Formula E returned to Tokyo after a hit debut last season, this year treating a passionate Japanese crowd to a double-header, with electric action on both Saturday and Sunday.
Tokyo Season 11, however, was a tale of two wildly different races. The rain rolled in on Saturday, stopping Quali and threatening the race itself before a merciful break in the weather allowed the drivers to get on track and drift their way around a classic street track for a PIT BOOST race to remember.
Round 9 on Sunday brought the sunshine and packed crowds to the Big Sight Tokyo circuit, and was one of the best races of the year so far, with incredibly tight Quali Duals and an intense end to a race with both exciting firsts and impressive business as usual. Here’s what we learned.
Rowland’s on fire
It’s four wins in eight for Nissan’s in-form Yorkshireman, and he’s stretched his legs over reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein, as Nissan have in the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ tables over TAG Heuer Porsche.
He’s done it in just nine rounds. If he’s capable of that, and knowing Formula E like we do, there’s no doubt that as we go into the second half of the season, someone can mount a similar charge in return.
Nissan got their win on home soil
They’ve looked the part on almost all circuits they’ve raced at in the GEN3 era. In what was arguably their most important race on the calendar, they came so close in Tokyo last year, with Rowland grabbing pole and coming home second. Happily for Rowland and the team, they matched their record on Saturday and went one better on Sunday.
Three poles, two podiums and now the race win in Formula E’s three races in the Japanese capital – it was a day of celebration for many in the grandstands donning Nissan red.
Ticktum’s first taste of podium champagne
Dan Ticktum’s had a sharp upturn in form, as have CUPRA KIRO in Season 11. After an encouraging Round 9, he led early on in Round 10, but was left ruing a late appearance by the Safety Car which scuppered his chances of bettering what was a maiden podium.
It could have been more, with the Brit holding energy in-hand over the duo ahead, but Ticktum was happy to secure his first Formula E silverware – and the team’s best result since Mexico City 2018.
Maserati MSG Racing pulled a blinder
Stoffel Vandoorne and Maserati love it when a plan comes together, and it can’t have gone better on Saturday. Vandoorne went early with PIT BOOST to take advantage of tricky conditions and a Red Flag on the way to the Round 8 win in Tokyo.
He led Maserati’s first laps of the season on the way to the chequered flag, emerging 30 seconds clear of Rowland from what was effectively a “free” PIT BOOST stop after the Red Flag restart wiped out the time lost.
Japan’s Formula E fanbase delivers again
Formula E and Tokyo is a match made in heaven. After a storming first race here in Season 10, we were invited back by the local government for a double dose and two races in Season 11.
Again, the passionate Japanese fans turned out in their numbers. They’re famously crazy about motorsport, and they showed that by filling the grandstands and packing out the podium at the chequered flag – come rain or shine.
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2025 Shanghai E-Prix Rounds 10 and 11
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