NextEV NIO will enjoy a front row lockout for the inaugural Hong Kong ePrix, with season one champion Nelson Piquet Jr quickest of everyone.
The first ever Drivers’ Championship enjoys his first ever pole position in Formula E, and will share the front row with teammate Oliver Turvey.
Multiple drivers were caught out by the chicane of turn 4 and 5, with Robin Frijns’ accident bringing out a lengthy red flag during group three. The long delay made the stewards cancel the super pole group.
Group One
Nico Prost, Renault e.dams
Stephane Sarrazin, Venturi
Nick Heidfeld, Mahindra Racing
Adam Carroll, Panasonic Jaguar Racing
Loic Duval, Faraday Future Dragon Racing
Nico Prost was the first driver out, and laid the benchmark for the other four drivers. Even with a wobbly moment coming out of the final corner on his main lap, his time was competitive.
Nick Heidfeld in the Mahindra was slightly slower but finished third overall, while Jaguar’s Adam Carroll and Venturi’s Stephane Sarrazin couldn’t get into the 1:03s.
On the final lap of the group, Loic Duval was able to keep it clean to set a time of 1m03.637, one tenth faster than Prost. The Dragon Racing driver is in a good position to potentially move forward to super pole.
Group Two
Lucas di Grassi, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport
Antonio Felix da Costa, Andretti
Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing
Ma Qing Hua, TECHEETAH
Oliver Turvey, NextEV NIO
Just as the full power laps were getting started, last years championship contender Lucas di Grassi crashed at the chicane, putting an end to his qualifying and bringing out the red flag.
Afterwards it looked like the quickest lap of the group would be battled between NextEV’s Oliver Turvey and DS Virgin’s Sam Bird. Bird was able to set a time of 1:03.258 to go nearly four tenths quicker than Duval, but his British rival went even quicker.
In his first qualifying with Andretti Antonio Felix da Costa failed to make it into the top five, while Techeetah’s Ma Qing Hua was slowest out of drivers to finish a lap. Replays showed that he hit the same wall that caught Di Grassi out.
Group Three
Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing
Mitch Evans, Panasonic Jaguar Racing
Robin Frijns, Andretti
Nelson Piquet Jr, NextEV NIO
Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH
Rookie Felix Rosenqvist was the first driver out with NextEV’s Nelson Piquet Jr out behind. Both were able to set a time with Rosenqvist finishing with a 1:03.332. Season one champion Piquet Jr was able to top Turvey’s time.
Before everyone else could finish their full power lap, the chicane claimed another victim. Robin Frijns went into the wall after turn 5 hard which brought out the red flag again. Jean-Eric Vergne was very close to hitting the crashed car, but like Mitch Evans keeps safe.
The delay was long, and after Vergne and Evans were able to set their lap time again they won’t able to make a mark on the top five. After group three Vergne was sixth and Evans found himself in 12th.
Group Four
Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams
Daniel Abt, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport
Jerome D’Ambrosio, Faraday Future Dragon Racing
Maro Engel, Venturi
Jose Maria Lopez, DS Virgin Racing
After Formula E broke the news that super pole was cancelled, the five drivers in group four knew that their qualifying lap could put them on pole position for the Hong Kong ePrix.
The defending champion Sebastien Buemi was only able to set a time of 1:03.317, which means he will start fifth in the race. Jerome D’Ambrosio became the slowest driver to set a full lap time.
Abt Schaeffler’s Daniel Abt was able to finish in seventh, but a big surprise came from DS Virgin’s rookie driver Jose Maria Lopez. In his first Formula E qualifying session he was able to go third fastest, beating teammate Bird. Maro Engel will start 12th for Venturi.
