2026 Formula E Shanghai E-Prix | Qualifying 2 results

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Andretti Formula E Team’s Felipe Drugovich claimed pole position for the 2026 Shanghai E-Prix after mastering a drying and rapidly improving circuit in Qualifying.

The Brazilian progressed from Group B before defeating Nissan Formula E Team’s Norman Nato and Porsche Formula E Team’s Pascal Wehrlein in the Duels, setting up a Final against DS Penske’s Taylor Barnard. Drugovich then delivered the decisive lap of the session, a 1:10.609, to beat Barnard by 0.497s and secure pole position along with the three championship points.

Earlier in the session, Porsche Formula E Team’s Nico Müller topped Group A after a series of late improvements, while teammate Wehrlein led the way in Group B with a dominant 1:16.030. However, both were beaten in the Duels, as Barnard and Drugovich came through to contest pole in a competitive Shanghai Qualifying session.

Mueller and Wehrlein lead the charge into the Duels

Qualifying began at 08:00 local time in Shanghai, with Group A heading out on a drying circuit that still had standing water and spray. Porsche Formula E Team’s Nico Müller set the early pace with a 1:19.479, leading Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans, Mahindra Racing’s Nyck de Vries, and Jaguar TCS Racing’s António Félix da Costa.

DS Penske’s Maximilian Günther then lowered the benchmark to a 1:18.562, with teammate Taylor Barnard slotting into second. Günther improved again before Evans, Nissan Formula E Team’s Oliver Rowland, Cupra Kiro’s Pepe Martí, and Barnard all briefly went fastest.

In the final minutes, Müller returned to the top with a 1:17.370, before improving to a 1:16.977 and then a 1:16.615 on his final lap. He topped the group ahead of Barnard, Martí, and Rowland, who all progressed to the Duels.

Group B Qualifying followed in Shanghai, with Porsche Formula E Team’s Pascal Wehrlein immediately setting the pace on a 1:17.571. Envision Racing’s Sébastien Buemi, Nissan Formula E Team’s Norman Nato, and Cupra Kiro’s Dan Ticktum also showed early speed, before Wehrlein improved to a 1:16.763. Andretti Formula E Team’s Jake Dennis moved into second, though he remained more than a second adrift.

As the session approached halfway, Wehrlein, Nato, Dennis, and Buemi held the provisional Duel places, with Nato improving to second. Ticktum then climbed to third, pushing Buemi out of the top four. Wehrlein continued to look untouchable, lowering the benchmark to a 1:16.333 and then a 1:16.030.

In the final minute, Nato reclaimed second, while Andretti Formula E Team’s Felipe Drugovich and Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara improved late to secure third and fourth, with Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team’s Zane Maloney narrowly missing out.

Drugovich takes pole after competitive duels

The Duel Stages saw Barnard and Drugovich progress to the Final after both delivered strong runs through the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals. Barnard first defeated Martí in Quarter Final 1, setting a 1:13.516 while Martí finished 0.514s adrift. Rowland then beat Müller by 0.288s, while Drugovich progressed past Nato with a 1:13.257. Wehrlein completed the Semi Final line-up after defeating Mortara with a 1:12.993, the quickest time of the Quarter Finals.

In the Semi Finals, Barnard produced a 1:11.901 to beat Rowland by 0.647s, while Drugovich went quicker still with a 1:11.667 to defeat Wehrlein by 0.486s and secure his place in the Final.

In the final, Barnard could not match Drugovich’s pace. The Andretti driver set a 1:10.609 and beat the Jaguar driver by 0.497s, securing pole position and the coveted three points.