Feud and overexposure cost Wehrlein dearly on a day of accidental victory for Ticktum in Tokyo

The Tokyo E-Prix on Saturday (25) was heading toward a relatively calm finish. Jake Dennis was leading, Dan Ticktum in second had informed his team he wouldn’t attack, and Nick Cassidy was running third. In a single corner, however, everything flipped, serving as another reminder of how quickly fortunes change in Formula E—as the now former championship leader, Pascal Wehrlein, knows all too well.

Like Ticktum, Wehrlein saw his race turn completely upside down in a single corner, but in a very different direction. After enduring a tense relationship as teammates with António Félix da Costa last year, the German watched the Portuguese driver move to Jaguar and hadn’t been involved in any high-profile clashes with his rival since. In Tokyo, that story changed completely.

With the two running nose-to-tail, Wehrlein dived down the inside at Turn 7 and ran out of room, but refused to back off. As a result, he brushed the wall on the left and picked up damage. Moments later, he forced the issue to hold the inside line into Turn 8, shoving Da Costa straight into the barrier head-on. The damage ultimately forced the Porsche driver to retire.

Ticktum took a surprise victory and even sent a clear message to Cupra Kiro (Photo: Formula E)

It is true that Wehrlein rejoined the track later, but solely to ensure that any penalty resulting from the collision was served during Saturday’s race rather than carrying over to Sunday. That is precisely what happened, as the German was handed a 10-second penalty for the incident.

The feud between the two is undeniable, and the crash left a clear impression that Wehrlein made little effort to prevent his competitor from hitting the wall. What stood out most, however, was the German’s unnecessary risk-taking. Sitting top of the standings before lights-out, Pascal was running ahead of title rivals like Mitch Evans and Oliver Rowland, holding a completely manageable deficit to race leaders Jake Dennis and Edoardo Mortara.

Yet, opting to dive down the inside of Da Costa through a tight, narrow section—one that had already claimed other victims—was an entirely questionable decision. While a title contender needs aggressiveness, knowing when to settle and secure crucial points is equally vital. Wehrlein usually excels in game management, but his attack on the Jaguar was a costly miscalculation.

It is worth noting that both Porsche cars met their demise at the exact same spot. Overly aggressive against Da Costa early in the race, Nico Müller attempted the very same move at Turn 7 and suffered the same fate, sustaining damage that dropped him to the back of the pack. For a team competing across all three championships, making the same mistake twice in the same sector leaves massive doors open for rivals—and they took full advantage.

Dennis led virtually the entire race—a tactic rarely seen in Formula E due to the heavy energy expenditure required. Sure enough, on the final lap, he had to lift, getting swallowed up by Ticktum, who had previously promised not to attack. However, the massive speed differential between the two as they rounded Turn 16 for the final time made Cupra Kiro’s move unavoidable.

On one hand, Dennis saw a potential 25-point haul drop to 18 (plus 3 for pole), preventing him from closing even further on Evans, who re-assumed the championship lead. On the other hand, the Briton still recouped significant ground and, with three races remaining in the season, sits just 14 points off the leader while riding a wave of strong momentum with Andretti.

The Jaguar driver from New Zealand also put together a stellar drive, scoring his first points in Tokyo with a brave recovery drive that catapulted him back to the top of the standings.

Cassidy reached the podium and dedicated it to Cyril Blais, the Citroën boss who passed away last week (Photo: Formula E)

Beyond the championship implications, the victory means a great deal for Ticktum. Having publicly reiterated in his post-race interview that he remains without a contract for next season, the Briton makes no secret of his desire to remain in the series, believing the Gen4 car set to debut next year suits his driving style better.

The issue has been a season marred by mistakes, bad luck, and impatience, which has strained Dan’s relationship with the team. Public criticisms are clearly part of that dynamic, but results like the one in Tokyo give Ticktum significant leverage in contract talks. Even so, he still trails rookie Pepe Martí in the standings.

On a day that promised to be difficult primarily for Evans and Rowland, disaster struck for Wehrlein instead, opening the championship wide open. With just three points separating the top two and 14 points back to third place, Sunday’s second Tokyo E-Prix race will shape the title fight heading into the London finale—where every point dropped could prove decisive in the quest for glory.