Hankook iON Race Meets Shanghai's Unique Demands Across Double-Header Weekend

- Shanghai hosted Rounds 12 and 13 of Season 12 (2025/26), with Pascal Wehrlein and Lucas di Grassi securing victories across the double-header
- The permanent circuit’s long Turn 1–2 complex created one of the weekend’s key tyre management challenges through sustained left-side loading
- Hankook’s iON Race maintained consistency across two races shaped by summer heat, humidity, rain and evolving track conditions

Seoul, Korea, 6 July 2026 — Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter Hankook), the exclusive tyre supplier to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, equipped all teams as the championship completed Rounds 12 and 13 of Season 12 (2025/26) at the Shanghai International Circuit.

In Round 12, Pascal Wehrlein of Porsche Formula E Team claimed victory from pole position ahead of António Félix da Costa and Jake Dennis, converting track position into the win as teams managed strategy with rain on the horizon. In Round 13, Lucas di Grassi of Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team secured the win ahead of Jean-Éric Vergne and Joel Eriksson, completing a recovery drive from 18th on the grid in drying conditions.

The Shanghai International Circuit once again presented a unique challenge on the Formula E calendar. The 3.051-kilometer, 12-corner layout, derived from the venue’s West Long Circuit, combines permanent-circuit characteristics with Formula E’s longest corner sequence through Turns 1 and 2. The sustained lateral loading generated through the complex places particular emphasis on tyre management and consistency throughout the race distance.

Across both race days, Shanghai’s summer weather added another layer of challenge for teams and drivers. High humidity, intermittent rainfall, and drying track conditions continuously altered grip levels throughout the weekend, placing additional emphasis on tyre warm-up, consistency, and race strategy.

Throughout the weekend, Hankook supplied all teams with its iON Race tyre, which delivered stable and consistent performance across both races as track conditions evolved. The combination of sustained loading through the Turn 1–2 complex, elevated temperatures, and changing grip levels placed increased emphasis on thermal stability, durability, and operating consistency throughout the double-header.

“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.”

Following Rounds 12 and 13, Pascal Wehrlein leads the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Drivers’ standings on 141 points. The season continues with the Tokyo E-Prix double header on Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July, where Formula E will stage its first-ever night-race in Japan as Rounds 14 and 15 of the Championship. Broadcast details for each region are available on the “How to Watch” page of the Formula E website.