Formula E 2023: Nato and Vergne Share Top Spot in FP2 Ahead of Shanghai E-Prix
In a closely contested second free practice session for the Shanghai E-Prix, French drivers Norman Nato and Jean-Eric Vergne shared the top spot with an identical lap time of 1m13.430s on the shorter Formula E layout of the Shanghai International Circuit.
Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein narrowly missed out on the top spot, finishing just 0.013s behind the leading duo. The DS Penske pair of Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries completed the top five, with less than six tenths separating all 22 drivers.
The 30-minute session saw Envision’s Sebastien Buemi initially top the order with a 1m13.696s, before Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz dropped the benchmark to a 1m13.552s. Mahindra’s de Vries then shaved off 0.002s to take the lead, only to be eclipsed by Nato’s session-best time, which Vergne matched moments later.
“Current championship leader Nick Cassidy secured ninth place, while McLaren’s Sam Bird finished 21st on his return to racing after recovering from his broken hand.”
In contrast to Friday’s FP1, which was marred by a software issue that halted the session for almost an hour, FP2 ran smoothly without any interruptions. The earlier problem, traced back to a new software update by battery supplier WAE, affected five cars, including both Porsches, two ERTs, and a Mahindra. After reverting to the previous software, the session resumed without incident.
An FIA spokesperson confirmed that the software issue was “quickly identified and successfully addressed to allow for the session to resume.” Autosport understands that the problem related to a safety setting with a threshold set too low, triggering the cars to come to a halt on track.
The Shanghai E-Prix marks the Formula E championship’s inaugural visit to the circuit, with the 2023 schedule featuring a unique layout. As the series looks ahead to the 2024 season, the Formula E calendar is expected to feature new and exciting venues, solidifying its position as a premier electric racing championship.
Formula E Schedule: Shanghai E-Prix FP2 Result
- Norman Nato (Nissan) – 1m13.430s
- Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Penske) – 1m13.430s
- Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) – 1m13.443s
- Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Penske) – 1m13.451s
- Nyck de Vries (Mahindra) – 1m13.464s
February 18, 2023, by Motorsport Images.
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