Formula E: Nico Müller shocks favourites to claim maiden pole in Miami

Written by Lucrezia Marano

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship produced a qualifying session for the ages at the Miami Internetional Autodrome, as Porsche's Nico Müller surged through the Duels to secure his first-ever Julius Baer Pole Position. On a day defined by high-stakes drama and the downfall of championship heavyweights, the Swiss driver mastered the sun-drenched Florida circuit to deny Andretti rookie Felipe Drugovich in a tense final showdown.

The third round of Season 12 saw the all-electric series return to the "Magic City" with a fresh venue: the Miami International Autodrome, winding around the iconic Hard Rock Stadium. While the track was new to the entire grid, the baking Florida heat and the unforgiving concrete barriers of the 2.32km circuit proved to be a brutal leveller for the world's elite drivers.

Group stages: the favourites fall

The drama began early in the group sessions, where several title protagonists found themselves on the wrong side of the cut-off. In Group A, championship leader Nick Cassidy managed to navigate the chaos to finish first, trailing a resurgent Norman Nato. However, the shock of the session was the elimination of reigning World Champion Oliver Rowland. Despite showing strong pace in practice, the Nissan driver could only manage sixth in the group, leaving him with a mountain to climb for the race.

Credits: ABB FIA Formula E

Group B provided even more surprises. Ina session where the track evolution was massive, several big names struggled to find clear air. While Antonio Felix da Costa and Felipe Drugovich progressed comfortably, title contenders like Jake Dennis and Pascal Wehrlein were left stranded. Dennis, driving for the home favourite Andretti squad, suffered a frustrating exit after failing to string together a perfect final sector, while Wehrlein's Porsche lacked the ultimate "one lap" bite required to make the top four.

The quarter finals: precision over power

As qualifying moved into the knockout Duels, the intensity reached fever pitch. The first quarter final saw a battle of the "Nicks", where Mahindra's Nyck de Vries outpaced Nick Cassidy. Although Cassidy was faster through the final complex, a costly lock-up at the first corner handed the advantage to the Dutchman.

Nico Müller's path to the front began with a dominant display against Norman Nato. The Nissan driver pushed too hard into the final turn, running wide and allowing Müller to cruise through with a comfortable margin.

Credits: ABB FIA Formula E

Perhaps the most remarkable duel of the session featured Taylor Barnard and Felipe Drugovich. In a display of millimetre-perfect driving, Drugovich edged out the British youngster by a staggering 0.001s, the narrowest margin seen in the knockout era. meanwhile, Antonio Felix da Costa upheld Jaguar's honour by defeating Envision's Joel Eriksson to complete semi-final line-up.

The semi-finals and final duel

The semi-finals set up a mouth-watering prospect: a veteran seeking redemption against a rookie making waves. Müller faced De Vries in a heavyweight clash, with the Porsche driver finding an extra gear in the technical second sector to win by a tenth of a second. On the other side of the bracket, Drugovich continued his fairytale run by dispatching da Costa, ensuring that the front row would consist of the two drivers chasing their first-ever Formula E pole.

In the final, the pressure of the Miami sun seemed to get to Drugovich. The Brazilian, who had been the fastest man on track during semi-finals with a 55.393s, made several small errors on his final lap. Müller, however, was the definition of "cool under pressure". Steering his Porsche 99X Electric with surgical precision, he posted a 55.455s to take the top spot

Credits: ABB FIA Formula E

"It's an incredible feeling", Müller said after the session. "We've worked so hard for this, and to get my first pole here in Miami, at such a challenging track, is just amazing. The car felt alive today."

With the championship leaders staring deeper in the pack and a first-time polr-sitter leading the fiels, the 2026 Miami E-Prix promises to be an unpredictable tactic battle. Müller has the three points for pole, but with 39 laps of energy management ahead, the real fight has only just begun.