DENNIS LEADS ANDRETTI ONE-TWO IN CHAOTIC SANYA E-PRIX
Jake Dennis delivered a controlled and strategic drive to win the Shanghai E-Prix, leading an Andretti one-two finish ahead of teammate Felipe Drugovich after a race filled with constant lead changes, energy management battles, safety interventions, and late drama. The result capped off a strong weekend for the Andretti team after locking out the front row in qualifying.
From pole position, Dennis launched cleanly to lead into Turn 12 at the start of Lap 1, with Drugovich and championship leader Mitch Evans immediately in pursuit. The Andretti drivers quickly settled into a rhythm at the front, managing energy usage carefully while trying to maintain position and keep rivals behind in the early stages.
The opening laps saw a tightly packed group, with Pascal Wehrlein and Evans staying close as the race developed into an energy-saving contest. Wehrlein soon made a strong move forward, briefly splitting the Andretti pair by passing Drugovich for second, before then taking the lead himself as the race became increasingly tactical.
However, the lead continued to rotate as drivers used ATTACK MODE at different stages to gain advantage. Dennis retook the lead early in the race, before Ticktum and other midfield drivers also climbed forward using their initial ATTACK MODE deployment. The race quickly became a shifting order, with no single driver able to maintain control for long.
Nick Cassidy was one of the strongest movers in the early and middle phases, using his ATTACK MODE effectively to climb from the midfield into the lead group, briefly taking P1 as strategies diverged across the field. Behind him, Mortara, Evans, Wehrlein, and others remained tightly packed, constantly switching positions depending on energy usage and ATTACK MODE timing.
The Andretti duo, however, continued to execute a more balanced strategy. Dennis and Drugovich saved their ATTACK MODE usage for later stages, allowing them to remain in contention while others burned energy earlier. This proved crucial as the race entered its decisive phase.
A major turning point came after a collision between Evans and Maloney at the hairpin, which triggered a Red Flag. Evans was able to rejoin after repairs, but the interruption significantly impacted race rhythm and strategy across the field, resetting the fight at the front.
At the restart, Dennis and Drugovich again controlled the pace early, but the order quickly changed as drivers used fresh ATTACK MODE deployments. Oliver Rowland briefly took control, followed by António Félix da Costa, who made aggressive progress through the field using both of his ATTACK MODE activations. However, da Costa later received a five-second penalty for causing a collision, altering the final classification.
Further chaos followed when a clash between Nato and Wehrlein ended with a Nissan in the wall, bringing out a Full Course Yellow and again reshaping strategy at the front. Despite the interruptions, Dennis remained consistently well-positioned thanks to strong energy management and timing.
In the closing stages, Dennis made his decisive move, using ATTACK MODE and superior energy efficiency to move into the effective race lead ahead of Rowland. From there, he controlled the final laps with authority, building a gap and maintaining composure through the final wave of ATTACK MODE usage across the field.
Behind him, Drugovich held second place to secure a historic Andretti one-two finish. However, he was later on given a 5-second time penalty and was dropped out of the podium. Pepe Marti inherited third position.
Late in the race, Pepe Martà produced one of the standout performances of the event, climbing from 18th on the grid into the podium positions after strong use of ATTACK MODE and clean overtakes in the final phase. Several penalties ahead of him also helped shape the final order, allowing him to secure third place.
The race ended in further drama when Rowland crashed late on, bringing out a brief Full Course Yellow to close out the event.
At the finish, Dennis crossed the line to secure victory, with Drugovich completing the Andretti one-two and Martà rounding out the podium after a remarkable recovery drive. It was a race defined by strategy, timing, and energy management, with Andretti emerging as the clear winners of a chaotic Sanya E-Prix.
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