Dan Ticktum Wins Tokyo E-Prix With Last-Lap Overtake on Jake Dennis

Dan Ticktum stunned Jake Dennis with a last-lap overtake at Turn 16 to win the first Tokyo E-Prix on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Meanwhile, Mitch Evans reclaimed the world championship lead as title rival Pascal Wehrlein suffered a costly retirement under the neon lights of the Japanese capital.

The 2026 TDK Tokyo E-Prix delivered high drama under the nighttime sky as Dan Ticktum snatched a sensational victory for Cupra Kiro, passing Andretti’s Jake Dennis just two corners from the finish line.

How Dennis Lost the Tokyo Lead on the Final Lap

Jake Dennis looked poised to secure a commanding win after taking his third Julius Baer Pole Position of the season earlier in the day. Dennis edged Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara by just 0.052 seconds in the Final Duel around the Tokyo street circuit, making up significant time in the final sector.

Yet race day brought fluctuating fortunes. While Dennis controlled large portions of the race, an early mandatory pit stop and smart strategic Pit Boost undercut from Ticktum allowed the Cupra Kiro driver to capture clean air and temporary control. Dennis fought back fiercely, using Attack Mode to reclaim the lead on lap 29 with six laps remaining.

But a sudden power issue hit the Andretti machine on the final lap. Ticktum capitalized instantly, diving up the inside at Turn 16 to secure his second career Formula E victory and his first since Jakarta the previous season.

Championship Upheaval and Wehrlein’s Costly Crash

The chaotic street race thoroughly disrupted the drivers’ standings, particularly as all top three drivers in the championship standings missed out on the duels during qualifying. Championship leader Pascal Wehrlein qualified ninth for Porsche, while Mitch Evans lined up 16th for Jaguar TCS Racing and Oliver Rowland placed 15th for Nissan.

Wehrlein was forced into retirement after colliding with former teammate Antonio Felix da Costa while battling at Turn 7. Although the Porsche driver attempted to limp back, a broken front wing ended his afternoon in the garage without a single point.

Dennis’s runner-up finish boosted his own title ambitions, elevating him to third overall in the standings.

An Emotional Podium and Qualifying Drama

Citroen’s Nick Cassidy rounded out the podium in third place, starting from eighth on the grid. The result carried deep emotional weight for the team, marking their first race since the sudden passing of team principal Cyril Blais the week prior.

The weekend’s sessions featured heavy attrition and technical hurdles across the grid. Porsche’s Nico Müller crashed heavily into the techpro barriers during his Semi Final Duel with Dennis, bringing out a red flag. While Müller emerged unhurt, the accident capped a troubled qualifying sequence that included Andretti’s Felipe Drugovich sitting out qualifying entirely after his car sustained severe damage in a second practice crash.

Race Results and Standings Overview

Position	Driver	Team	Race Time / Gap
1	Dan Ticktum	Cupra Kiro	47m41.746s
2	Jake Dennis	Andretti	+0.380s
3	Nick Cassidy	Citroen	+0.617s
4	Mitch Evans	Jaguar TCS Racing	+4.763s
5	Edoardo Mortara	Mahindra Racing	+6.223s
6	Jean-Eric Vergne	Citroen	+6.619s

Following the Tokyo opener, Mitch Evans leads the world championship with 1442 points, closely followed by Pascal Wehrlein with 1413 points and Jake Dennis with 130 points.

Looking Ahead to Round 15

With the opening race concluded under the neon lights, teams turn their attention immediately toward Round 15 of the 2026 TDK Tokyo E-Prix double-header. Free Practice 3 is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, at 13:30 local time, followed by qualifying at 15:40 local and the final race of the weekend at 20:00 local time.