London E-Prix: Timings, ways to watch and more
- Vyas Ponnuri
- Jul 24
- 8 min read
Written by Vyas Ponnuri
14 races and nine weekends of racing action, plus a celebrity bash later, Formula E’s Season 11 will conclude in the heart of London, with the ExCel Arena once again hosting the championship’s British round on the calendar. One championship has been decided, but the race is not over just yet….
It’s been a season of thrills, no doubt. Streaks have been broken, new highs have been struck. Formula E’s old guards have found their way back to the top, while a rookie has perhaps emerged as the starring act of this enthralling campaign.
Despite Rowland becoming the first driver since António Félix da Costa in 2020 to seal the drivers’ championship before the final round, the grid can take solace from the multitude of race winners in 2025 amidst the Nissan racer’s dominance. Eight drivers have won a race this season, with Jaguar the only one to see both its drivers win a race in Season 11.
In a rarity, all 11 teams have scored atleast a single podium in Season 11, marking for a poetic moment, and highlighting just how competitive the championship can get. 16 drivers have scored at least a podium in 2025, with Lola ABT Yamaha’s Lucas di Grassi being the lowest-placed driver in the standings with a podium finish, down in 18th.
Di Grassi emerged as one of the drivers to break his long-standing duck, taking his first podium since the Mexico City E-Prix in 2023, the first race of Formula E’s new Gen3 era. He wasn’t the only one, though, as Envision Racing took their first race win since the 2023 London E-Prix, with Sébastien Buemi’s Monaco E-Prix win his first in over six years.
Cupra Kiro and Dan Ticktum have emerged as a revelation in the second half of the season, with Ticktum taking his first Formula E win in his 60th race start in Jakarta. Nyck de Vries took his first podium for Mahindra in Monaco, marking a return to the rostrum for the first time since Season 8 in 2022.
Maserati MSG’s Stoffel Vandoorne also won his first race since the Monaco E-Prix in Season 8, when he came across the line to win Round 8 in Tokyo earlier this May. The Belgian is part of several drivers who are yet to secure their Formula E futures. A strong showing in London would only go a long way to affirm his future in the all-electric series.
While it’s been a season of firsts, Season 11 also marks the final one for McLaren, who depart Formula E after the London E-Prix weekend. It’s been an exciting three-year stint for the team in papaya after taking over the remains of the erstwhile Mercedes EQ outfit, with one victory and eight podiums in the Gen3 era.
Yet, their biggest asset in the championship remains rookie Taylor Barnard. While his sheer speed and racecraft leave you wondering if he can become a future world champion, the accolades belonging to the Briton in 2025 only reaffirm his path to greatness.
Not often does a driver become the youngest podium finisher, pole-sitter and fastest lap holder in their rookie season. Perhaps, it would only be fitting to end the season with the tag of ‘youngest Formula E race winner.’
Barnard has emerged as one of the resurgents in what has turned out to be a lopsided rivalry with more illustrious teammate Sam Bird. Similarly, champion Rowland has found himself netting 184 of Nissan’s 205 points, while Ticktum has scored the entirety of Cupra Kiro’s 82 points in 2025. Elsewhere, Buemi has scored 69 of Envision Racing’s 86 points in 2025.
It only paints a picture of just how much difference a driver on song can make in a series of Formula E’s calibre, with changing dynamics such as Pit Boost and All Wheel Drive in attack mode altering the outcome of several races. The powerful nature of attack mode in 2025 has left every driver itching to carry out their stints without any safety car interruptions or full course yellows.
In such a dynamic season, the narrow streets of London can certainly induce plenty of racing action, with an indoor/outdoor circuit and several overtaking spots on the track enticing hungry drivers to make their moves.
Thus, you do not want to miss this London E-Prix weekend. It’s one of farewells and goodbyes, and while some drivers and teams will head into the off season delighted by their achievements, others will be looking to wield the precious pen and secure their Formula E futures for the upcoming campaign.
Drivers’ standings heading into the London E-Prix
Oliver Rowland (Nissan) - 184 points - Champion
Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) - 125 points
Taylor Barnard (McLaren) - 112 points
António Félix da Costa (Porsche) - 103 points
Nick Cassidy (Jaguar) - 102 points
Constructors’ standings heading into the London E-Prix
Porsche - 228 points
Nissan - 205 points
DS Penske - 168 points
Jaguar - 162 points
McLaren - 143 points
The track layout
Has the ExCel Arena grown enough in Formula E circles to become a fan favourite? For one, the very fans of the sport looked to be pleased when London was confirmed to host Formula E through to the end of 2026.
Being accessible to the fans in terms of transport options also makes the ExCel Arena an easy vantage point for Formula E to run its annual British weekend of the year. The track layout, despite its limitations and alterations, hasn’t proven shy of throwing up some great races in the past, either.
The circuit begins indoors, with Turns 1 to 5 situated within the heart of the exhibition centre itself. A short down ramp takes the drivers into the tricky series of corners comprising Turns 6, 7 and 8, once again indoors.
Drivers only head outdoors into the right-hander of Turn 9, on the run down to the prime overtaking spot on the circuit, comprising Turns 10 and 11. Together with Turns 12 and 13, the make-up of this section is similar to Monaco’s famous Swimming Pool chicanes.
