The two-time champ and his team DS PENSKE have never been on pole here before, and will hope to convert it into a win just like TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein did last time out in Mexico.
Speaking to Formula E after his first pole position since Jakarta in 2022, JEV is ready for the challenge that is on its way.
“I don't know how it was to watch, but definitely from the inside I had to give it everything,” he said. “That was a tough one! I think Mitch Evans [Jaguar TCS Racing] was very fast. There was nothing I could leave on the table during that lap. I'm glad that we can get back into the Duels - it's been quite a lot of races that I haven't been there.
“It feels good for the team for the hard work that the guys put in to improve and to get to where we are now. It's great, so now we have to do it all in the race.”
Vergne went up against Evans for the pole position, with Jaguar and Evans also trying to get pole for the first time at this challenging Diriyah circuit. However, last year Pascal Wehrlein managed to win this race twice, once from ninth and again from fifth, so pole isn’t guaranteed a win.
“I remember how much of a hard time Evans gave me in Mexico when I was behind him the whole race, so I won't let him pass this time,” Vergne added.
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2024 Diriyah E-Prix Rounds 2 & 3
Lights out on Round 2 comes next, at 20:00 local/17:00 UTC.
Free Practice 3 follows on Saturday morning at 12:55 local with qualifying ahead of Round 3 set to get underway at 15:20. Round 3 itself then follows at 20:00 local/17:00 UTC on 27 January.
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