Jake Dennis Snatches Tokyo E-Prix Pole in Dramatic Final Duel

Dennis wins a knife-edge qualifying fight

Jake Dennis produced a decisive final-sector surge to take pole position for the 2026 Formula E Tokyo E-Prix, beating Edoardo Mortara by just 0.052 seconds under the street-circuit lights.

The result adds another key storyline to a Tokyo weekend already defined by pressure. For a broader look at the event’s setting and competitive stakes, see our 2026 Tokyo E-Prix night-race preview.

Mortara sets the early benchmark

Several drivers brushed the walls around the demanding circuit, underlining the limited margin for error. Drugovich’s crash also reduced the qualifying field to nine cars and ruled the Andretti driver out of contention.

Porsche was targeting a seventh consecutive pole for its powertrains, while Wehrlein was aiming to extend a three-race run of duel appearances. Instead, the championship leader failed to progress from Group A. Nissan also suffered a painful double elimination on home soil, with Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato both missing the top four.

Da Costa leads Group B

Antonio Felix da Costa topped Group B with a 1:13.652, the fastest overall group time. Mortara joined him in the duels alongside Jean-Eric Vergne and Dan Ticktum, missing the group-topping time by only 0.017 seconds. Mitch Evans, meanwhile, struggled with tyre grip and finished eighth, leaving the title contender with a difficult recovery task.

Dennis survives the duels

Dennis defeated Taylor Barnard in the quarter-finals, while Mortara set the session’s fastest lap, a 1:12.090, to eliminate Vergne. Nico Mueller beat Nick Cassidy, and Da Costa completed the semi-final line-up by edging Ticktum.

The Dennis-Mueller semi-final ended in dramatic fashion when Mueller clipped the kerb at Turn 6 and crashed heavily into the barriers. He escaped unhurt, but the damage handed Dennis a default place in the final after he completed the required lap.

Mortara then beat Da Costa with a 1:11.889, setting up the decisive showdown. Dennis responded with the crucial final-sector pace and converted the opportunity into pole.