Taylor Barnard appears to have rediscovered his competitive edge after joining DS Penske. The Formula E driver clocked the fastest time in the first free practice session (FP1) at the Berlin E-Prix on Friday, posting a lap of 57.470 seconds. Barnard had been struggling to replicate the form he showed during his rookie season with NEOM McLaren last year, but his performance in Berlin suggests he has finally found his footing.
Berlin E-Prix 2026 FP1 Results
Barnard not only topped the timesheets at the challenging Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit but also maintained a comfortable lead over his rivals. He was followed by Porsche driver and current championship leader Pascal Wehrlein, who finished second. For Wehrlein, this is a home race, and his strong showing on Friday indicates he is in good shape to secure a podium finish this weekend. Porsche has also introduced a striking Pink Pig livery for the Berlin E-Prix, celebrating their 75th motorsport anniversary.
Citroen Racing's Jean-Eric Vergne claimed third place, ahead of DS Penske's Maximilian Gunther. Gunther, another home favorite, is seeking a breakthrough to revive his championship challenge. Mahindra Racing's Edoardo Mortara, currently second in the Drivers' Standings, finished fifth, with his teammate Nyck de Vries in sixth. Cupra Kiro driver Dan Ticktum was seventh, followed by Envision Racing's Sebastien Buemi in eighth, and Andretti drivers Felipe Drugovich and Jake Dennis in ninth and tenth, respectively.
What's Next at Berlin E-Prix
Saturday features a packed schedule. The second free practice session (FP2) is set for 9:30 am local time (1 pm IST), followed by Round 7 qualifying at 11:40 am local time (3:10 pm IST). The Round 7 race will take place in the evening at 4:05 pm local time (7:35 pm IST). The same schedule will apply on Sunday for the Round 8 race, with one key difference: Saturday's race will include an additional Pit Boost feature.
Weather conditions are expected to be dry and warm in Berlin throughout the race weekend, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 27 degrees Celsius. The historic Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit is notorious for causing high tire degradation and demanding energy management. Nick Cassidy has won the last three consecutive races in Berlin, but it remains to be seen whether a new winner will emerge or a familiar name will grace the podium.
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