Félix da Costa Tops FP1, Günther Fastest Overall in Valencia E-Prix Practice

António Félix da Costa topped the first Formula E practice session around the Valencia circuit on Saturday morning, while Maximilian Günther (shown above) ended fastest overall in session two.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is making its debut around the Valencia circuit this weekend, with the series going away from their usual street circuits to race around a permanent road course, albeit with a few modifications, including a chicane on the start/finish straight.

Antonio Felix da Costa

The opening session was used for drivers to get accustomed to the layout, but even then, the first eighteen drivers were all within one second of the outright pace.

Félix da Costa, the reigning Formula E champion racing again for DS Techeetah, edged the first session with a best time of 1:27.238, 0.187 seconds faster than BMW i Andretti Motorsport’s Günther, while Nissan e.DAMS’ Oliver Rowland ended third, a further 0.035 seconds back.

Jean-Éric Vergne, a two-time series champion, ended fourth fastest in the second Techeetah, just ahead of Rome E-Prix race two winner Stoffel Vandoorne of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team and the leading ROKiT Venturi Racing entry of Edoardo Mortara.

The top ten was rounded out by Sébastien Buemi (e.DAMS), Nyck de Vries (Mercedes), Jake Dennis (BMW) and Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing).

The second session saw Günther take top spot with a time of 1:26.958, while Mahindra Racing’s Alex Lynn left it late to jump into second, just 0.012 seconds back.  De Vries also showed good pace to place third, but he will have it all to do in Qualifying, being in group one and with a grid penalty for a final lap clash in Rome hanging over him.

Félix da Costa confirmed Techeetah’s pace by placing fourth, although team-mate Vergne was down in fifteenth, despite being less than half a second slower than Günther at the head of the times.  It should mean Qualifying will be an exciting affair.

Rowland was again inside the top five for e.DAMS, just ahead of René Rast of the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team, with NIO 333 FE Team’s Tom Blomqvist eighth.  The top ten was rounded out by Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E Team’s André Lotterer and Venturi’s Norman Nato.

Robin Frijns suffered a small spin at turn one, while Günther and Audi’s Lucas di Grassi both took trips through the gravel trap.

Practice 1 Times

POS. NO. DRIVER NAT TEAM TIME/GAP
1 13 Antonio Felix da Costa POR DS Techeetah 1:27.238
2 28 Maximilian Gunther GER BMW i Andretti Motorsport +0.187
3 22 Oliver Rowland GBR Nissan e.DAMS +0.222
4 25 Jean-Eric Vergne FRA DS Techeetah +0.237
5 5 Stoffel Vandoorne BEL Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team +0.287
6 48 Edoardo Mortara CHE ROKIT Venturi Racing +0.301
7 23 Sebastien Buemi CHE Nissan e.DAMS +0.336
8 17 Nyck de Vries NED Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team +0.494
9 27 Jake Dennis GBR BMW i Andretti Motorsport +0.571
10 29 Alexander Sims GBR Mahindra Racing +0.595
11 94 Alex Lynn GBR Mahindra Racing +0.674
12 99 Pascal Wehrlein GER TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team +0.701
13 7 Sergio Sette Camara BRZ Dragon/Penske Autosport +0.714
14 37 Nick Cassidy NZL Envision Virgin Racing +0.791
15 10 Sam Bird GBR Jaguar Racing +0.817
16 8 Oliver Turvey GBR NIO 333 FE Team +0.876
17 6 Nico Muller CHE Dragon/Penske Autosport +0.911
18 33 Rene Rast GER Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler +0.951
19 71 Norman Nato FRA ROKIT Venturi Racing +1.002
20 36 Andre Lotterer GER TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team +1.021
21 20 Mitch Evans NZL Jaguar Racing +1.059
22 4 Robin Frijns NED Envision Virgin Racing +1.206
23 11 Lucas di Grassi BRZ Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler +1.289
24 88 Tom Blomqvist GBR NIO 333 FE Team +2.270

Practice 2 Times

POS. NO. DRIVER NAT TEAM TIME/GAP
1 28 Maximilian Gunther GER BMW i Andretti Motorsport 1:26.958
2 94 Alex Lynn GBR Mahindra Racing +0.012
3 17 Nyck de Vries NED Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team +0.031
4 13 Antonio Felix da Costa POR DS Techeetah +0.083
5 22 Oliver Rowland GBR Nissan e.DAMS +0.106
6 33 Rene Rast GER Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler +0.149
7 88 Tom Blomqvist GBR NIO 333 FE Team +0.164
8 23 Sebastien Buemi CHE Nissan e.DAMS +0.184
9 36 Andre Lotterer GER TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team +0.192
10 71 Norman Nato FRA ROKIT Venturi Racing +0.213
11 5 Stoffel Vandoorne BEL Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team +0.243
12 27 Jake Dennis GBR BMW i Andretti Motorsport +0.268
13 10 Sam Bird GBR Jaguar Racing +0.279
14 99 Pascal Wehrlein GER TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team +0.338
15 25 Jean-Eric Vergne FRA DS Techeetah +0.450
16 11 Lucas di Grassi BRZ Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler +0.597
17 29 Alexander Sims GBR Mahindra Racing +0.630
18 8 Oliver Turvey GBR NIO 333 FE Team +0.639
19 20 Mitch Evans NZL Jaguar Racing +0.642
20 7 Sergio Sette Camara BRZ Dragon/Penske Autosport +0.714
21 6 Nico Muller CHE Dragon/Penske Autosport +0.798
22 4 Robin Frijns NED Envision Virgin Racing +1.173
23 48 Edoardo Mortara CHE ROKIT Venturi Racing +1.188
24 37 Nick Cassidy NZL Envision Virgin Racing +1.480