The run down to the right-hander of Turn 16 can open up a surprise chance for an overtake. This corner has been a hotspot for action in recent races. It was only last season when da Costa and Cassidy came together at the turn in the season finale, with the collision costing the New Zealander a shot at the championship.
With attack mode situated at the corner, it can make for a pinch point on the exit, and into the run to Turn 17. A steep incline takes the drivers back up to Turn 19, the scene of a major incident back in 2023, then back indoor into the left-hander of Turn 20, with a run to the start/finish line.
It’s a fast circuit, narrow in several sections, but as has been the case in the past, not at all short of racing action when the races roll around.
Timings for the London E-Prix (in BST)
Round 15:
Free Practice 1 (Friday, July 25): 16:00 - 17:10 (15:00 - 16:10 GMT)
Free Practice 2 (Saturday, July 26): 08:00 - 09:10 (07:00 - 08:10 GMT)
Qualifying (Saturday, July 26): 12:20 - 13:43 (11:20 - 12:43 GMT)
Main Race (37 laps): 17:05 - 18:00 (16:05 - 17:00 GMT)
Round 16:
Free Practice 2 (Sunday, July 27): 08:00 - 09:10 (07:00 - 08:10 GMT)
Qualifying (Sunday, July 27): 12:20 - 13:43 (11:20 - 12:43 GMT)
Main Race (34 laps): 17:05 - 18:00 (16:05 - 17:00 GMT)
Notes for the weekend:
Attack mode situated on the outside of Turn 16
McLaren and Nissan to run special liveries
McLaren’s final Formula E weekend
Major Storylines for the London E-Prix
A championship on the line: It’s a race to the flag as two Formula E teams scrap it out for their maiden attempt at silverware. Porsche’s charge has been driven through a collective effort from their champion pair, while Rowland has lifted Nissan within 23 points of a maiden constructors’ title. London is the showdown for both teams to see who maintains their nerves and takes home the overall spoils.
Battles further back: Apart from the main plot, several subplots only add to the gravity of the London weekend. Jaguar and DS Penske are separated by six points in the fight for third, while it’s a fierce battle for fifth between McLaren, Mahindra Racing and Andretti. Further back, only eight points separate Maserati, Envision Racing and Cupra Kiro. It remains to be seen who emerges atop these battles.
Drivers with a point to prove: Heading into the final weekend of Season 11, several drivers will be itching to leave behind a lasting impression, more so for those with Formula E futures hanging over their heads. The likes of Sam Bird, Jake Hughes and Norman Nato are among the drivers under the scanner, and will be looking for a big result to end the year, and prove their worth to the Formula E paddock.
McLaren’s final swansong: The London E-Prix marks McLaren’s final Formula E weekend, and the end of a three-year stint that will certainly go down as memorable in the team’s history. The team in Papaya will be looking to sign off with a victory in front of their loyal home fans, in fitting fashion, with one of their British drivers winning at home.
Can Rowland seal the highest ever winning margin?: Newly-crowned Formula E champion Rowland currently holds a 59-point advantage over Wehrlein in the standings. With the pressure of sealing the title now off his shoulders, the Nissan man will be looking to go all out in front of his home fans and usurp da Costa’s 77-point win margin from Season 6, to hold a rare piece of Formula E history.
Drivers to watch out for:
Oliver Rowland: Surprise! Even though he’s sealed the championship with one race weekend to go, all eyes will still be on Rowland to see if he can put his name into Formula E’s history books, as mentioned earlier.
Taylor Barnard: Season 11 has witnessed one of the finest rookie seasons from the McLaren driver, who has scored five podiums on his way to third in the standings. He will certainly be chasing that elusive Formula E victory in front of his home crowd for the first time this weekend.
Sam Bird: While it’s been a tearaway season for Barnard, Bird’s campaign in 2025 has been relatively subdued. Sitting 17th in the standings with 31 points to his name, the experienced Briton will be looking for a podium in front of his home fans, in what could prove to be his final Formula E weekend.
Norman Nato: The Nissan man has been a shadow of his teammate in the standings in 2025. With just 19 points to his name, Nato will certainly be looking to prove his worth to his team, to maintain his seat heading into 2026.
Jean-Éric Vergne: It’s been over two years since Jean-Éric Vergne last took a Formula E victory, back in Hyderabad in 2023. The DS Penske man, despite winning, has been a consistent force, finishing in the top five in each season of the Gen3 era. It will be an interesting watch to see if Formula E’s most successful champion will be able to recapture his winning spark, in a bid to maintain his streak of top fives, and help DS Penske finish third in the standings.
How to watch the London E-Prix?
You can watch the London E-Prix, full broadcast details in here:
Predictions for the weekend
London is always known to throw up attrition, action-packed races. As such, I predict different podiums for both races, with a few common names sprinkled in between.
I would predict a Barnard victory in Round 15, with Rowland and Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara joining the 21-year-old on the podium.
For Round 16, I would predict another driver breaking his winless duck in 2025, with Jean-Éric Vergne taking his first win in two years, joined by Rowland and da Costa on the podium.
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