Pascal Wehrlein Questions Monaco Formula E Tyres

Pascal Wehrlein left the 2026 Monaco E-Prix frustrated after a dramatic loss of performance during the second Formula E race of the weekend. The Porsche driver admitted he experienced a complete lack of grip after switching to a fresh set of Hankook tyres, a problem which significantly damaged his title challenge.

Wehrlein entered Monaco with strong momentum and appeared capable of ending Porsche's long-standing Monaco curse. The Weissach-based manufacturer has now completed eight Formula E races in the Principality without securing a podium finish. The reigning 2024 world champion displayed competitive one-lap pace early in the weekend before his race unravelled after contact with team-mate Nico Muller caused a puncture in the opening race. His competitiveness then disappeared entirely in Sunday's event.

The sudden drop in performance became one of the biggest talking points of the Monaco weekend because track conditions were actually faster on Sunday. Despite no setup changes being made to the Porsche 99X Electric, Wehrlein explained that the car behaved completely differently once a fresh tyre set was fitted ahead of qualifying. According to the German, rear grip and overall balance collapsed compared to the used tyres he had previously relied on.

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"Honestly, it looked very promising in the morning. Both cars looked pretty strong. Then we put on a new tyre set in qualifying and the whole car behaved completely differently. No grip, no balance," Wehrlein told RacingNews365.

"We were faster on a tyre set that had already completed an entire race the day before. I'm a bit lost for words. Nothing really feels in my control right now."

Concerns over tyre consistency have become a recurring issue throughout the 2026 Formula E season. Several drivers have previously raised questions about fluctuating grip levels from Hankook compounds across multiple circuits. However, Wehrlein stressed that Monaco made the situation harder to explain because the tight event schedule left little time for major track evolution between practice and qualifying sessions.

From a championship perspective, Monaco represented a major setback for Wehrlein's title ambitions. The German arrived at the Principality holding a three-point advantage over Mitch Evans, but now sits fourth in the standings and trails by 27 points ahead of Sanya. The situation increases pressure on Porsche, particularly as rivals such as Jaguar and Nissan continue to improve consistency during the current phase of the season.

Wehrlein also suggested that concerns surrounding tyre performance are widely recognised across the Formula E paddock. While he stopped short of directly blaming Hankook, the Porsche driver confirmed that teams are demanding greater clarity regarding tyre variation between sets. With the championship entering a critical stage, Porsche now faces increasing urgency to recover momentum before Formula E resumes in Sanya.