Formula E in London: Jean-Eric Vergne wins 1st free practice with TV picture failure

Jean-Eric Vergne was the fastest in the first free practice session of Formula E in London. He beat Sebastien Buemi and Jake Hughes shortly before the end in a largely uneventful session with a picture blackout lasting several minutes. The positions of the hottest championship contenders: Mitch Evans was fourth, Nick Cassidy eleventh and Pascal Wehrlein 13th.

The first free practice session for the season finale began punctually at 6 pm (CEST) with the usual full-course yellow practice for all drivers. While the picture of the TV world signal got lost in the first third of the session, the two Jaguar drivers took the lead early on. However, Oliver Rowland - who also still has a theoretical chance of winning the title - also got off to a good start after his illness-related break in Portland. The first third of the 30-minute session ended with Sebastien Buemi in the lead.

After more than twelve minutes, there were finally pictures of the track again. Jean-Eric Vergne took the top spot with a lap time of 1:12.232 minutes. The track record (1:10.008 minutes; Mitch Evans) was still some way off at this point. In addition to the aforementioned drivers, Max Günther and champion Jake Dennis were also in the Top 5 at the halfway point. Robin Frijns then took the lead - all four Jaguar cars in furious early form.

The first scene really worth mentioning also came from Frijns. The Dutchman in the Envision had to skip the outside chicane and find his way around the run-off zone before returning to the track correctly. After 20 minutes, Mitch Evans set a new best time, followed by Pascal Wehrlein. Both are equal on points in the championship, twelve points behind leader Nick Cassidy, and have the best chances of all six remaining challengers. They can be satisfied with their start to the weekend.

A turn that caught out a few of our drivers in FP1 ?

Frijns is forced to take to the run-off area.@Hankook_Sport #LondonEPrix pic.twitter.com/DZq2GFmYq1

- Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) July 19, 2024

Ticktum under investigation

The next fastest time came from local hero Rowland. A short time later, Dan Ticktum also braked too late and took the emergency exit at the chicane. However, the ERT driver turned around in the run-off area - contrary to the instructions of race control - and returned to the track in the same place instead of taking the correct "rescue route" previously taken by Frijns. Race control made a note of the offence. Wehrlein, however, did the right thing after missing the chicane too.

The best times tumbled in the last few minutes. Buemi, Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne, for example, positioned themselves in the leading group. However, nobody was able to beat Jean-Eric Vergne's new best time of 1:11.290 minutes. The first session of the London E-Prix therefore went to the veteran DS Penske driver.

The second free practice session will take place on Saturday morning at 11 am (CEST) - as always, it can be followed in the livestream on e-Formula.news.

Results & lap times

Championship standings (drivers & teams)