FE | FP1 | Miami E-Prix | Cassidy tops busy first session in Miami - Motorsport

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The Miami E-Prix got underway at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, with 22 drivers taking to the track for the first of the FE weekend’s two free practice sessions (FP1). After impressive performances in Mexico and Jeddah, Nissan Formula E Team’s Oliver Rowland had a strong start to the session.

However, he failed to impress against the likes of Lucas Di Grassi, who held on to the top time for over twenty minutes, and Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy, who ultimately topped the session with an exceptional 1:23.785. Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E Team’s António Félix da Costa finished P2, with NEOM McLaren Formula E Team’s Taylor Barnard claiming P3. The session was, however, marred by a multitude of track limit violations, which saw many drivers lose their lap times.

Vandoorne sets the early benchmark

Fifty-five days after the chequered flag waved in Jeddah, the drivers returned to the track for the second edition of the Miami E-Prix. This marked the series’ first return to Miami since 2015. Despite a wet start to the day, the track appeared suitably dry to allow dry-weather running. However, some wet patches marred the track, adding a new potential challenge.

Having missed the earlier shakedown due to poor weather, the drivers were quick to take to the track, with Maserati MSG Racing’s Stoffel Vandoorne setting an early benchmark of 1:26.572.

Di Grassi top of timesheets with 25 minutes on the clock

With 30 minutes on the clock, Nissan Formula E Team’s Oliver Rowland went top of the timesheet with a 1:26,357. Within a minute, he dropped to P2 as Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans set a new top time of 1:25.957. Evan’s teammate, Nick Cassidy, then went second with a 1:26.309 before dropping to third when Cupra Kiro’s Dan Ticktum set a 1:26.213 to claim P2. Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team’s Lucas di Grassi then improved on Evans’ best time, setting a blistering 1:24.628 to claim P1.

Fifiteen minutes into the first Free Practice session of the Miami E-Prix, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team’s Sam Bird put in a 1:26.128 to claim P5, setting ahead of Ticktum, who dropped to P6, when Mahindra Racing’s Nick de Vries went fifth with a 1:26.175. De Vries’ teammate went second with a 1:25.876, 0.081 seconds ahead of Evans, but still 1.248 seconds down on Di Grassi.

Di Grassi over 1.2 seconds ahead going into the second half of the session

Despite the on-track action heating up, Di Grassi’s impressive 1:24.628 remained untouched, as drivers continued to explore the track. He sat 2.658 seconds ahead of Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E Team’s Pascal Wehrlein at the bottom of the timesheets. Wehrlein soon improved his time, setting a 1:26.498 to slot into P14. Andretti Formula E’s Nico Müller, with an unimpressive 1:26.916, found himself at the bottom of the timesheets, though with just over 15 minutes on the clock, he improved to P11, setting a time of 1:26.402.

Evan goes top with 10 minutes on the clock

Into the final quarter of the session, Evans improved his time to 1:23.966 to claim P1, crossing the line over 0.380 seconds faster than Nissan’s Norman Nato, who managed only a 1:24.346. Di Grassi, who held on to his place at the top of the timesheet for over twenty minutes, found himself in P3, with Mortara in P4 and Bird in P5.

Tag Heuer Porsche’s António Félix da Costa, went fourth with eight minutes on the clock, while Cassidy overtook his teammate Evans to claim P1 with an impressive 1:23.813. Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns slotted into P6 with a 1:24.628, ahead of Cupra Kiro’s David Beckmann who put in a 1:24.672. to claim P7. The duo were then pushed down the timesheets with five minutes left in the session as Nato improved to P5 with a 1:24.063 and Bird to P6 with a 1:24.424.

Into the last three minutes of the FE Miami E-Prix FP1, Wehrlein moved into P5 with a 1:24.063. As the seconds ticked down, Cassidy improved to a 1:23.785 to hold on to P1, as Lola Yamaha’s Zane Maloney had an early exit. Da Costa settled for P2 with a 1:23.898, with NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard rounding out the top 3 with a 1:23.956.