Formula E | Jeddah E-Prix | FP2 | Ticktum tops the timesheets in final moments - Motorsport

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It’s the first race day of the Formula E Jeddah E-Prix double-header, with Free Practice 2 set to get underway as drivers prepare to head out onto the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Round 4 of Season 12 kicked off on Thursday with FP1 as DS PENSKE’s Maximilian Günther topped the timesheets ahead of Pascal Wehrlein and Jake Dennis. The session also saw several drivers battling track limits, while teams began practicing the restored PIT BOOST, which will be mandatory for today’s Jeddah E-Prix.

FP2 green light

The green light for the session has been displayed, and the Porsche duo leads the pack onto the track as the 40-minute practice begins.

Sébastien Buemi is the first driver to practice the PIT BOOST feature, while Müller sets the pace with a 1:26.96. The rest of the field quickly begins their first flying laps on the 3km fast circuit.

In the meantime, Mitch Evans is forced to abandon a push lap after encountering Wehrlein on track. Notably, ten minutes into the session, several drivers are already struggling with track limits, with cars sliding on the track and over the kerbs.

With 30 minutes remaining, drivers head back to the pit lane as Wehrlein leads the FP2 session with a 1:17.588, followed by Mahindra Racing’s Nyck De Vries and Edoardo Mortara.

Meanwhile, António Félix da Costa is the first driver to set a full-power lap, taking P1 with a 1:16.126.

Midpoint red flag

Halfway through the FE Jeddah E-Prix FP2 session, drivers slowly start to head back on track as Buemi replaces da Costa at the top, going 0.042 seconds quicker.

However, soon after, reigning World Champion Oliver Rowland misjudges Turn 15, clipping the wall, damaging his car, and bringing out a red flag. The Nissan driver faced the same struggles in FP1, bringing out an early brief yellow flag after sliding on track, nearly clipping the wall, before making slight contact with Barnard in the final minutes of the session.

After a seven-minute red flag interruption, the track is clear, and the Jeddah E-Prix FP2 session is back underway. However, Formula E Race Control confirms there will be no time extension.

Final moments

With eight minutes left to go, Rowland’s teammate, Norman Nato, makes his way to the top, although his time in P1 is brief as Wehrlein goes even faster, setting a 1:15.462 lap. Nato soon drops down to P4, while Dennis moved to P1 and Ticktum to P3.

The final moments of the session are marked by chaos as rookie Pepe Martí had to abort his final push lap due to traffic, while Barnard and di Grassi nearly collided. Finally, CUPRA KIRO’s Dan Ticktum impressed by topping the timesheets with a strong time of 1:15.343, finishing ahead of Dennis and Wehrlein.