Formula E

Da Costa on Formula E pole, big blow for title-chaser Vandoorne

by Matt Beer
3 min read

Antonio Felix da Costa claimed his first pole of the 2022 Formula E season in Marrakesh, but front row partner Edoardo Mortara had most reason to be happy as championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne starts 20th.

Having not even managed to reach the podium so far this year, da Costa volunteered before the Marrakesh event to support DS Techeetah team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne’s title bid for the rest of the season – while admitting that he’d “hate” doing so.

But the DS Techeetahs have been rapid through the Marrakesh event so far, going first and second in their qualifying group after topping final practice.

They ended up head to head in a qualifying semi-final, with da Costa beating Vergne there before going on to outpace Venturi Mercedes driver Mortara by 0.081s in the final to repeat the pole he took on FE’s last Marrakesh appearance in early 2020.

By contrast, the works Mercedes team had not looked quick in the qualifying build-up and then a brake problem left Vandoorne slowest in his group. He’ll start on the penultimate row in 20th.

Vandoorne’s title rivals start second (Mortara), third (Vergne) and sixth (Mitch Evans).

Pascal Wehrlein put one Porsche fourth on the grid but the other starts last. A sensor problem meant Andre Lotterer joined group qualifying late and was unable to do a lap within the first six minutes as mandated by rules imposed to stop last-minute traffic jams. He had his times deleted as a result, but had not made the duels anyway.

Avalanche Andretti had its strongest collective qualifying performance of the season so far, with Jake Dennis qualifying fifth and Oliver Askew a Formula E career best seventh. He’ll share row four with lead Envision runner Nick Cassidy.

Nyck de Vries is top works Mercedes in ninth, alongside Mortara’s team-mate di Grassi.

De Vries was involved in a practice collision on Friday that earned Sebastien Buemi a three-place grid penalty. The Nissan starts 17th as a result.

Alexander Sims crashed in morning practice and qualified down in 19th for Mahindra.

Antonio Giovinazzi’s miserable Formula E season got no better. He failed to set a qualifying time due to suspected suspension damage and joins Lotterer on the back row.

Qualifying Results

Pos Name Team Car Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
1 António Félix da Costa DS Techeetah DS E-Tense FE21 1m18.15s 1m17.202s 1m17.091s 1m17.07s
2 Edoardo Mortara ROKiT Venturi Racing Mercedes-EQ Silver Arrow 02 1m18.386s 1m17.002s 1m17.129s 1m17.151s
3 Jean-Eric Vergne DS Techeetah DS E-Tense FE21 1m18.222s 1m16.982s 1m17.115s
4 Pascal Wehrlein TAG Heuer Porsche Porsche 99X Electric 1m18.249s 1m17.291s 1m17.305s
5 Jake Dennis Avalanche Andretti BMW i FE.21 1m18.496s 1m17.348s
6 Mitch Evans Jaguar TCS Racing Jaguar I-Type 5 1m18.318s 1m17.476s
7 Oliver Askew Avalanche Andretti BMW i FE.21 1m18.54s 1m17.575s
8 Nick Cassidy Envision Racing Audi e-tron FE07 1m18.452s 1m17.578s
9 Nyck de Vries Mercedes-Benz EQ Mercedes-EQ Silver Arrow 02 1m18.393s
10 Lucas Di Grassi ROKiT Venturi Racing Mercedes-EQ Silver Arrow 02 1m18.564s
11 Oliver Rowland Mahindra Racing Mahindra M8Electro 1m18.401s
12 Sérgio Sette Câmara Dragon / Penske Autosport Penske EV-5 1m18.608s
13 Sam Bird Jaguar TCS Racing Jaguar I-Type 5 1m18.523s
14 Oliver Turvey NIO 333 Racing NIO 333 001 1m18.765s
15 Robin Frijns Envision Racing Audi e-tron FE07 1m18.663s
16 Daniel Ticktum NIO 333 Racing NIO 333 001 1m18.805s
17 Sébastien Buemi Nissan e.Dams Nissan IM03 1m18.654s
18 Maximilian Günther Nissan e.Dams Nissan IM03 1m18.855s
19 Alexander Sims Mahindra Racing Mahindra M8Electro 1m19.089s
20 Stoffel Vandoorne Mercedes-Benz EQ Mercedes-EQ Silver Arrow 02 1m18.896s
21 Antonio Giovinazzi Dragon / Penske Autosport Penske EV-5
22 André Lotterer TAG Heuer Porsche Porsche 99X Electric 1m18.67s
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