Exciting News from Formula E: Sebastien Buemi has just made history by matching the pole position record during the thrilling 150th race of the series in Mexico City!
On January 10, 2026, Buemi clinched his remarkable 17th Julius Baer Pole Position as he geared up for the much-anticipated 2026 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix. This achievement marks a significant comeback for the Swiss driver, who had not secured a pole since Berlin in Season 9. A former champion from Season 2 of Formula E, Buemi showcased his speed and expertise throughout the weekend, ultimately achieving this milestone that ties him with Jean-Eric Vergne at the top of the all-time pole position leaderboard.
Buemi's track record at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is impressive, boasting four podium finishes and two fastest laps. This time, he is determined to capture his first victory on this circuit during a Formula E race. His pole position was awarded after Taylor Barnard from DS PENSKE had his lap disqualified due to exceeding track limits in the final stages of qualifying.
Barnard will start from the second position on the grid, followed closely by Edoardo Mortara of Mahindra Racing in third place, while Mitch Evans from Jaguar TCS Racing secures the fourth spot. Nico Müller will start fifth with Porsche, who are sporting a striking silver livery to commemorate their 75th anniversary. In sixth place, Dan Ticktum represents CUPRA KIRO, catching the eye of team investor Sir Idris Elba, who was present to witness the action.
Jake Dennis, currently leading the championship, will begin from seventh position, while defending champion Oliver Rowland will take the eighth spot for Nissan.
A notable twist during qualifying came with Pascal Wehrlein, a strong contender in Mexico City, who unfortunately did not advance to the Duels and will begin in 11th place.
Finals Overview:
In the finals, Buemi faced off against Barnard. There was anticipation for a possible win for DS PENSKE, but a last-minute track limits infraction by Barnard led to Buemi being awarded the pole position. This marks Buemi’s first front-row start since London in 2024, ending a long wait since his last pole in Berlin in 2023.
Quarter Finals Breakdown:
The quarterfinals kicked off with Nico Müller competing against Taylor Barnard, marking their first duel against each other. Barnard emerged victorious, advancing to the semifinals with an impressive lap against Müller. Next, Jake Dennis, who won the previous race in Sao Paulo, faced off against Edoardo Mortara. Despite his earlier success, Dennis struggled to find the right balance in his car and was ultimately defeated by Mortara.
Then, Mitch Evans, a previous winner in Mexico City, squared off against Dan Ticktum while Sir Idris Elba watched from the CUPRA KIRO garage. Evans outperformed Ticktum and moved forward to the semifinals. Lastly, Rowland met Buemi, where Buemi continued his stellar performance, defeating Rowland, who faced his first defeat in a quarterfinal since Wehrlein bested him in Mexico City last year.
Group A Highlights:
Antonio Felix da Costa returned to the track after grappling with a brake-by-wire issue that limited his practice sessions. He narrowly missed advancing to the Duels, finishing fifth, which still reflects commendable effort from the Season 6 champion. Jake Dennis maintained his momentum by topping his group, joined by Müller, Barnard, and Mortara, with two Porsche vehicles making it through to the next round. However, Citroën Racing drivers Nick Cassidy and Jean-Eric Vergne fell short, finishing seventh and eighth in their session respectively.
Group B Insights:
Sebastien Buemi dominated his group after demonstrating impressive speed during the second free practice session. He advanced alongside Dan Ticktum, who had a close call with the barriers at Turn 1 during one of his runs, as well as Mitch Evans and Oliver Rowland. Rowland expressed concern over the heaviness of his steering, which could have hampered his performance. The unexpected outcome of Group B was the elimination of two-time race winner Pascal Wehrlein, who finished sixth in his group and now faces the challenge of starting from the sixth row of the grid.
Race Schedule:
Fans don't have to wait long for the excitement to continue, as the next race is set to take place shortly after the thrilling season opener. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has been a beloved venue since Season 2 and will host the race on January 10, 2026.
Race Timing: Saturday, January 10, 14:00 local / 20:00 UTC.
For more information, check out the brand new season of 'Driver' streaming on Amazon Prime, and don’t forget to download the Formula E App for live updates and details. Tickets for the race are available for those wanting to experience the thrill of Formula E up close.
