It’s the never-ending feud within the Formula E family. Like a persistent itch, no matter how much you try to scratch, it just won’t go away.
The adults – Florian Modlinger from Porsche and Roger Griffiths from Andretti – are trying to collaborate and solve the problem, but the kids – Pascal Wehrlein and Jake Dennis – seem unable to stop arguing.
At first glance, it may seem like a result of competitive tension and lack of space on the track for both. However, the more worrying reality is that these frequent altercations could compromise Porsche’s chances of catching Jaguar in the Formula E teams’ title race.
The most recent incidents occurred during the second Berlin E-Prix, shortly after Porsche and Andretti announced an extension of their partnership. Wehrlein and Dennis, like magnets, found each other on the track again. Sometimes it was fun, but often brutal.
Contact was made several times, and the same accusations and proposed solutions resurfaced.
Roger Griffiths, Andretti’s team principal, jokingly suggested they should recreate the movie “Days of Thunder” and let Wehrlein and Dennis unleash their aggression in rental cars. However, he admitted that this may not make a significant difference.
Florian Modlinger, Formula E director at Porsche, shared a similar sentiment. Despite their efforts to solve the problem, it seems that reminders about respectful driving and avoiding contact can only go so far.
Looking to the future, there is still hope for peace between the two drivers. Griffiths believes they can find respect for each other and focus on winning races for themselves and for Porsche Motorsport. However, he also acknowledged that it is unlikely they will give each other any leeway on the track.
These two drivers have clashed before and are likely to do so again. It all started in January 2021 in Riyadh, when Dennis, driving for BMW-Andretti at the time, collided with Wehrlein and retired from the race.
There have been several incidents since then, including one in Jakarta, where Dennis felt that Wehrlein forced him towards the pit wall while battling for the lead of the race.
Wehrlein expressed his frustration, stating that they tried to find common ground but were unsuccessful.
Dennis, on the other hand, took a more philosophical approach, acknowledging the nature of intense racing and the challenges it presents.
Despite these conflicts, the relationship between Andretti and Porsche remains strong. They recently renewed their partnership until the end of the 2025-26 season, demonstrating their commitment to collaboration.
Their technical relationship was evident in Andretti’s impressive recovery in Berlin, thanks to Porsche’s assistance. The collaboration has improved the performance of Andretti’s cars and boosted the confidence of Dennis and Nato.
However, the issue of contact between Dennis and Wehrlein still needs to be addressed. Modlinger emphasized the importance of open communication but acknowledged that they cannot compromise each other’s chances in the championships.
Perhaps, before the upcoming crucial races, both teams should spend some time together off the track, just like they did in Valencia last October. This could help promote better understanding and potentially reduce conflicts on the track.
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