TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein was the fastest person on track in the third and final free practice this weekend for the 2024 SUN MINIMEAL Berlin E-Prix. The German driver might have lost his championship lead after yesterday’s race, but will hope this pace is a sign of things to come.
Just behind Wehrlein was Round 9 winner, Nick Cassidy of Jaguar TCS Racing. Despite making negative comments on his laps about his I-TYPE 6 machine, he was still able to finish the 30 minute session in a very respectable second. DS PENSKE’s Stoffel Vandoorne finished in third, with both Maserati MSG Racing drivers completing the top five.
As it happened…
ABT CUPRA’s Lucas di Grassi continued his quick pace that he showed yesterday, topping the session early on. The Season 3 champion will be wanting to bounce back from Round 9 yesterday, as he caught up in an incident in the race which sent him spinning around and broke his steering. Kelvin van der Linde, di Grassi’s teammate this weekend, was on the brink of points after the crazy E-Prix yesterday, finishing in 11th.
Ten minutes into the session, rookie Paul Aron was quickest. The Estonian FIA Formula 2 driver was also close to points yesterday, crossing the chequered flag in 13th, but was also handed a post-race penalty for causing a collision.
INTERVIEW: Paul Aron on his 'crazy' Formula E debut
There was an unusual moment between Antonio Felix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche) and Sergio Sette Camara (ERT) during the third practice, where the two made minor contact. Da Costa was on a flying lap and came across the Brazilian on the racing line, tapping the back of the ERT car. The impeding incident was placed under investigation by the stewards, as was another for Sette Camara involving NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes.
Yesterday’s race winner, Nick Cassidy, was also shown a black and white flag for impeding during the session.
Drivers were pushing their cars to the limit in the final practice session of the weekend, with the likes of Jean-Eric Vergne (DS PENSKE) experiencing some snaps of oversteer and understeer on one of his laps.
Pascal Wehrlein managed to finish the session with the best time – a 1m01.922s.