SHANGHAI, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Pascal Wehrlein converted pole position into victory in a rain-hit opening race of the Shanghai E-Prix on Saturday, slashing Mitch Evans' championship lead to just three points.

Photo: IC

With the threat of heavy rain over the Shanghai International Circuit, Formula E brought the entire day's schedule forward by several hours, with the race starting at midday local time instead of its original afternoon slot.

Starting from pole in dry but humid conditions, Wehrlein held off challenges from Jake Dennis and Evans to retain the lead into the opening corners.

As is typical in Formula E, drivers traded positions throughout the opening stages while managing energy, with Wehrlein briefly surrendering the lead before repeatedly fighting back to the front.

Light rain began falling shortly before the start, but conditions remained manageable until lap 19, when a sudden downpour swept across part of the circuit, prompting the deployment of the safety car.

Racing resumed on lap 23, and Wehrlein immediately pulled clear of the field to secure his second victory of the 2025-26 Formula E season by several seconds.

Antonio Felix da Costa finished second to complete a strong result for Jaguar, while Dennis followed up his victory in Sanya with another podium in third. Andretti teammate Felipe Drugovich was fourth, ahead of Nyck de Vries in fifth.

Championship leader Evans endured a frustrating afternoon after starting alongside Wehrlein on the front row. The New Zealander gradually slipped down the order, complaining over team radio about the balance of his car, before taking the chequered flag in eighth.

The result reduced Evans' advantage in the drivers' standings from 19 points to just three. The New Zealander now has 132 points, with Wehrlein climbing from fourth to second on 129 and Felix da Costa rising to third on 110.

Other title contenders also struggled, with Edoardo Mortara finishing down in 10th after the safety car deployment ruined his Attack Mode strategy, while Oliver Rowland ended the race out of the points in 14th.

Formula E remains at the Shanghai International Circuit for Race 2 on Sunday.