The final day of pre-season testing before the launch of Season 12 begins under crisp Valencian skies. The Circuit Ricardo Tormo welcomes teams one last time before the paddock packs up and heads to São Paulo. With conditions perfect for quick laps, it didn’t take long for the timesheets to start glowing purple!
Familiar Faces on Top for the Morning
From the outset, it was business as usual — Edoardo Mortara continues his relentless pace for Mahindra. The Swiss-Italian has been the headline act all week, topping the times at nearly every power level. His 1:21.680 earlier in the week set the tone, and he was right back in the mix this morning.
But the day started with a surprise name on top — António Félix da Costa. The Portuguese driver looks right at home in the Jaguar TCS Racing machine, adapting impressively to his new surroundings. Having already won with BMW, DS TECHEETAH, and Porsche, the question on everyone’s lips is whether he’ll add Jaguar to that collection.
And yet, just when the morning seemed predictable, Norman Nato flipped the script. The Nissan driver stunned the field with a 1:21.502, dethroning the Mahindras and sending the Nissan garage into celebration. The Frenchman’s effort not only halted Mahindra’s dominance but also closed in on the week’s fastest overall lap.
Top 10 – Morning Session
- Norman Nato – Nissan Formula E Team
- Nyck de Vries – Mahindra Racing
- Edoardo Mortara – Mahindra Racing
- Jake Dennis – Andretti Formula E
- Dan Ticktum – CUPRA KIRO
- Mitch Evans – Jaguar TCS Racing
- Felipe Drugovich – Andretti Formula E
- Nico Müller – Porsche Formula E Team
- Taylor Bernard – DS Penske
- Pepe Martí – CUPRA KIRO
Fast and Furious for the Afternoon Heat
After a brief midday break, the field returns for the final three hours of pre-season running. With the track rubbered in and the temperature climbing, it’s clear that the best was yet to come.
Dan Ticktum kicks off the fireworks with a 1:23.037, putting CUPRA KIRO back at the top after a strong week for the Spanish outfit. His rookie teammate Pepe Martí isn’t far behind, clocking his best laps of the test — just two-tenths off Ticktum’s time. For a driver who had never even tested a Formula E car before this week, it’s been an impressive debut.
Then comes another show of strength from Nato, who once again paints the timing screen purple. Even at 300 kW, he produced a sensational 1:21.278 — a full tenth quicker than anyone else at that stage. The Frenchman has found harmony with the car and seems to thrive under Valencia’s afternoon sun.
Top 10 – Final Session
- Oliver Rowland – Nissan Formula E Team
- Taylor Bernard – DS Penske
- Edoardo Mortara – Mahindra Racing
- Norman Nato – Nissan Formula E Team
- Nyck de Vries – Mahindra Racing
- Jake Dennis – Andretti Formula E
- Pascal Wehrlein – Porsche Formula E Team
- Dan Ticktum – CUPRA KIRO
- Sebastien Buemi – Envision Racing
- Nick Cassidy – Citroën Racing
Testing Done, Focus Turns to São Paulo
As the final chequered flag of testing waves, the paddock can finally exhale. Jaguar, Nissan, and Mahindra each left Valencia with reasons to be optimistic — and perhaps a few to be wary.
Behind the veterans, rookies Pepe Martí and Felipe Drugovich have shown that the next generation is ready to fight. Martí, in particular, caps off the week with a calm, confident performance that suggests he’s more than ready for his São Paulo debut.
As the sun set over Valencia, one thing is clear: the field is tighter than ever. Season 12 is shaping up to be a thriller — and if this week is anything to go by, we’re in for a spectacular start!