Dennis also tops the ratings, Rowland finishes last – The e-Formula.news driver ratings for the 2026 Sanya E-Prix

Formula E has returned to Sanya for the first time since 2019. The street circuit on the Chinese island delivered one of the most thrilling races of the season so far, if not the most thrilling of all. Andretti dominated the rest of the field, led by Jake Dennis. The Season 9 world champion not only secured pole position and victory, but also earned top marks from our editorial team. The reigning world champion, Oliver Rowland, by contrast, had a disastrous weekend.

After every race of the Formula E Season 12, our editorial team awards points on a scale of 1 to 10 to all drivers. They are then ranked according to their average "rating score". The ranking is based solely on driving performance, not the car’s potential or external circumstances.

Jake Dennis | Andretti | 10

If one disregards Felipe Drugovich’s penalty, Andretti enjoyed a perfect weekend in Sanya. Jake Dennis also reaffirmed his role as the team’s lead driver. In qualifying, he drove a flawless lap to secure pole position and went on to win the race despite constant position changes. This is particularly impressive given that the Attack Mode in Sanya was so powerful that it was a breeze for drivers to race from the back of the field to the front. Dennis has once again proved beyond doubt that, even in Formula E, it is still possible to win from pole position!

Pepe Marti | Cupra Kiro | 8.4

The only rookie - technically - in Season 12 is increasingly making his mark amongst the big names in the electric racing series. In recent races, Marti has proven that he’s always a force to be reckoned with. Somehow, he almost always manages to finish in the points – and Sanya was no exception. Although he benefited from the race being interrupted, he then gave it his absolute all with his final Attack Mode. In the end, it was enough for his second podium finish in a row. Marti is currently giving his team-mate Dan Ticktum a run for his money!

Nyck de Vries | Mahindra | 8.4

It was an all-round strong weekend for the Dutchman, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans just a week before the race in Sanya. Mahindra once again established itself as a favourite during free practice. Although things didn’t go quite so well in qualifying, de Vries still put in a very solid performance to secure fifth place. At the start of the race, it initially looked as though it would be a disaster for Mahindra – both drivers were, at one stage, well outside the points-scoring positions. However, much like Marti, de Vries managed a near-perfect final stage. The Season 7 world champion is looking significantly stronger again than he did at the start of the season.

E-Prix flop: Oliver Rowland | Nissan | 2.6

Oliver Rowland hasn’t been this far from "world-class" for a long time as he was in Sanya. His race weekend was peppered with all manner of mistakes. In practice, he nearly took out Antonio Felix da Costa. In qualifying, he missed out on the duels, yet tenth on the grid was the highlight of his weekend in Sanya. The race ended on a low note with a heavy crash into the wall in the closing stages, caused entirely by his own fault. It is unusual to see Rowland struggle so much, particularly as he celebrated his very first Formula E podium in Sanya back in 2019.