A chaotic and unpredictable second race of the Shanghai E-Prix culminated in a stunning comeback victory for Lucas di Grassi, who led Jean-Eric Vergne and Joel Eriksson onto a podium comprised entirely of drivers who started from the back of the grid.
The second day of the Shanghai E-Prix
The second qualifying for the Shanghai E-Prix commenced with two group sessions, where the field pushed to secure a spot in the top eight. These eight drivers progressed into a high-stakes knockout bracket to determine the final grid order.
In the Quarter-Finals, Taylor Barnard outperformed Pepe Martí, while Oliver Rowland moved past Nico Mueller. Felipe Drugovich eliminated Norman Nato with a strong effort, and Pascal Wehrlein produced the fastest lap of the round to defeat Edoardo Mortara.
The intensity continued into the Semi-Finals, where Barnard secured a win over Rowland.
Meanwhile, Drugovich advanced to the final by recording the fastest lap of the session against Wehrlein.
Ultimately, Drugovich claimed pole position in his debut by clocking a blistering 1:10.609, finishing ahead of a determined Barnard. This impressive performance places the rookie at the front of the pack for what promises to be an unpredictable race.
Championship leader Mitch Evans wasn’t able to start the race due to technical issues.
Green flag for the second race
The second Shanghai E-Prix commenced under challenging weather conditions, with the field initially bunched behind the safety car. After a brief yellow flag period, race control ordered a standing start on lap three.
Felipe Drugovich led the pack away from pole position, but the racing intensified immediately as multiple drivers activated Attack Mode.
By lap five, Taylor Barnard surged into the lead, briefly outpacing Drugovich and Pascal Wehrlein. However, Porsche soon asserted its authority. Wehrlein claimed the lead on lap six and established a dominant rhythm, setting a series of fastest laps.
By lap eight, Nico Mueller had joined his teammate in a commanding Porsche 1-2 formation.
While the Porsche duo controlled the front, the midfield remained highly competitive, featuring over a dozen close battles. As the race reached lap 10, Drugovich managed to fight back into third place, while his teammate Jake Dennis surged forward.
By lap 12, the frontrunners had largely completed their Attack Mode cycles, shifting the focus to strategic energy management as Wehrlein maintained his lead at the head of the field.
Attack Modes vs. Maintaining en
Wehrlein and Mueller continued to command the race for the Porsche, maintaining their firm 1-2 grip on the lead from laps 13 through 18.
While the Porsche duo focused on energy management at the front, Antonio Felix da Costa became the highlight of the race, launching a sensational charge from 16th on the grid.
By lap 14, Da Costa had already gained nine positions using his Attack Mode. His progress continued steadily, and by lap 16, he had surged into third place. Although race control noted an incident between da Costa and Oliver Rowland at Turn 8, the Jaguar driver maintained his momentum to hold the final podium spot as his Attack Mode expired on lap 17.
Midfield intensity remained high throughout this phase, with close battles occurring across the circuit.
Race control actively monitored the aggressive driving, issuing a black and white flag to Norman Nato for contact with Lucas di Grassi at Turn 3 and noting a separate incident between Sebastien Buemi and Edoardo Mortara at Turn 11.
As the Shanghai E-Prix race entered its final stages, Wehrlein, Müller, and a charging da Costa set the tone for a thrilling conclusion.
Final fights for positions
The final phase of the Shanghai E-Prix delivered one of the most remarkable comebacks in Formula E history.
Through laps 19 to 21, Wehrlein maintained his lead while Joel Eriksson orchestrated a spectacular charge from 18th on the grid to break into the podium battle.
By lap 22, Eriksson surged into the lead, setting a new fastest lap and throwing the field into chaos.
A yellow flag on lap 23 bunched the field, and the subsequent introduction of a Full Course Yellow on lap 24 neutralised the gaps entirely. This reset favored the late-chargers, with Eriksson holding the lead upon the restart on lap 25.
The penultimate lap saw a dramatic shift as Jean-Eric Vergne, who started 19th, executed a daring move to snatch the lead from Eriksson.
Lucas di Grassi, having climbed from 20th on the grid, also found incredible pace to move into second. Despite a post-race investigation regarding an alleged overtake under double yellow flags, race control confirmed no further action against the leaders.
In a breathtaking finish, Lucas di Grassi crossed the line to claim an improbable victory for Lola Yamaha. Vergne followed just 0.546 seconds behind, while Eriksson completed an extraordinary podium from the back of the grid.
READ MORE – Formula E Shanghai E-Prix Race 2 results
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