Pascal Wehrlein took a thrilling first ABB FIA Formula E World Drivers’ Championship title for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team in London, after claiming a win and a second place across the double-header.
Wehrlein overturned a 12-point deficit to claim the title from Jaguar rivals Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans in a sensationally close contest over two days that tested the energy efficiency and racing limits all the way to the chequered flag.
Wehrlein took the title silverware after finishing second in the final race of the 16-event championship in tense circumstances after a race-long battle with Evans, Cassidy and eventual race winner Oliver Rowland.
The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team showcased a masterclass of strategy to leave the two all-important attack mode periods late in order to put pressure on long-time race leader Evans.
It paid off in a race that featured three safety car periods, keeping the teams on their toes in a race that rewarded the cool heads of the Porsche team and especially Wehrlein, who knew exactly when to attack an ultra-defensive Evans.
He also navigated each safety car restart and judged the vital risk-reward balance to perfection amid a chaotic race.
The crucial moment came with just a few laps to go when Evans missed his attack mode transponder while Wehrlein took it successfully in his #94 Porsche 99X Electric.
That meant Evans had to re-take it on the next lap, allowing Wehrlein and TAG Heuer Porsche to pass him and claim the title advantage.
Wehrlein extended the gap over Evans thereafter and maintained the second position that he and the team knew would be enough for him to claim the 2024 ABB FIA Formula E Drivers' World Championship.
"I always believed in this, I always said myself multiple times a day 'we can do this'" Wehrlein said after winning the title.
"We executed this weekend perfectly, I'm so happy for the team. I'm even happier for the team than for myself because I know how much it means to everyone and how much work we've put into it.
"This championship is for them and for my loved ones."
António Félix da Costa drove a hard-fought race in the #13 Porsche 99X Electric to make it two factory Porsches in the top five until a post-race penalty dropped him outside of the top 10.
Da Costa had charged from 10th on the grid to fifth. He still finishes an impressive sixth in the drivers' championship after a season with four wins.
Story of the races
Wehrlein’s Saturday win was equally well-judged as he stayed calm under intense pressure from Evans throughout the race to take the points lead after Cassidy finished a lowly seventh after a difficult qualifying period.
That victory included a bold move from Wehrlein on Evans, one that proved crucial in both the race one victory and the ultimate title triumph.
That race began with Wehrlein slipping back to fourth but he wasted no time in recovering, quickly moving past Norman Nato before besting both Sebastien Buemi and Evans.
Also crucial was the efficiency of the Porsche 99X Electric in two energy-critical races.
With Evans taking the pole it ensured that the trio went into the deciding Sunday race with just seven points between them and all-eyes from a large crowd at the London ExCeL watching as the tense finale played out on Sunday.
Wehrlein and da Costa's results meant the TAG-Heuer Porsche Formula E team finished runner-up in both the teams' championship and the first-ever manufacturers' trophy.
Additionally, Wehrlein’s third win of the season on Saturday, added to team-mate da Costa’s four victories this season means that Porsche became the first-ever manufacturer to claim seven wins in a single season.
Andretti rounds off successful season
Porsche customer-supported team Andretti Formula E took fifth place in the teams' championship, with Norman Nato finishing 10th and 13th in the London E-Prix double-header, while Jake Dennis was 16th on Saturday before retiring after a second-lap incident on Sunday.
That brought to a close a successful season for Andretti, who won a race and earned four other podiums across 2024. Dennis’s 2023 title means Porsche has now powered back-to-back drivers’ championship wins.
It caps off a superb season for Porsche and marks its most successful year in the all-electric championship yet ahead of the introduction of the Gen3 Evo car next season.
Formula E returns for Season 11 with pre-season testing from Monday 4 - Thursday 7 November at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
The first round of the 2024-25 season will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday December 7.
