Formula E explained: how does the Qualifying format work?

Formula E’s qualifying format is arguably one of the most intense and unforgiving in modern motorsport. Ahead of Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, understanding the intricacies of this high-stakes session is crucial.

The groups stage: setting the baseline

Operating at 300kW of power, drivers are given a frantic 10-minute window to set their benchmark lap times. Traffic management and tire preparation are critical here. Only the four fastest drivers from each group survive the cut, advancing to the knockout phase, while the rest are left to rely on the grid-setting mathematical formula.

The Duels: head-to-head knockout

The eight surviving drivers progress to the Duels stage, a sudden-death bracket that redefines single-lap pressure.

In the quarter-finals, competitors face off head-to-head over a single flying lap. Power is turned up to the maximum 350kW, and crucially for the GEN3 Evo era, the cars deploy all-wheel drive. This 15-minute quarter-final phase whittles the field down to the fastest four, who then advance to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals follow the exact same ruthless protocol. The two quickest drivers on track earn their place in the nail-biting final duel.

The victor of this final showdown claims the prestigious Julius Baer Pole Position, while the runner-up secures second on the starting grid. The semi-finalists take third and fourth, and the quarter-finalists slot into fifth through eighth, ordered by their respective lap times from the duels.

As the series navigates the current season, Formula E embraces Gen4 hype amidst thrilling Gen3 Evo title fight, but the immediate focus remains on mastering this complex qualifying system.

Sorting the rest of the grid

For those who failed to escape the Groups stage, their starting positions are determined by the success of their respective group's fastest driver.

The fifth to 10th-placed drivers from the polesitter's original group will fill the odd positions on the grid (ninth, 11th, 13th, and so on). Conversely, the corresponding drivers from the other group will be assigned the even grid slots (10th, 12th, 14th, etc.). For example, if the pole winner emerged from Group 1, the fifth-placed driver in Group 1 starts ninth, while the fifth-placed driver in Group 2 starts 10th.

Since its introduction in Season 8, this format has consistently delivered unforgettable moments and unpredictable grids.