Formula E in Jakarta: Max Günther tops FP2 as well, teammate Edo Mortara crashes early

Just like in FP1, Max Günther topped the time sheets in Formula E's second free practice session in Jakarta. The German Maserati racer prevailed over Jake Dennis and Sam Bird, who each followed just over a tenth of a second behind. Pascal Wehrlein was fourth. Even after the second session, the lap times were still a good eight tenths of a second away from the Gen2 lap record from last year.

The 2nd free practice session began at 3:10 (CEST) with a small scare moment for Maserati: Edo Mortara lost control of his car when braking into turn 16, just before the attack zone. He lightly hit the wall with the right flank and sustained minor damage. With a bent rear rim, he headed back to the pits to have the tires changed. However, he had to retire a short time later with suspected suspension damage - an early setback for the Swiss. Maserati announced a little later that the session was over for Mortara.

Oops!?

Mortara scrapes the wall and is forced to return to the pits...

Gulavit #JakartaEPrix

- ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) June 3, 2023

His teammate, Max Günther, on the other hand, started where he had left off on Friday: at the front. Behind the German, Jean-Eric Vergne, Jake Dennis, Sebastien Buemi and Antonio Felix da Costa followed after the first ten minutes. Roberto Merhi attracted attention with a lock-up and smoking wheels in turn 1. There had already been a similar scene for Mahindra in FP1. Mitch Evans took the lead, followed by Sacha Fenestraz.

Big lock up! ???

Roberto Merhi is still getting used to those GEN3 brakes!

Gulavit #JakartaEPrix

- ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) June 3, 2023

At the halfway point, it was Andretti driver Dennis who was the first to push into the 1:08s. At the same time, his lap was exactly one hundredth of a second faster than Günther's Gen3 best from the previous day. The Maserati driver was second again at this point and confirmed his good form. Meanwhile, Lucas di Grassi moved up to fourth place - finally a positive sign from Mahindra. Vergne apparently had a small problem in the cockpit. DS Penske examined the area of the steering wheel in the pits, as Vergne stood waiting next to it.

Günther leads front runners' group again

Ten minutes before the end, Felix da Costa first set a new best time, then Dennis again, then Sam Bird. Another five minutes later, Günther regained the lead. In addition to the drivers mentioned above, the top 10 was largely made up of those who had already been fast in the first free practice session: Stoffel Vandoorne, Pascal Wehrlein, Nico Müller and Dan Ticktum. Except for Mortara and Vergne, all the drivers now took to the track once again to improve.

However, there were hardly any more improvements in the closing stages of the session. Nick Cassidy opened the final laps with a spin in turn 1, but the Envision driver avoided hitting a wall and was able to continue. Günther also finished Jakarta's second session as fastest, this time with a time of 1:08.329 minutes. Behind him, Dennis, Bird, Wehrlein and Vandoorne slotted in. David Beckmann was 17th, Roberto Merhi 21st.

Jakarta qualifying starts at 5:40 a.m. (CEST) early Saturday morning.

Results & Times

overall ranking (drivers & teams)