Formula E in Berlin: Pascal Wehrlein wins 3rd free practice

Pascal Wehrlein won the third free practice session on Sunday and thus the dress rehearsal for the second qualifying session at the Berlin E-Prix. The Porsche driver relegated championship leader Nick Cassidy to second place and Stoffel Vandoorne to third place in a very uneventful practice session.

When the green lights came on, all 22 drivers immediately took to the track. While most of the drivers drove several laps in one go, the two Porsche and McLaren drivers went into the pits after three laps to change their tyres.

After ten otherwise uneventful minutes, Paul Aron topped the timesheets, followed by Lucas di Grassi and Jean-Eric Vergne. The lap times were already in the same range as the best times from the second free practice session on Saturday morning. It was noticeable that both Porsche works drivers did not go on a time hunt, but apparently drove race simulations and took the last two positions.

Wehrlein takes the lead

This changed towards the middle of the session: Wehrlein was the first driver to break the 1:02-minute barrier. The German set the absolute best time in all three sectors of the track and set the fastest lap time to date with a lead of more than 0.3 seconds.</p

Shortly afterwards, his team-mate Antonio Felix da Costa caught the slow-moving Sergio Sette Camara in turn 6, although the ERT driver drove through the corner on the outside. However, Felix da Costa missed the apex and hit the Brazilian on the rear. Race control investigated the incident. Another incident between Sette Camara and Jake Hughes was also investigated.

? A nudge from António Félix da Costa on Sérgio Sette Câmara as the Portuguese driver was attempting a hot lap!@SUNMINIMEAL #BerlinEPrix pic.twitter.com/hayHHImRPp

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) May 12, 2024

Stoffel Vandoorne and Mitch Evans, meanwhile, jumped up to second and third place, but were unable to match Wehrlein's lap time. Five minutes before the end of the session, many drivers returned to the pits to have their tyres changed. Nick Cassidy was shown the black and white caution flag, as Saturday's winner had impeded another driver.

In the final minutes, the drivers once again undertook qualifying simulations, with many improving their lap times. However, nobody was able to catch Wehrlein, with the Porsche driver remaining fastest ahead of Cassidy and Vandoorne. All 22 drivers were within one second of the best time.

Qualifying on Sunday starts at 10:20 am (CET).

Results & lap times

Championship standings (drivers & teams)