Formula E in Shanghai: Pascal Wehrlein sets the fastest time in FP1 in changeable weather

Porsche driver Pascal Wehrlein set the fastest time in the first free practice session in Shanghai. The German, driving a Porsche, clocked a lap time of 1:09.259 minutes. Behind him were Jean-Eric Vergne in the Citroen and Nico Müller in the second Porsche. The session was marked by light rain, which meant the drivers spent a lot of time in the garages and complained about the conditions.

With a warm outside temperature of 30 degrees, the Formula E drivers continued the Asian leg of the season on Friday. Two weeks ago, the last round of the electric world championship took place on the streets of Sanya. This weekend, the action continues at the Shanghai International Circuit.

At 4:00 pm local time, the 20 Formula E drivers took to the 3,051-metre track for the 40-minute practice session. This was followed by the mandatory full-course yellow test before proceedings continued as normal. Right at the start, reigning world champion Oliver Rowland pulled into his team’s garage. The Nissan driver reported steering difficulties whilst braking.

Early 350-kW-activations

After eight minutes, the first faster times were set: Swiss driver Edoardo Mortara in the Mahindra set a lap time of 1:09.693 minutes using the extra power of 350-kW. Shortly afterwards, however, he was replaced at the top of the field by Jean-Eric Vergne in the Citroen, who set a time two-tenths of a second faster.

The two Porsche drivers, Pascal Wehrlein and Nico Müller, improved their times and formed a Porsche sandwich around the Frenchman in the Citroen, with Wehrlein in the lead and Müller in third place. The German clocked a lap time of 1:09.259 minutes.

Rain affected the drivers

Practice started in dry conditions, but after a few minutes the first light raindrops began to fall .Jake Dennis had a minor slip, with one of his rear wheels ending up on the grass beside the track. The Briton described the rain as getting heavier. Shortly afterwards, Dan Ticktum in the Cupra Kiro radioed his team to say he’d prefer to wait out the rain. He spent the waiting period in his team’s garage. Shortly afterwards, all the drivers found themselves back in their garages.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, most drivers headed back out onto the track, which was now drying out more and more. Sebastien Buemi, however, was annoyed: the Swiss driver reported more rain than the radars were showing. "It’s raining like hell. It would be great if you didn’t rely so much on the radar and looked out of the window more!" said the Swiss driver.

With the rain still affecting conditions, there were no further significant improvements. Towards the end of the session, Norman Nato took his Nissan off the track into the run-off area at Turn 6, and Mortara followed suit a few minutes later. Otherwise, the end of the session was fairly uneventful.

Porsche driver Pascal Wehrlein thus finished the first free practice session in Shanghai as the fastest, with his team-mate Nico Müller securing third place. Jean-Eric Vergne in the Citroen set the second-fastest time, with his team-mate Nick Cassidy in fourth. The top 10 were completed by Mortara, Nyck de Vries, Joel Eriksson, Ticktum, Zane Maloney and Felipe Drugovich.

Formula E action continues at midnight CEST with the second free practice session.

Results & lap times

Championship standings (drivers, teams & manufacturers)