Late drama as Wehrlein seals first world championship title after Evans errors

Pascal Wehrlein was crowned Formula E world champion for the first time after finishing second behind Oliver Rowland in a dramatic final round in London.

Rowland took advantage of a tight three-way battle for the world championship to take the lead with three laps remaining to seal victory in his home event.

However, it was Wehrlein who overcame both Jaguar TCS Racing drivers – Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans – to take the overall crown.

“It’s really awesome,” said Wehrlein. “The race was hard, I knew I had to attack and get in front of the Jaguars.

“I think Mitch [Evans] defended quite hard, but I still tried to overtake and pass. I don’t know what happened in the end and it was due to the safety car that it got quite close with the attack modes.

“We knew that this weekend was the days that we needed to be super-focused and concentrated and out-perform what the car can do. This has never been a track that suits our car, we did that.

“We showed some great pace. It’s not expected [to be world champion] but I always believed in it.”

Wehrlein won the day’s previous round to go into the series finale at the head of the standings.

However, Cassidy started from pole and Jaguar TCS Racing team-mate Evans was also in the title hunt. All three drivers knew that victory in the final race would be enough to win the title.

Cassidy was pushed to the front early on by his team but Evans failed to let his team-mate stretch an advantage under attack mode.

A race which was littered by safety cars on the tight course saw all three battle throughout. New Zealander Cassidy was in the fight until a puncture resulted in him crashing out of the title battle.

Evans led for the majority of the race but was locked in a battle with Wehrlein as both refused to swing out wide to take their attack modes until late in the race.

It was New Zealander Evans who swung out to take an attack mode allowing Rowland through, only to miss the marker.

The Jaguar TCS Racing driver had to perform the attack mode manoeuvre again which allowed Wehrlein into second for the championship title.

With Evans taking his attack mode so late he had to concede the championship and finish in third.

Rowland took the race win at his home event after coming through from ninth on the grid.

“It was amazing,” said Rowland. “Starting ninth in today’s kind of race we would never have expected to win, but it was a crazy race. I picked my moments in the early parts of the race and then when I got to fourth I didn’t want to get involved with the title fight. I was waiting and hoping that something would kick-off, which it did. I managed to pick up the pieces and win the race.”

Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal, Nissan Formula E Team, pours champagne over Oliver Rowland, Nissan Formula E Team, 1st position during the London E-Prix, round 16 of the 2024 FIA Formula E World Champsionship at ExCel London on July

Image credit: Getty Images

DRIVER OF THE DAY – PASCAL WEHRLEIN

The Tag Heuer Porsche driver was under pressure despite coming into the final race with a slender championship lead.

Starting fourth on the grid, Wehrlein had to pass Maximillian Gunther before closing in on Jaguar team-mates Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans.

As the Jaguar team-mates started fighting between themselves, Wehrlein kept on the back of Evans and put him under pressure throughout.

In the close laps Wehrein kept his cool and despite Oliver Rowland taking the race victory the Tag Heuer Porsche driver was a deserved champion

WHERE THE RACE WAS WON AND LOST:

An early safety car as Edoardo Mortara and Jake Dennis have collided.

Mortara has gone up the inside after taking a nudge and the British defending champion fails to see him resulting in them both crashing out.

8/34 – ANOTHER SAFETY CAR

A three-car crash results in Sam Bird being left stranded at turn six and the safety car is back out.

The crash included Dan Ticktum and Norman Nato as the cars were grouped up and collided. There is debris around the course as Jehan Daruvala’s car is also damaged and dragging along the course.

A huge moment in the title challenge as Cassidy punctures before crashing with Maximillian Gunther and heading straight into the pits.

30/34 – ROWLAND TAKES LEAD

Rowland takes the lead as both Cassidy and Wehrlein tried to take attack mode. However, both drivers were too late as the safety car was already out.

34/37 – EVANS MISSES ATTACK MODE

Evans goes for attack mode resulting in Rowlans leading. However, he has missed attack mode by going too tight into it.

35/37 – WEHRLEIN TAKES SECOND

Evans finally takes his second attack mode allowing Wehrlein to take second place and in front of Evans in the driver’s championship.

37/37 – ROWLAND WINS AND WEHRLEIN TAKES TITLE

Home driver Oliver Rowland takes the final round of the Formula-E series. However, major honours go to Pascal Wehrlein who wins the championship.

Evans finishes the race in third.

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