Edoardo Mortara Denies Pascal Wehrlein to Secure Berlin E-Prix Pole
Edoardo Mortara will start the opening race of Formula E's Berlin double-header from pole position after a thrilling qualifying showdown. The Swiss driver defeated title rival Pascal Wehrlein to secure the top spot for the first leg of the Berlin E-Prix, setting a high 56-second lap to claim his fourth career pole at the iconic Tempelhof Airport Circuit. Crucially, the result earns Mortara three vital points for the drivers' championship.
Reigning world champion Oliver Rowland narrowly missed out on the final duel but secured a strong third on the grid, lining up just ahead of Dan Ticktum in fourth. Meanwhile, one of the biggest shocks of the session came from Lola's Zane Maloney, who finally broke into the duels after suffering several near-misses in recent rounds.
The Final Duel: A Tale of Three Sectors
In the decisive final shootout, Mortara laid the foundation for his pole position with a blistering opening sector. Remarkably, Wehrlein fought back and was quicker through both the second and third sectors. However, the Mahindra driverâs dominant first sector did all the hard work to secure pole, allowing Mortara to seal the deal.
To reach the final, Wehrlein had to navigate a challenging path, first defeating Nick Cassidy in the quarter-finals before getting the better of Rowland in a tense semi-final battle. On the other side of the bracket, Mortara produced a superb effort to eliminate Maloney in the quarter-finals, before dispatching Ticktum to set up the ultimate face-off against Wehrlein.
In the remaining quarter-final matchups, Rowland successfully defeated Felipe Drugovich, while Ticktum outpaced Nico MĂŒller. For those unfamiliar with the knockout stages, Formula E's unique qualifying format consistently delivers this level of high-stakes drama.
Group Stages: Porsche Dominates as Jaguar Falters
Qualifying commenced under blue skies and sizzling temperaturesâa stark contrast to the conditions seen in Berlin last season. The opening group stage proved to be a perfect scenario for Porsche. Wehrlein topped the first session with a benchmark time of 58.369, finishing ahead of Andrettiâs Drugovich to secure a Porsche powertrain one-two. Reigning world champion Rowland and Cassidy also successfully progressed to the duels from the first group.
The second group brought further delight for the home manufacturer. Cupra Kiroâs Ticktum went quickest with a 58.337, leading Mortara, an impressive Maloney, and factory Porsche driver MĂŒller into the knockout stages.
Perhaps the most remarkable storyline of the group stages was the complete absence of Jaguar in the duels. Despite Jaguar drivers having won three of the last four races, not a single entry from the British marque managed to progress, setting the stage for a highly unpredictable opening race in the German capital as the season 12 title fight intensifies.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.