The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League is facing a controversial situation regarding a decision made by the FIA concerning a possible yellow flag violation. Pascal Wehrlein, who was in fifth place during the race, was accused of overtaking under a yellow flag and gaining a position. However, Wehrlein argues that he passed the flag before the designated area for activating the attack mode. The Porsche team, representing Wehrlein, believes that the decision made by the FIA was incorrect and hopes that the situation will be reviewed accurately.
During the incident, Wehrlein overtook Jean-Eric Vergne for the position, but later received instructions from race director Scot Elkins to give back the position. Wehrlein complied and returned the position to Vergne. However, he maintains that the decision was unfair and that he did not overtake Vergne during the safety car period, as alleged by Elkins. Porsche expressed frustration with the lack of available footage to review the incident and hopes that the FIA has made a fair judgment.
The way the FIA handles such incidents during races has been a topic of discussion in the Formula E paddock. Race director Scot Elkins is responsible for managing multiple incidents in a short period of time, often relying on limited resources and footage. The issue of how these incidents are handled will be addressed in meetings at the Berlin E-Prix.
The relationship between Porsche and the FIA has been tense in recent years due to several controversial incidents. This includes Wehrlein’s victory loss at the 2021 Puebla E-Prix, Antonio Felix da Costa’s disqualification at the first London E-Prix, and investigations into Porsche’s non-compliant software and parts. These incidents have led to heated discussions between Porsche and the FIA, raising concerns about fair treatment of teams in the championship.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Porsche’s decision to adhere to the Gen4 rules for the 2026-2030 period is unlikely to be affected. Porsche is expected to announce its decision by the end of May and is generally satisfied with the direction of Formula E. However, the team is looking to increase TV viewership, especially in China, where there is a growing market for their electric models. The upcoming race in Shanghai may play a crucial role in Porsche’s decision-making process.
