Formula E Leader Shocked by Early Exit as Jake Dennis Takes Jakarta Pole

Jake Dennis scored his first pole position in over a year during Formula E qualifying in Jakarta, setting up a promising start to the 12th round of Season 11.

Dennis’s lap time of 1 minute, 6.713 seconds put him ahead despite trailing Barnard in the first two sectors. Barnard made a costly mistake in the final corners, which opened the door for Dennis to take pole position. This result also gave Dennis an extra three points for the championship, adding valuable momentum for Andretti ahead of the race.

The qualifying session saw challenging conditions, including a dusty track and wet patches left by earlier rain. These issues meant lap times improved throughout the session as drivers found more grip.

Qualifying is especially important at Jakarta, a circuit known for difficult overtaking and an ever-present risk of more rain. In the group stages, a surprise elimination hit championship leader Oliver Rowland and third-placed António Félix da Costa.

Both drivers struggled for pace, leaving Rowland starting from the ninth row and da Costa from the fifth. Their early exit hurts their title hopes with just a handful of races left.

The duel phase featured tight battles, with Jake Dennis knocking out Edoardo Mortara and Nick Cassidy to earn his final showdown spot.

On the other side, Barnard edged out Dan Ticktum by just five-thousandths of a second before topping Nyck de Vries in the semifinals.

Cassidy and de Vries also advanced to the duels, with Cassidy ousting Jean-Eric Vergne and de Vries eliminating Sébastien Buemi in the quarterfinals.

Porsche’s factory drivers also faced disappointment, failing to move beyond the group stage. Pascal Wehrlein in particular missed out and was called to the stewards for driving too slowly during qualifying.

As a result, the grid for the Jakarta E-Prix was shaken up, with Dennis on pole, Barnard joining him on the front row, and De Vries and Cassidy taking third and fourth. The result marks a much-needed boost for the Andretti squad, who have been looking to close the gap in the teams’ fight.

Heading into the main event, the focus remains on whether Dennis can convert pole into a race win with overtaking at a premium. The loss of grid position poses a challenge for Rowland and da Costa, who now must find ways to recover critical championship points from deep in the field.

With only a few races left in the season, every result could shift the standings in a tightly contested championship race.

Elsewhere in the world of motorsport, discussions continue around team orders and recent controversies in Formula 1, including team incidents and protests, which have been hot topics in recent weeks.

Standings in both F1 and Formula E show fierce battles across the board, with teams like McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari leading the way in Formula 1 and Andretti now in a more favorable position in Formula E.

The Jakarta E-Prix promises more drama as the field sets off with unpredictable weather in play and a shuffled starting grid. All eyes are on Dennis to see if his return to the top of qualifying can lead to another Formula E victory.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.