Bright blue skies and warm conditions set the tone for Formula E’s return to Berlin, a circuit unlike any other on the calendar. The historic venue also plays host to a special occasion this season, as Porsche Motorsport celebrates 75 years of racing heritage.
Championship Focus Tightens
Pascal Wehrlein arrives in Berlin leading the standings, though his advantage stands at just 11 points. Behind him, Edoardo Mortara continues to build a consistent campaign. While a victory has yet to materialise this season, his ability to secure points keeps him firmly in contention, and his past success in Berlin positions him as a potential challenger.
Jaguar TCS Racing’s pairing of Mitch Evans and António Félix da Costa adds further pressure. Da Costa, in particular, arrives with momentum after recent victories, marking a significant turnaround in form after a slow start to the season.
Early Running Establishes The Pace
As the session began, Dan Ticktum set the initial benchmark, though conditions were notably more favourable than the previous year. That advantage quickly became evident as Jake Dennis produced a near full-power lap, dipping into the 57s with a 57.847 to take control of the timesheets.
However, not all drivers enjoyed a smooth start. Wehrlein reported issues with brake balance, forcing an early return to the pits as the Porsche Formula E Team worked to resolve the problem, making for an unideal opening at their home race.
As the session reached its midpoint, a mix of full-power and all-wheel-drive runs created variation across the timing screens. Josep Maria Martí moved into contention, closing to within three tenths of the leading time, while Ticktum remained competitive in third.
Nyck de Vries then surged to the top, continuing his strong form at a circuit that holds personal significance, having previously claimed both a podium and victory in Berlin. The pace continued to escalate as Maximilian Günther briefly led the session, only for Wehrlein to respond with a 57.631, overcoming his earlier technical issues to reclaim the top spot.
Late Improvements And Incidents
In the closing stages, Taylor Barnard emerged as the surprise leader, delivering a strong lap to take P1 despite a challenging season so far. Jean-Éric Vergne followed with an improved effort, moving into third and narrowing the gap to the front. Lucas di Grassi reported a near-miss after encountering a slow-moving Barnard on track, highlighting increasing traffic concerns as lap times converged.
Post-session, scrutiny fell on both Barnard and di Grassi, with investigations launched for erratic driving. Barnard had already been shown a black-and-white flag during the session, adding further significance to the stewards’ review.
As the chequered flag fell, Barnard remained at the top of the timesheets, narrowly ahead of Wehrlein. With multiple drivers demonstrating competitive pace and the track continuing to evolve, the opening session in Berlin underlined just how finely balanced the field remains.
Between championship pressure, technical adjustments, and emerging contenders, the stage is set for a tightly contested weekend at Tempelhof.