Andretti Formula E Returns to Sanya with Strong Historic Form After Seven-Year Absence
Andretti Formula E heads into the Asian stretch of the Season 12 calendar as the Championship returns to Sanya for the first time since Season 5, revisiting a venue where the team previously delivered a strong performance. The 2026 Lianxin Sanya E-Prix takes place on the revised 2.520km, 12-turn Haitang Bay Circuit, a demanding layout defined by long straights, tight 90- and 180-degree corners and significant energy management challenges amplified by extreme heat, humidity and the risk of tropical thunderstorms.
The team arrives in China following a competitive Monaco doubleheader, highlighted by Felipe Drugovich’s first Formula E podium and continued points-scoring form. Historically, Andretti has enjoyed success in Sanya from the only previous race there to date. During Season 5’s visit to the coastal city, both cars qualified inside the top five and António Félix Da Costa secured a podium finish for the team. With the return to this challenging street circuit after a long absence, Sanya presents a test of adaptation and efficiency as the season passes the halfway mark into its crucial Asian races.
Race Details
| 2026 Lianxin Sanya E-Prix – Haitang Bay Circuit |
| Track Length | 2.520km | Pole Position | Left Hand Side |
| Turns | 12 | Attack Mode | Turn 4 |
| Round 11 Laps | 37 | Tire Allocation | x4 Front & Rear |
| Track Direction | Anti-Clockwise | First FE Race | 2019 (S5) |
Fast Facts
Andretti Formula E
- Andretti Formula E previously raced in Sanya, China when the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship visited the city seven years ago in Season 5.
- During the Season 5 visit to Sanya, Andretti was the only team on the gird to have both drivers qualify in the top five (António Félix Da Costa, P3 and Alexander Sims, P5).
- Through Da Costa’s brilliant defensive drive, managing to hold off Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s Daniel Abt and DS Techeetah’s André Lotterer, he achieved a third-place podium finish for Andretti last time out in Sanya.
- Da Costa’s podium marked the eighth podium for the Andretti Formula E team in its 51st E-Prix.
- At the 2019 Sanya E-Prix, an Andretti driver placed inside the top three in every on-track session classification throughout the event.
- China will be the first country to have hosted races in two cities during the same season since the United States of America in Season 1 (2015 – Miami, 2015 – Long Beach).
Jake Dennis
- The 2026 Sanya E-Prix will mark Jake Dennis’ 90th Formula E race start after becoming the 13th most experienced driver in the Championship’s history at the 2026 Monaco E-Prix doubleheader with 89 starts, overtaking Oliver Turvey.
- Sanya will be the 23rd different city that Dennis has raced in during his Formula E career with Andretti.
- The last time a Formula E race was held on June 20 (2021 CBMM Niobium Puebla E-Prix II in Season 7), the Brit claimed a fifth-place finish.
- The Season 9 World Champion has scored 11 points racing the all-electric series in China, along with a Fastest Lap at the 2024 Shanghai E-Prix I.
Felipe Drugovich
- Felipe Drugovich has finished each of his first 10 races for Andretti, becoming just the third driver in team history to record a 100% finishing rate through his first 10 starts, joining Oliver Askew (Season 8) and Norman Nato (Season 10).
- The Brazilian driver has managed to out-qualify his teammate Dennis in all four of the last qualifying sessions.
- Drugovich enters the 2026 Sanya E-Prix off the back of his best Formula E results to date in Monaco, securing fourth and second-place finishes to score 32 points across the doubleheader – the joint-highest total of any driver that weekend alongside Jaguar’s Mitch Evans.
- For the first time in his Formula E career, the No. 28 driver has scored points across three consecutive races.
- After Monaco, Drugovich is the 11th driver to have claimed a podium for Andretti, which equals the record for a single team (Mahindra).
| ABB FIA FORMULA E WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS |
| Team Championship Standings |
| Andretti Formula E | 98 points | 6th |
| Driver Championship Standings |
| Jake Dennis | 66 points | 8th |
| Felipe Drugovich | 32 points | 13th |
| Manufacturer Championship Standings |
| Porsche Motorsport | 281 points | 1st |
Team Quotes
Jake Dennis
No. 27 Andretti Porsche 99X Electric
“Monaco was a frustrating weekend, but it’s important to reset after a tough weekend and switch the focus to the next race. We definitely have plenty of positives to take from that weekend, having been in the top five in every practice session on 300kWh running. Looking ahead to Sanya, I always get excited when we head to new locations. I think every driver gets a buzz from going to a new circuit and facing a new challenge. I’ve never been to Sanya before, but I think one of my strengths is adapting quite quickly to a track I’ve not raced on before, so I’m very much looking forward to it. I know that Andretti has had some good results there in the past, which is always nice to know, though the track has changed slightly, and obviously, we’re returning to race in a different generation of car. So, I think we just need to be realistic but also arrive with good confidence so we can hit the ground running to secure a top result for the team.”
Felipe Drugovich
No. 28 Andretti Porsche 99X Electric
“The results and points we secured in Monaco gives me a lot of confidence heading into the closing stages of the season. I’m happy that we’re finally able to fight for the race win at the front and I feel like we’re improving every race, so it should only be a matter of time until we’re stood on that top step. Overall, I’m happy with the car and have developed a strong understanding of the software. Heading to Sanya should be interesting, particularly as it’s a track that has been absent from the calendar for a long time. It’s a good advantage for me as everyone starts from scratch when you head to a new circuit, even if some of the field have driven it in the older GEN2 cars. It’ll be important to get the car in a good window straight from Free Practice 1 so we can maximize our performance in the race.”
Roger Griffiths
Team Principal
“Last time out, our strong results in Monaco were a combination of several factors – making the Duels and starting inside the top eight, having familiarity with the circuit layout, strong pre-race preparation and building confidence throughout the weekend. While Sanya will be new to both Jake and Felipe, it will also be unfamiliar to many others across the Formula E paddock, so neither driver will be significantly disadvantaged heading into the event. The key now is taking the positives we showed in Monaco and turning that into consistent performances as we move into this important stage of the season.
In terms of Andretti’s previous experience in Sanya from Season 5, I don’t think much from that event is directly relevant now, beyond some familiarity with the venue itself. The style of racing, the tires, the powertrain and even the drivers have all changed significantly since then. It is effectively a new venue for everybody. There may be some small things remembered about the circuit surface or bumps, but much of the track has been resurfaced, so there is very little, if anything, that truly carries over into the GEN3 Evo era.
The biggest challenge this weekend will likely come from the conditions. The ambient heat and humidity will place heavy demands on the cars, the tires, the powertrain and also the personnel on-site. Keeping everything within its operating window will be critical. When you combine those conditions with the energy management demands created by the long straights and tight corners, it could make for a very difficult and potentially attritional race.”
