Formula E

Formula E in Jeddah: DS Penske driver Max Günther also fastest in 3rd free practice

Timo Pape

Timo Pape

Shiv Gohil / Spacesuit Media

Max Günther also won the 3rd Formula E free practice session in Jeddah. The DS Penske driver beat Taylor Barnard (McLaren) and Oliver Rowland (Nissan) - the top three were exactly the same as the podium finishers on Friday. The two Porsche works drivers Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein completed the Top 5.

Between the Friday race and the third free practice session, it had indeed rained in Jeddah. The track conditions were therefore not quite comparable with the previous day. By the start of the session, however, the track had largely dried out. After just a few moments, Nico Müller reported a puncture at the left rear on the radio. He "overshot" the attack zone turn 13 and returned to the pits at the end of the lap.

Not much else happened in the first ten minutes. Norman Nato led the timesheet, but was undercut shortly afterwards by Friday's winner Max Günther. The lap times at 300 kW were only slightly slower than the previous day despite the different grip level. Sebastien Buemi completed the first lap at full power after a quarter of an hour and took the lead by 1.5 seconds. Jake Hughes stopped on the start/finish straight - yellow flags - but was able to restart his car by himself. Meanwhile, his Maserati team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne took the lead.

Just before half-time, David Beckmann took the lead in the Kiro - the German's first small sign of life this weekend. However, he was not able to enjoy first place for long, as Taylor Barnard was half a second faster a little later. His lap time was only around four tenths of a second off the previous track record (1:14.911 minutes; Max Günther). On his next attempt, Barnard was another two tenths better. His McLaren team-mate Sam Bird followed in second place.

Günther makes the next statement

Porsche had played no role at all in FP3. Antonio Felix da Costa made a mistake in the final chicane and complained on the radio about the lack of balance in his car: "I can't drive this." Team-mate Pascal Wehrlein was also still in 17th place six minutes before the end. Barnard was still at the top of the standings. Günther and Mitch Evans followed in positions 2 and 3 as we gradually entered the final phase.

With just over four minutes to go, Günther set a new best time. Oliver Rowland moved up to third place, followed by Porsche drivers Felix da Costa and Wehrlein. There were no significant improvements after the chequered flag. As a result, the third session in a row went to DS Penske driver Günther! Qualifying on the Saturday of the race in Jeddah will take place at 13:20 - to be followed in the liveticker at e-Formula.news. The race starts again at 6 pm (CET).

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