Formula E in London: Taylor Barnard becomes the youngest race winner; Pascal Wehrlein crowned world champion

The 2025/26 season finale took place on Sunday at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London. DS Penske driver Taylor Barnard secured victory in a chaotic race to become Formula E’s youngest race winner. A fierce battle between Pascal Wehrlein and Jake Dennis, and the resulting crash involving Joel Eriksson, proved decisive: Pascal Wehrlein claimed the drivers’ title, whilst Jaguar were crowned world champions in the teams’ championship.

At 3:05pm local time (4:05pm CEST), the Formula E season 12 finale got underway. Mahindra had secured the front row of the grid in qualifying. Behind them, championship leader Pascal Wehrlein started the race in his Porsche, with his team-mate Nico Müller behind him. Mitch Evans, who was still mathematically in with a chance of winning the drivers’ title, started in fifth place. The third and final championship contender, Jake Dennis in the Andretti, started the race from 16th on the grid. An exciting race was on the cards.

All the drivers got off to a good start. Lucas di Grassi, who was ending his active racing career after this race, pitted at the end of Lap 1 to serve a 10-second stop-and-go penalty. As in the previous day’s race, Müller spread out to allow his team-mate ahead of him to build up a lead.

Fierce battles centred on Felix da Costa

Antonio Felix da Costa activated Attack Mode on lap four and worked his way past Müller, narrowly avoiding a crash in the process. Wehrlein then activated Attack Mode and put pressure on his former team-mate. As Felix da Costa’s Attack Mode was coming to an end, Wehrlein closed in and overtook him in the final seconds of the extra power on the start-finish straight.

Mortara and de Vries each acted as a buffer for their team-mate, allowing him to activate Attack Mode without losing positions. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go to plan for Mortara. He missed the Attack Mode loop but still managed to stay at the front of the field.

Premature end to di Grassi’s race and career

Lucas di Grassi retired on lap 11 due to technical problems with his Lola-Yamaha-ABT car. The Brazilian climbed out of his car, visibly disappointed by the outcome of his final Formula E race.

At Turn 19, there was contact between Evans and Müller, from which Nick Cassidy was able to capitalise, using Attack Mode to squeeze in front of the two battling drivers. Cassidy then found himself in 7th place. Sebastien Buemi in the Envision car applied pressure shortly afterwards and overtook the New Zealander.

Felix da Costa and Wehrlein battled fiercely

Wehrlein and Felix da Costa battled fiercely, with the Portuguese driver doing everything in his power to keep the Porsche driver behind him. Buemi closed the gap and overtook after Felix da Costa had forced Wehrlein off the track. Cassidy, Vergne and Dennis also capitalised on the situation and managed to pass Felix da Costa. Dennis suddenly found himself in seventh place thanks to Attack Mode, whilst Wehrlein dropped back out of the points. Had it stayed that way, Dennis would have won the World Championship.

But it wasn’t over yet: Eriksson attacked and overtook Dennis, whilst Felix da Costa and Wehrlein also closed in using his second Attack Mode. Wehrlein, Dennis and Felix da Costa battled fiercely with one another. In the process, Wehrlein made contact with Eriksson, who spun. Wehrlein and Dennis had their path blocked, causing both to drop back significantly. Following the contact, Dennis also hit the wall and was subsequently forced to pit with his damaged car.

Eriksson with a spin and collects Wehrlein and Dennis in the process! 😮

Both WEH and DEN have been able to get going again, but ERI retires. @Hankook_Sport #LondonEPrix #FormulaE pic.twitter.com/4G9BTHr4Lf

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) August 16, 2026

Barnard overtakes both Mahindra drivers

Amidst the chaos, DS Penske driver Taylor Barnard had activated the final Attack Mode, overtaken both Mahindra drivers and suddenly found himself at the front of the field, where he went on to finish the race. Taylor Barnard thus succeeded his team-mate Maximilian Günther as the youngest race winner in Formula E. Pascal Wehrlein secured the Drivers’ World Championship title despite finishing 14th.

The top 10 in the race were winner Barnard, who shared the podium with the two Mahindra drivers, de Vries and Mortara. The top 10 was completed by Evans, Buemi, Cassidy, Vergne, Marti, Rowland and Nato. With Evans’ fourth-place finish, Jaguar clinched the Teams’ World Championship.

This race marks the end of the Gen3 era in Formula E, ahead of the electric world championship’s next season, which will feature the new, fourth generation of cars. The season kicks off on 18 December 2026 in Jeddah.

Results & lap times

Championship standings (drivers, teams & manufacturers)