Formula E returns to China for the fourth time on a 3.051 km, twelve-corner version of Shanghai. This layout skips the usual Sector 3. Instead, cars loop from the end of Sector 2 back onto the start-finish straight. The fresh tarmac offered rapid grip under clear, dry skies, though a few drops might appear later this weekend. Da Costa sets the pace in Formula E FP1 on a resurfaced, shortened Shanghai track — closely followed by De Vries and Hughes.
Early Pace & Track Record
Two minutes in, the session’s mandatory full-course yellow ended smoothly. Nissan’s Oliver Rowland then smashed Mitch Evans’ 1:13.215 benchmark with a 1:11.535. At six minutes, Dan Ticktum led briefly. Evans hit back soon after, lapping in 1:10.304 on his first attack-mode run.
Evans still faces a 60-place grid penalty. He changed gearbox and ECU in Tokyo and replaced his engine here. His pace counts for little if he starts from the back.
Resurfacing & Strategic Test
Mahindra stand-in Jordan King confirmed the resurfacing boosted grip. Within ten minutes, everyone up to 14th beat last year’s times. A nine-minute spin by Nick Cassidy at the snail curve triggered a brief yellow, but he escaped unharmed.
DS Penske explored slipstreaming, sending Jean-Éric Vergne and Maximilian Günther out together to gauge energy saving over a lap—vital on the unusually wide, energy-hungry circuit. Meanwhile, teams trialled the pit-boost system ahead of Saturday’s mandatory stop.
Mid-Session Highlights
At 18 minutes, Pascal Wehrlein broke the 1:10 barrier with a 1:09.859, only to be beaten by rookie Taylor Barnard’s 1:09.690, underlining the newcomer’s promise. Sam Bird clocked three tenths off his teammate in attack mode, while Sébastien Buemi went wide in Sector 2 and the final corner, testing the wide runoff areas.
Curb Changes & Technical Troubles
Drivers negotiated new “sausage” kerbs at the final chicane—installed to prevent shortcutting—replacing last year’s tyre stacks. Ten minutes from the end, Günther stopped on track with DS Penske apparently facing technical gremlins; he’s also under steward investigation for pit-line infringement. Vergne, too, is being probed after his battery fell too low during pit-boost trials.
Da Costa’s Statement Lap
With 32 minutes elapsed, António Félix da Costa unleashed a 1:09.280 in attack mode, setting the new benchmark. Cassidy followed closely, beating Barnard by just four thousandths to slot into fifth. No one improved in the final minute.
As the chequered flag fell, the provisional order read:
DS Penske & Rowland Concerns
The weekend looks troubling for DS Penske: 18th for Vergne and 22nd for Günther, plus two investigations. Championship leader Oliver Rowland was only 15th, lamenting an unbalanced setup.
Friday’s practice proved a dramatic curtain-raiser. Between new track records, penalty burdens and technical woes, Shanghai has delivered an unpredictable start to the double-header weekend.