ABB Formula E’s long awaited return to the streets of London got underway with Jean-Eric Vergne leading the way around the world’s first indoor/outdoor track.
Vergne clocked in a 1:21.650 for the DS Techeetah driver to top the timing sheets, ahead of Envision Virgin’s Robin Frijns and championship leader Sam Bird.
Teams had to get to grips with the circuit through the ExCeL London and Royal Victoria Docks. This weekend marks the first time London has hosted since 2016 at the Battersea Park Circuit.
The great British summer that has seen temperatures skyrocket around the country seemed to have cooled down in capital, with track temperatures hitting 24C. Yet drivers were well-aware how much track time was needed today, as thunderstorms loom on the horizon for tomorrow’s race.
At the halfway point, Bird went quickest with a 1:23.582 on Jaguar return to home soil for the first time since the 2004 British Grand Prix, ahead of teammate Mitch Evans.
However, it was the dying moments of the session that saw a close-call ending. Less than a tenth of a second separated the top five, with Vergne, Frijns and Bird all within 0.038s.
Reigning champion Antonio Felix da Costa was fourth as Evans ended the session with the fifth fastest time. Mahindra’s Alex Lynn was sixth, ahead of the Mercedes EQ duo of Stoffel Vandoorne in seventh and Nyck de Vries in ninth.
Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein separated the pair in eighth. It was a positive showing for Sergio Sette Camara, as the Dragon/Penske Autosport driver closed out the top 10.
Championship contender Edoardo Mortara narrowly missed out on the top 10 for ROKiT Venturi. Meanwhile, the second Envision of Nick Cassidy will be looking to improve in FP2 tomorrow, finishing the session down in 20th.
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