FP1 at the Jeddah E-Prix kicked off Formula E’s opening double-header weekend of Season 12. Under the lights in the Saudi Arabian city, drivers headed out for their first representative laps around the 3km circuit, laying down the early benchmark times of the weekend.
Green Flag for the first night session of the Formula E season
With 40 minutes on the clock, the cars headed out to set the first time at FP1 of the Jeddah E-Prix. Though not all went out directly at the green flag as they prepared for the first PIT BOOST race of this season, checking all the necessary variables. With Jake Dennis setting the fastest lap at the time being with a 1:18.859 after the session only ran for five minutes. While the drivers tried to bring up their tyre pressure during the heat of Jeddah, as they are only allowed to a certain amount of pressure on their all weather tires.
With a short yellow flag caused by Oliver Rowland slightly sliding over the track. Though the session continued under green after not even a minute went on and Nick Cassidy setting the newest benchmark to surpass.
Müller claimed top spot after the first 20 minutes of FP1 at the Jeddah E-Prix
Though the lead didn’t stay long for Cassidy as Antonio Felix Da Costa and shortly after Dennis, gained pace and put them self ahead of the Kiwi. Meanwhile, Dan Ticktum set the fastest lap so far with a 1:18.312 after he had difficult weekends to deal with and not gaining any point so far this season. Pascal Wehrlein gained the first Black and White flag of FP1 at the Jeddah E-Prix for not following the instructions from the Race Control. As Taylor Barnard complained about the DS PENSKE not feeling right on track. While Cassidy brushed the wall as he went into the pit lane.
After the first 20 minutes of FP1 at the Jeddah E-Prix, Nico Müller put in the fastest lap, being almost a second quicker than Rookie Pepe Martí in P2.
Second half of FP1
While most of the cars went into the pits, we saw Jean Eric Vergne overtaking Sébastien Buemi to stay on his fast lap, delivering almost a racing atmosphere. Though, Buemi seemed to find the right speed as he climbed to P2 using more power like it would be during ATTACK MODE. As Dennis went back on track, it seemed that he had a problem with his GPS as he didn’t have any data on his line through turn 17, asking his team to make the most out of his laps around the circuit in Jeddah. Meanwhile, multiple drivers followed Buemi’s example and used more power to test their car ahead of the 2 races in Saudi Arabia. As Oliver Rowland, current champion, seemed to hit the curb too hard resulting in him almost clipping the wall at the start/finish line.
10 minutes left in FP1 of the Formula E Jeddah E-Prix
With 10 minutes left on the clock, both Lola drivers struggled to climb up the standings, while Dennis went fastest again for Andretti. Though, Zane Maloney seemed to get the blue and yellow Lola under control as he went up to P13, while Lucas Di Grassi followed him onto P15. Giving the team some hope for the next sessions of this weekend. As Da Costa went off track without damaging the car and rejoined after he couldn’t make it through the chicane.
Meanwhile, Maximilian Günther went up to P1, as multiple drivers got into problems with the Race Control. As Martí was under investigation for impending Vergne, another black and white flag was shown.
The last laps around the track at FP1
With the last-minute running out, the drivers tried to gain a good deal of information ahead of FP2 of the Jeddah E-Prix, as Felipe Drugovich went over the curbs almost losing control of his car. As the session ended, Günther stayed on top ahead of Wehrlein and Dennis, while both Lola drivers and Da Costa marked the end. Though there was some contact between Barnard and Rowland, as Rowland didn’t see his fellow Brit in the DS PENSKE.
