake, to secure the team's front row.
Final duel: Vergne x Da Costa
At the time of the decision, Vergne got the green flag first and went out on track first. From the very first sector of the Jakarta track, it was clear that the Frenchman had a wide advantage. And so it was: pole for the two-time champion of the category.
Formula E 2022, Jakarta eP, Indonesia, Starting Grid