Mercedes Benz EQ driver Stoffel Vandoorne secured pole position by more than a tenth of a second from Porsche’s Andre Lotterer ahead of the first part of the Formula E Rome E-Prix double header.
Nissan e.dams’ Oliver Rowland looked to be closing in one pole through the first two sectors of his flying lap in super pole, but collided with the wall on the final corner and had to settle for third fastest.
Audi driver Lucas Di Grassi was fourth fastest ahead of DS Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne in fifth, setting up what should be an exciting Rome E-Prix on a day where rain has been a constant threat.
BMW racer Max Guenther made it into super pole where he went sixth fastest, but will start 11th after picking up a five-place grid penalty.
BOOM! @svandoorne claims the @JuliusBaer Pole Position in Rome ⚡️
Live timings and how to watch the race ? https://t.co/sHOKGxvLZW#RomeEPrix pic.twitter.com/tdXw1Zmwy5
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) April 10, 2021
Robin Frijns missed out on super pole by just 0.013 seconds but will start a place further up in sixth because of Guenther’s penalty, just ahead of Vandoorne’s teammate Nyck de Vries, who won the season opener in Saudi Arabia.
Pascal Wehrlein will start eighth, ahead of Sebastien Buemi and Sam Bird. Reigning champion Antonio Felix Da Costa was only quick enough to go 18th fastest.
Mitch Evans, who will start 12th, Da Costa and Buemi all made contact with the wall during their laps in group qualifying, costing the three title hopefuls a shot at super pole.
.@mitchevans_ meet wall. Wall, meet Mitch! ?
Follow live timings and find out how you can watch here >> https://t.co/sHOKGxvLZW#RomeEPrix #ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/VSeyfAKD4N
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) April 10, 2021
Nick Cassidy was the other driver to hit the wall around the Rome circuit, with the New Zealander unable to complete his lap because of the damage.
Edoardo Mortara failed to complete a flying lap due to a battery issue and will start 23rd, just behind Rene Rast in 20th who was also unable to put in a representative time.
Meanwhile, Oliver Turvey is set to start from the pit lane following an incident in free practice this morning.
The Rome E-Prix gets underway at 4pm local time.
