Envision’s Sebastian Buemi set the initial pace in Brazil with a 1:12.341 in FP1, as Formula E action from Brazil got underway.
The session was fairly routine, allowing the teams plenty of running after the month off and getting to grips with the new track.
After taking pole position in Cape Town, Sacha Fenestraz continued to show his pace, setting the second fastest time, just over a tenth slower than Buemi. His team-mate Norman Nato struggled for pace, only posting a time good enough for 16th.
Continuing their form of one lap pace, NIO 333’s Dan Ticktum brought his car home third fastest, just over one hundredth slower than Fenestraz ahead of him. Ticktum’s team-mate Sergio Sette Camara ended the first session of his home weekend in tenth, just over three-tenths down on his stable-mate.
Last year’s champion Stoffel Vandoorne found the wall in the session, losing his front wing and causing significant damage to the nose cone of his DS Penske. Despite this, the Belgian driver ended the session in fourth.
McLaren had the most consistent team performance of the teams, with their drivers Rene Rast and Jake Hughes coming home in sixth and seventh respectively.
Title leaders Porsche failed to impress in the practice session. Pascal Wehrlein was half a second off the lead pace down in 12th, while teammate Antonio Felix Da Costa lapped the streets of Sao Paulo in a time good enough for 17th.
Customer team Andretti had a similar session; their lead man Jake Dennis narrowly missed out on the top ten to finish the session 11th. German teammate Andre Lotterer languished down in 20th, 1.4 seconds off the pace.
ABT Cupra had a difficult time after missing out in Cape Town due to mechanical issues; their two cars finished the session 19th and 22nd.
The action continues in Sao Paulo tomorrow; second practice kicks off at 7:25 am local time
