Rowland lands Tokyo E-Prix pole as Formula E cancels qualifying due to heavy rain

Oliver Rowland has secured the 2025 Formula E Tokyo E-Prix pole for the opening race following the unprecedented cancellation of qualifying session due to heavy rainfall that rendered the circuit unsafe for competitive running.

This development has not only reshaped the starting grid for one of the most anticipated rounds of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship but also highlighted the unpredictable and challenging nature of street racing in the heart of Tokyo where weather can play a decisive role in motorsport outcomes.

The Tokyo E-Prix, now in its second edition after a successful inaugural event in 2024, has quickly established itself as a marquee fixture on the Formula E calendar.

The 2025 edition is particularly significant as it marks the first time the city hosts a double-header with races scheduled across two consecutive days on May 17 and 18.

The event takes place on the Tokyo Street Circuit in Odaiba, a technically demanding layout that winds around the iconic Tokyo Big Sight venue, offering both drivers and fans a unique blend of high-speed action and urban spectacle.

The cancellation of qualifying was prompted by persistent and heavy rainfall which led race officials to deem the track conditions unsafe for the high-performance, all-electric Gen3 Evo cars.

According to Formula E regulations, when qualifying cannot proceed as planned the starting grid is determined based on the fastest times recorded in the final free practice session.

As a result, Nissan’s Oliver Rowland was awarded the Tokyo E-Prix pole position after setting the quickest lap in FP2, clocking an impressive 1:32.525s earlier in the morning.

The starting grid set by FP2 times sees Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara lining up alongside Rowland on the front row. Mortara’s pace in practice was formidable, with his best time just over six tenths of a second behind Rowland.

The second Nissan entry piloted by Norman Nato will start from third, further bolstering the Japanese team’s prospects for a successful weekend. Taylor Barnard of NEOM McLaren will occupy fourth position, while Mahindra’s Nyck de Vries rounds out the top five.

The top ten is completed by Sebastien Buemi (Envision), Dan Ticktum (Cupra Kiro), Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Penske), Maximilian Guenther (DS Penske) and Robin Frijns (Envision).

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The weather has been a central talking point throughout the Tokyo E-Prix weekend with forecasts predicting a 100 percent chance of rain on both Saturday and Sunday.

The persistent precipitation has posed significant challenges for teams and drivers, particularly in terms of tire performance and visibility.

Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans last year’s conditions as “very, very tricky,” noting the difficulty in bringing the Hankook tires up to optimal temperature and performance in wet conditions.

“In qualifying it was like, I was terrible,“ Evans recounted. “Nothing, you can’t wake them [the tyres] up. In the race I was way more comfortable from the start but the pace difference between me and some other guys was huge.

“So yeah, you can quickly be two, three seconds a lap slower.”

Despite the adverse conditions the atmosphere in Tokyo has been electric, with fans turning out in force to witness the world’s fastest electric cars compete on the city’s streets.

2025 Formula E Tokyo E-Prix starting grid