The 2026 Tokyo E-Prix II was a testament to the unpredictable nature of Formula E where strategy and adaptability proved crucial. The race, held under challenging conditions, saw Jake Dennis and Felipe Drugovich of the Andretti Formula E team navigate through a series of disruptions to secure impressive results.
The race weekend began with a cancelled Free Practice 3 due to a thunderstorm, setting the stage for a qualifying session under uncertain track conditions. Both Dennis and Drugovich, part of Group A, faced the added challenge of setting their lap times on a drying track, which ultimately prevented them from advancing to the Duels.
The Race: A Battle of Strategy and Adaptability
The race started under Safety Car conditions due to the wet track. After one lap, the field took a standing start, with both Andretti drivers opting for an energy-saving strategy from their rear-grid positions. Dennis and Drugovich aimed to gain positions while conserving energy, a gamble that paid off as the track dried throughout the race.
Dennis, starting from 17th, made significant progress early on, moving into 15th before settling into his energy-saving strategy. Building a six-percent energy advantage over the leaders, he activated his first Attack Mode to stay competitive. With his dry tire pressures and strategic use of energy, Dennis made six overtakes to reach sixth position before activating his six-minute Attack Mode.
The British driver set the fastest lap of the race on Lap 30 with a time of 1:14.528, demonstrating his superior pace. However, a multi-car crash in Turn 7 with two laps remaining brought out a Red Flag denying Dennis a potential victory. Despite this setback, he secured third place on the rolling restart, claiming back-to-back podiums in Tokyo.
Drugovich’s Resilience and Strategic Setbacks
Drugovich, starting from 18th, employed a similar strategy to his teammate. However, he faced a setback when he was handed a five-second time penalty for overspeeding under a Full Course Yellow. Despite this, the Brazilian driver continued to push, utilizing his energy advantage and late Attack Modes to gain positions. He finished the race in ninth but was demoted to 11th due to the penalty.
“We made the right call with the strategy today, and the pace was there once the track started to dry,” Drugovich stated. “It’s a shame we weren’t able to finish in the points because I think we executed the race well. Still, there are some positives to take from the weekend, and we’ll look to carry that momentum into London.”
The Andretti Team’s Impressive Season
The 2026 Tokyo E-Prix II marked the Andretti Formula E team’s 45th podium, 21st fastest lap, and 78th top-five finish. The team retains third place in the Teams’ Championship standings, closing the gap to Porsche with just a 30-point deficit.
Dennis’s result was his 28th podium, 43rd top-five finish, and 13th fastest lap of his Formula E career. With 16 championship points from the race, his total career points now exceed 800, placing him at the top of the Drivers’ World Championship standings with a two-point lead heading into the final race weekend of Season 12.
“Another strong day in the office! To bring it home with the podium finish and the fastest lap of the race was definitely unexpected starting from 17th,” Dennis remarked. “It was a shame with the Red Flag stoppage, but nonetheless, it’s been a great day for Andretti and a great day for myself. I had so much confidence with the car thanks to the engineers nailing the setup. We’re now leading the Drivers’ Championship standings going into London, so it’s all to play for.”
As the season nears its conclusion, the Andretti team’s strategic prowess and resilience under challenging conditions have set the stage for an exciting finale in London.
