Key Takeaways (TL;DR):
- Grid Penalty for Champion: Formula E Champion Pascal Wehrlein received a 5-second penalty for causing a collision with Joel Eriksson and Jake Dennis during the London season finale, which converts to a 3-place grid drop for the 2026/27 opener in Saudi Arabia.
- Da Costa Penalized: Porsche teammate António Félix da Costa received an identical 3-place grid penalty for the next season opener after hitting the back of Dennis’s car during the same incident.
- No Impact on 2025/26 Title: Since both drivers finished outside the top 10 in Sunday’s race, the time penalties had no effect on the final classification, leaving Wehrlein’s world title intact.
Pascal Wehrlein secured the Formula E World Championship title in Race 2 of the London E-Prix, held this past Sunday, but concluded the season with a penalty that will take effect in the 2026/27 championship. Considered responsible for the collision involving Joel Eriksson and Jake Dennis, the German received a 5-second time penalty, converted into a 3-place grid drop for the Saudi Arabia E-Prix in December.
The stewards determined that Wehrlein violated Article 16.1 d of the Sporting Regulations. The incident occurred on Lap 33 when the Porsche driver attempted a dive down the inside of Dennis, only to hit the rear of Eriksson’s car and trigger a three-car collision. The situation had a direct impact on the title decider, as Dennis suffered car damage and was forced into the pits. With his primary rival compromised, the German driver sealed the championship victory.
Upon analyzing the incident, the stewards considered that Wehrlein failed to avoid collision with the car ahead and found him wholly responsible for the contact with Eriksson. Consequently, a 5-second penalty and one penalty point were applied to his licence.
Because Wehrlein finished the race outside the top 10, the time penalty had no effect on the final race results. Under the regulations, the penalty is converted into a 3-place grid drop for the next race in which the driver participates. As a result, Wehrlein will start the 2026/27 season with a pending sanction, dropping three positions from his qualifying result at the opening round.
Félix da Costa also penalized by the FIA
António Félix da Costa received a similar penalty following the second race of the London E-Prix. The Portuguese driver will also lose three grid positions at the opening round of the 2026/27 season.
The incident involving the Porsche driver occurred on the approach to Turn 16. Jake Dennis was ahead of Da Costa, with both positioned on the inside line, when Dennis was forced to brake harder than normally expected to avoid contact with Eriksson ahead. Simultaneously, Dennis had to account for the presence of Wehrlein alongside the left side of his car. The sudden deceleration left Da Costa with insufficient time to react, resulting in rear-end contact with Dennis’s car.
The stewards considered that Da Costa, as the trailing car behind Dennis, held the responsibility to anticipate a potential reduction in speed and avoid contact, thereby finding him responsible for the collision. However, the decision acknowledged a mitigating factor: Dennis was required to brake harder than usual due to the situation immediately ahead.
As with Wehrlein, Da Costa received a 5-second penalty and one penalty point on his licence. Since the time penalty did not alter the final race classification, the sanction will convert to a 3-place grid penalty at the first round of the 2026/27 season.
Formula E track action resumes on November 16 with official pre-season testing at the Circuito de Jarama in Madrid, Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Did Pascal Wehrlein lose his Formula E title due to the penalty?
No. Because Wehrlein finished outside the points positions in the London finale, the 5-second time penalty did not affect the race classification, meaning his World Championship outcome remained unchanged.
What was the penalty given to Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa?
Both drivers received a 5-second time penalty and one penalty point. Because the time penalties had no effect on the race result, they converted into 3-place grid penalties for the first race of the 2026/27 season in Saudi Arabia.
When does the 2026/27 Formula E season begin?
The 2026/27 season officially kicks off with pre-season testing on November 16, 2026, at the Circuito de Jarama in Madrid, followed by the opening round in Saudi Arabia in December.
