Formula E: Mortara takes pole for Saturday Berlin E-Prix

Edoardo Mortara delivered a masterclass in one‑lap execution to secure pole position for the 2026 Hankook Berlin E‑Prix, extending his remarkable record at Tempelhof with a fourth career pole at the venue.

The Mahindra Racing driver, already twice a polesitter this season after his Jeddah double, once again proved untouchable when it mattered, defeating championship rival Pascal Wehrlein in a tense Final duel.

Wehrlein topped Group A with a 58.369s lap, two‑tenths clear of Drugovich. Rowland and Cassidy completed the quartet advancing to the Duels.

Taylor Barnard narrowly missed out in fifth despite strong pace throughout the weekend, while Jean‑Éric Vergne was left furious after ending the session only eighth.

Dan Ticktum set the benchmark in Group B, with Mortara close behind for Mahindra. The standout story, however, was Zane Maloney, who earned his first career appearance in the Duels.

His previous best qualifying results—ninth in Mexico and Monaco—were eclipsed as he secured a place in the one‑lap shootout. His teammate Lucas di Grassi, meanwhile, ended his session early after tapping the wall.

The opening Duel saw Rowland progress after Felipe Drugovich made an early error at Turn 2, handing the reigning champion a straightforward path into the Semis.

Next came Cassidy versus Wehrlein, a battle that produced one of the session’s most dramatic moments. Wehrlein tapped the wall on his lap, immediately reporting steering damage, yet still managed to outpace the Citroën Racing driver to advance.

Zane Maloney’s first-ever Duels appearance followed, but the Lola Yamaha ABT rookie faced the formidable challenge of Mortara. Despite a committed effort, Maloney was unable to match the Swiss driver’s pace.

The final Quarter Final featured Nico Müller against Ticktum. An early mistake from Müller sent him wide, giving Ticktum the advantage he needed to progress to his first Semi Final since Mexico City.

The first Semi Final pitted two title‑winning drivers against each other: Wehrlein versus reigning champion Oliver Rowland. Despite his earlier steering concerns, Wehrlein produced another sharp lap to eliminate the Nissan driver and book his place in the Final.

On the other side of the bracket, Dan Ticktum faced Mortara. The Mahindra driver once again demonstrated his consistency in the Duels, beating Ticktum to guarantee his fifth top‑four start in seven races this season and keep his pursuit of a fourth Tempelhof pole alive—an objective he ultimately achieved.

The showdown for pole featured the two leading contenders in the championship, but the momentum clearly lay with Mortara. Wehrlein reached his first duel Final of the 2026 season despite brushing the wall in the Quarter Finals and reporting that the impact had left his steering misaligned by 10 to 20 degrees.

Even so, the Porsche driver fought his way through the Semis and into the Final, buoyed by the energy of his home crowd.

Mortara’s superior duel experience this year—three Finals in the last four events—proved decisive. He pieced together a cleaner, more controlled lap than Wehrlein, securing pole by 0.156s and matching Wehrlein’s own record of four poles at a single venue, with the German having achieved the same tally in Mexico City.