Mitch Evans calls his 2025/26 Formula E qualifying form “confusing” and says fixing it is essential if he is to mount a credible first drivers’ title bid.

He wins Berlin’s second race and trims Pascal Wehrlein’s lead to three points, despite starting 14th and 17th across the weekend and finishing sixth then first.

Tempelhof’s pack-racing and energy management soften poor grid spots. Evans and Jaguar execute clean strategies and smart race reads to convert opportunities that qualifying hasn’t created.

The championship picture tightens as Evans’ Jaguar exit is confirmed, but upcoming venues should reduce pack effects and reassert the value of starting near the front.

Sanya, Tokyo, and London typically reward track position, precision tyre preparation, and clean qualifying laps more than slipstream trains and energy saving.

Historically, Evans qualifies well. Since duels arrived for the final Gen2 season in 2022, he has reached the head-to-head phase 36 times.

This season, he reaches the duels only once so far. The drop surprises driver and team, given that single-lap execution was previously a consistent Jaguar strength.

The I-Type’s one-lap operating window appears narrow. Achieving peak balance and tyre temperature on demand has proved difficult, masking race-day pace with compromised starting spots.

Evans stresses that championships are won from the front. While strategy and racecraft delivered Berlin results, he knows recovery drives are unreliable at less aero-efficient, tighter venues.

He argues that qualifying must create opportunity, not repair damage. Otherwise, energy targets, traffic, and Safety Cars dictate ceiling, especially where overtaking relies on mistakes.

The numbers underline it. Season 8 delivered six duels, Season 9 twelve, and Season 10 eleven, reflecting a driver usually present late on Saturdays.

Season 11 produced six, but Season 12 so far yields only one. The trend compresses Evans’ margin for error against Pascal Wehrlein’s consistent front-row threat.

Operationally, Berlin shows Jaguar remains sharp. Energy timing, attack mode placement, and risk calibration all convert into points even when grid position is suboptimal.

The remaining nine races will test whether Evans and Jaguar can widen the one-lap window, recover qualifying bite, and sustain pressure on Wehrlein’s Porsche-led campaign.

Visual Summary

Zane Muniz

Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.