Just Electric

Frijns fastest in practice three in Diriyah

Robin Frijns put in a late lap to go fastest in the only practice session ahead of the second race of the weekend in Diriyah.

The Envision Virgin Racing driver set a 1m07.294s lap to go ahead of yesterday’s race winner, Nyck de Vries and team-mate Nick Cassidy.

The session ended in a dramatic fashion as Venturi’s Edoardo Mortara crashed during the practice start after the chequered flag. Mortara didn’t slow for the first corner and ran into the barriers. He had to be extracted from his car was taken to hospital for preliminary checks. An update from the team said he was conscious and talking. 

The session was briefly paused mid-way through as Andre Lotterer crashed at Turn 11. He came to a stop at Turn 12 and the red flags were brought out to clear the Porsche. He ended the session 24th as the rest of the field found improvements once action resumed. 

There were no other incidents in the session, though Mitch Evans did come under investigation for improper use of attack mode.

Nissan’s Oliver Rowland took fourth with Antonio Felix Da Costa rounding out the top five for DS Techeetah.

Mortara finished sixth before the practice start incident, ahead of Mercedes’ Stoffel Vandoorne. Nissan’s Sebastien Buemi, Jaguar’s Sam Bird and Lucas di Grassi rounded out the top ten for Audi.

Oliver Turvey set the 11th quickest lap for NIO ahead of Jake Dennis in the BMW, Rene Rast in the Audi, Jean-Eric Vergne in the DS Techeetah and Tom Blomqvist in the NIO

The top-20 was rounded out by Venturi’s Norman Nato, BMW’s Maximillian Guenther, Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein, Mahindra’s Alex Lynn and Dragon’s Nico Mueller.

Evans was 21st for Jaguar ahead of Alex Sims in the Mahindra and Sergio Sette Camara in the Dragon.

Rob Lomas

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