Hankook’s iON Race tyre faced one of the most demanding weekends of the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as Shanghai hosted Rounds 12 and 13 of the season.
Across two races at the Shanghai International Circuit, drivers and teams had to contend with summer heat, high humidity, intermittent rain and constantly changing track conditions. At the centre of the challenge was the circuit’s distinctive Turns 1 and 2 complex, where prolonged cornering forces placed sustained loads on the tyres.
Pascal Wehrlein and Lucas di Grassi emerged as the weekend’s race winners, while Hankook supplied its iON Race tyre to the entire Formula E grid.
Wehrlein Converts Pole Into Victory
Saturday’s Round 12 saw Pascal Wehrlein of Porsche Formula E Team claim victory from pole position.
With rain threatening to influence the race, teams faced a difficult strategic challenge as they balanced track position, energy management and changing weather conditions. Wehrlein successfully controlled the race to take the win ahead of António Félix da Costa and Jake Dennis.
The result also strengthened Wehrlein’s championship campaign as the Formula E season entered its decisive final rounds.
Di Grassi Charges From 18th to Win
Conditions changed again for Round 13, with a drying circuit creating another unpredictable race.
Lucas di Grassi of Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team produced one of the weekend’s standout performances, climbing from 18th on the grid to secure victory. Jean-Éric Vergne finished second, while Joel Eriksson completed the podium.
The dramatic recovery highlighted the importance of adapting to changing grip levels as the circuit evolved throughout the race.
Shanghai Puts Tyres Under Sustained Pressure
The 3.051-kilometre, 12-corner Formula E layout at the Shanghai International Circuit presents a challenge unlike most venues on the championship calendar.
Derived from the venue’s West Long Circuit, the layout combines the characteristics of a permanent racing facility with Formula E’s longest corner sequence.
The extended Turns 1 and 2 complex creates prolonged lateral forces, placing sustained pressure on the left side of the car. Maintaining tyre consistency through this section is particularly important, with drivers repeatedly managing high loads throughout the race distance.
Shanghai’s summer weather added another level of difficulty. High temperatures and humidity were joined by intermittent rainfall and drying conditions, continuously changing the amount of grip available on the circuit.
These conditions placed greater emphasis on tyre warm-up, thermal stability, durability and consistent performance.
iON Race Delivers Across Changing Conditions
Hankook supplied all teams with its iON Race tyre throughout the double-header.
The tyre was required to perform across a wide range of conditions, from elevated track temperatures to wet and drying surfaces. Despite the changing environment, the iON Race maintained stable and consistent performance across both races.
“Shanghai presents a unique challenge because the sustained loading through the Turn 1–2 complex is unlike anything else on the Formula E calendar,” said Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director of Hankook Motorsport.
“Running two races on the same circuit in summer conditions placed additional emphasis on tyre consistency and durability, particularly as teams faced rain, drying conditions, and evolving grip levels across the weekend. We were pleased to see the iON Race deliver stable performance throughout both races.”
Formula E Heads to Tokyo
Following Rounds 12 and 13, Pascal Wehrlein leads the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Drivers’ standings with 141 points.
The championship now moves to Tokyo for Rounds 14 and 15 on July 25 and 26. The double-header will feature Formula E’s first-ever night race in Japan, adding another major milestone to the closing stages of the 2025/26 season.
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