Bern ePrix: Jean-Eric Vergne storms to first pole position of the season to boost title defence

JEAN-ERIC VERGNE secured his first pole position of the season in Bern to strengthen his lead in the title race.

The defending champion earned three points for going fastest, extending his slender advantage over Lucas Di Grassi to nine points.

The Frenchman said: "It feels really good, first podium of the year and three points as well, which are important as we get to the end of the Championship.

"It's always amazing when you have to perform under high pressure and today I had a fantastic car so I have to thank the whole team.

"And we have the race and the focus remains the same, we start on pole and we will try and win the race."

Vergne's direct rival for the title Di Grassi had a disappointing qualifying session and starts the Bern ePrix in 19th.

Jaguar's Mitch Evans will start second ahead of hometown hero Sebastian Buemi in third, with Pascal Weihrlein in fourth.

Meanwhile Brit Sam Bird was delayed when leaving the pits but overcame the miscommunication within his Virgin team to make super pole and qualifying in sixth, behind Maximilian Gunther.

Vergne was the first driver of the season to overcome the difficulties of being in group one and still clinch pole position.

Drivers have complained about Formula E's qualifying format - which sees drivers get split into four different groups in championship order before the six fastest drivers fight it out to secure pole position.

This is because the first group suffer from not going out later on during the session when the track gets faster, whether that be due to grip, track temperature or dirt.