FORMULA E PRACTICE WRAP UP AT MADRID
The 2026 Madrid E-Prix got underway with two intriguing Free Practice sessions that showcased unpredictable conditions, standout performances, and early signs of a competitive weekend ahead.
Ticktum Leads the way in FP1
Dan Ticktum emerged as the surprise benchmark in the opening Free Practice session, putting in an impressive performance for CUPRA KIRO on home soil. With the team running a special CUPRA livery and Spanish driver Pepe Martà representing the home crowd, expectations were high, and Ticktum delivered.
Despite a late scare that saw him run through the gravel, the Brit rebounded immediately to post a session-topping 1m29.403s, finishing two-tenths clear of the field.
Nyck de Vries secured second place in a dramatic session for the Mahindra Racing driver. The Dutchman triggered an early red flag after crashing at the chicane, damaging his front wing and raising concerns about steering issues. However, he managed to return to the pits, rejoin the session, and recover strongly to P2.
Maximilian Guenther put in a solid performance to take third for DS PENSKE, followed by Pascal Wehrlein for Porsche in fourth. Taylor Barnard completed the top five, underlining a competitive showing for DS PENSKE with both cars in the upper order.
Mixed weather conditions added an extra layer of challenge. Light rain prior to the session left the track slightly damp but not enough to deter drivers from pushing early. The chicane proved particularly tricky, with Edoardo Mortara narrowly avoiding a similar incident to his teammate de Vries after locking up late in the lap.
Drugovich Tops Wet FP2
Free Practice 2 brought a shift in conditions and a new name to the top of the timesheets, as Felipe Drugovich impressed for Andretti.
On a wet and slippery circuit following overnight rain, drivers struggled for grip early on, with several excursions into the gravel, particularly at Turn 1. Even experienced champions like Lucas di Grassi and Jake Dennis were caught out, though both avoided significant damage.
As the session progressed and the track began to dry, lap times improved dramatically. Nyck de Vries looked set to dominate after going nearly a second clear of the field late in the session with a 1m38.963s.
However, in the closing moments, a flurry of improvements reshuffled the order. Drugovich produced a standout lap of 1m38.796s to take top spot, continuing an impressive start to his rookie Formula E campaign.
Jean-Éric Vergne followed closely in second for Citroën Racing, just 0.074s behind, while Norman Nato secured third for Nissan. De Vries ultimately had to settle for fourth, with Nick Cassidy rounding out the top five in the second Citroën entry.
All Eyes on Qualifying
With dry and wet conditions already influencing performance, teams now face a crucial challenge heading into qualifying. The evolving track surface and tight margins suggest an unpredictable fight for pole position.
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