Formula E | Berlin E-Prix | FP3 | Buemi fastest in twice red flagged session - Motorsport

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It’s race day for a second time for the Formula E Berlin E-Prix, and we kicked off the day with FP3. It has been raining on and off through the night, however, race control decided to go ahead with the session.

Session has been delayed

Race control confirmed ten minutes before the scheduled start, that the start of FP3 has been delayed. The safety car was sent out to monitor the conditions on track. Standing water on the concrete tarmac needs to be cleared away before the GEN3EVO cars can go out. As there isn’t any rain tyre but an all-weather tyre, there would be aquaplaning.

At 9:00 a.m., race control confirmed that the session will start with a 15-minute delay and declared a wet track. Race director Marek Hanaczewski then warned the drivers and wished them good luck.

Green light: FP3 gets underway

And it’s finally green light. The drivers make their way out of the garages to enter the track. Visibility is quite difficult, due to the spray, while the track is pretty soaked. To get the tyres heated up quickly is key to gather some actual data. The track itself is definitely wetter than in qualifying yesterday.

First laps in, and Buemi had a good first lap with a 1:15.825. Drivers started to get more comfortable in the conditions, and the Attack Mode was activated by a few. Rowland struggled slightly, while trying to use different lines. Meanwhile, Wehrlein with Attack Mode took the lead, improving with a 1:13.286.

Replays showed a moment by Müller on a straight, struggling to get the power down. And there is a red flag, due to Da Costa stopping on track at Turn 10 without a right rear tyre that fell off. Apparently, the wheel nut was not correctly attached during a tyre change. The incident is under investigation.

Halfway through the session

We are back underway for FP3 in Berlin at 9:37 a.m., while Da Costa’s car returned to the pit lane. Müller went pretty slowly on the outlap to have some space behind a car ahead. Frijns and both McLaren’s closed in quickly. Bird nearly crashed into the Andretti, while Barnard tried to follow. However, he was slightly pushed off by Frijns.

The track improved, and the lap times started to get quicker. Müller went two seconds quicker than Mortara who was quickest until then. Rowland, who struggled, finally set a quick lap. But immediately he made a mistake when arriving into Turn 2, going onto the wet patches and nearly spinning it.

Red flag: Big crash by Di Grassi

Red flag waved, as Lola’s Di Grassi had an off behind Maloney. He went straight, trying to avoid his teammate. With too much speed and locked rears, the Brazilian crashed heavily into the barrier at Turn 2.

The session has not been resumed, so it’s Buemi in the lead ahead of Barnard and Rowland. If the qualifying is being cancelled, that would be the grid. Wehrlein in P13 would have a tricky race, with Rowland up front, trying to be crowned champion today.

In 75 minutes, the second qualifying session will kick off in Berlin, so make sure to tune in!