HANKOOK DEBRIEF: Five things we learned in Sanya

Feature by Katy Fairman

The heat and emotions in Sanya was high, as Jake Dennis took his second victory of the season for Andretti in the first of three Chinese races. With ambitious overtakes, spectacular strategy and big names failing to reach the chequered flag, Round 11 delivered plenty of significant talking points. 

Dennis’ dream day 

It was a day of mixed feelings for Andretti’s Jake Dennis. The highs of taking the Julius Baer Pole Position and victory, were met with the lows of personal troubles back at home. His stellar drive, which was also replicated by teammate Felipe Drugovich – more on that later – saw the two Andrettis line up on the front row of the grid together and later brought home the team’s first 1-2 result in their 159 race starts.

However, whilst Dennis was still seen celebrating, he remained fairly somber in his post-race interviews revealing that his fiance’s family had struggled the past week.

“I'm thinking of my partner's family right now,” he said after his eighth career victory. It's been a lot at home lately, and to get the win for [my father-in-law], it means a lot to me. It's just an amazing day. I never get emotional. My fiancée will be like, ‘he never cries, but to do it for Bob is a big big thing”.

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Unfortunately for Andretti and Drugovich’s side of the garage, the celebrations were cut short when a five-second time-penalty was applied after the race for causing contact with Pascal Wehrlein at Turn 9. The FIA stated that they had "reviewed the matter extensively”, pushing the Brazilian to fifth in the race results. 

Top four fail to score 

There wasn’t any change at the top of the Drivers’ World Championship Standings, as leader Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing), Oliver Rowland (Nissan), Edoardo Mortara (Mahindra Racing) and Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) didn’t get any points after the showdown in Sanya. 

For Evans, who leads on 128 points, a shunt between him and Lola Yamaha ABT’s Zane Maloney resulted in a clash which in turn created a multi-car pile-up and brought out the red flags. All drivers were able to get going again, but for Evans the car was severely damaged and put him to the back of the pack, with no further action applied to the incident. 

Bad luck continued to come Mortara’s way, with front wing damage sustained early on in the race resulting in a required change during the red flag that dropped him right to the back of the field. His race was then brought to a dramatic stop, when a piece of debris hit his ERS loop and shut down his Mahindra resulting in an instant DNF. 

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Rowland had a dramatic off, just laps from the end where he made abrupt contact with the barriers and ended his race, and for Wehrlein a five-second time penalty pushed him out of the points after contact with Nissan’s Norman Nato. 

Pepe’s podium promotion 

After an outstanding run from 18th on the grid, CUPRA KIRO’s Pepe Martí finished third on the podium for his second successive piece of silverware. What was an already remarkable achievement, was made even better for the team and the Spaniard when news of Drugovich’s penalty was announced, promoting him to second place – his best career finish. 

Martí’s run of form has certainly been an impressive one, and places him on 58 points compared to that of his experienced teammate Dan Ticktum who is on 28 points. After a collision early in the race, Ticktum finished 15th in Sanya despite starting from fourth on the grid after getting into the Duels Semis.  

Double points for DS PENSKE

Amongst the array of penalties making the headlines, there were also some great results tucked into the top 10. Nyck de Vries ended up third for Mahindra Racing and there were also double points for DS PENSKE, after a challenging season so far with Maximilian Guenther sixth and Taylor Barnard ninth. 

Lucas di Grassi also achieved a point in 10th from last on the grid, with his teammate Zane Maloney looking set for a solid result until the incident with Evans unraveled his plans. 

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Antonio Felix da Costa also finished in fourth, but had looked set for the victory with laps to go, until a five-second time-penalty was applied for moving under braking which pushed him out the podium; a sanction that da Costa had questioned after the chequered flag. 

Back racing in Sanya 

After a six year break, Formula E returned to the streets of Sanya. Although Jean-Eric Vergne wasn’t able to replicate his success here from the 2018/19 season, he did finish eighth for the Citroën Racing squad. 

The Chinese circuit proved hot and humid, and was a real test of resilience and reliability for both drivers, team members and the cars. The resort town played a picturesque backdrop for the grid, as the next races in Shanghai rapidly approach with Rounds 12 and 13 on July 4 and 5.

2026 Shanghai E-Prix schedule: How to watch & stream Rounds 12 & 13

Formula E heads to the spectacular Shanghai International Circuit for Rounds 12 & 13 of the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

As a crucial double-header on the Asian leg, this sweeping track will host a high-stakes weekend that will heavily shape the final world championship standings as Season 12 heads towards its home stretch.

See the complete 2026 Shanghai E-Prix schedule below to find full local and UK session times.

2026 Shanghai E-Prix session times:

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