Diriyah - EL1: Bird dominates ahead of Vergne and Evans

A tight first free practice session at the Diriyah circuit was dominated by Sam Bird. His teammate finished 3rd, Jean-Éric Vergne moved into 2nd position.

Published on 26/01/2023 à 16:55

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Diriyah – EL1: Bird dominates ahead of Vergne and Evans

Sam Bird dominates the first free practice session in Diriyah. ©Joao Filipe / DPPI

The single-seaters made their first mark on the Diriyah circuit. A session with tight times, the first 19 drivers in the same second a few minutes from the end of the session. The black and gold of DS Penske have long occupied the first two places, Jean-Éric Vergne ahead of his teammate and reigning world champion Stoffel Vandoorne. But it is the Briton Sam Bird who dominates, beating his competitors to the post at the end of the session, with a time of 1'10''402 in his car Jaguar. The second driver of the team closes the podium, 3 tenths behind Vergne. The Frenchman was neck and neck with Sette Camara, separated by a few hundredths in the middle of the session.

New Zealander Nick Cassidy finished 5th, ahead of Dan Ticktum who completed several fast laps during the session. The top 10 is completed by four other different teams. Jake Hughes takes the best time in the first sector and a 7th place. The second Envision Racing car is hot on its heels, Lucas di Grassi and Jake Dennis in 9th and 10th respectively.

Sacha Fenestraz finished his session in 12th place, 6 tenths behind the leader. Norman Nato is also under the second of the reference time, in 17th position.

The top 10 of EL1 of the Diriyah E-Prix:

The top 10 of EL1 of the Diriyah E-Prix.

The drivers will have a second free practice session tomorrow at 11:25 a.m. to prepare for qualifying for this first event (13:40 p.m.). The race will take place at 18 p.m.

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