Mitch Evans started his São Paulo weekend in the best way possible, as the Jaguar TCS Racing driver topped the first free practice session of the weekend. Setting a time of 1:12.555s, Evans kept his cool in the hot conditions to go fastest around the Brazilian street circuit.
The Jaguar team come into this weekend as the favourites after dominating the race result here last season. The British manufacturer achieved their first 1-2-3 result here as a powertrain supplier, and will look to replicate this incredible achievement again this weekend.
WHERE TO WATCH: Where and how to watch the São Paulo E-Prix in your country
Evans set a time two tenths quicker than last year’s Julius Baer Pole Position – set by DS PENSKE’s Stoffel Vandoorne in Season 9 – with teammate Nick Cassidy slotting into second. Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara had a promising start by finishing in third, with ERT’s Dan Ticktum doing a solid job to finish fourth. TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein ended up in fifth with his teammate Antonio Felix da Costa also finishing within the top 10 too.
Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther was sixth, Jake Hughes of NEOM McLaren achieved seventh off the back of his best-ever finish in Diriyah last time out, with rookie Jehan Daruvala exploring this circuit for the first time but still managing a respectable ninth. Norman Nato of Andretti rounded out the top 10.
How it happened
The session got underway at 16:30 local time, with air temperatures reaching 36°C. It’s set to be a warm weekend, which will not only push the drivers to their limits but the cars too.
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This 2.93km street circuit is home to the longest straight in Formula E, and will certainly be a prime overtaking spot during the race on the journey down to Turn 1. ERT’s Dan Ticktum was using the session to find the limits, going off at the entry into the first chicane and having to rejoin the track down at Turn 3 where ATTACK MODE is located. It’s an occurrence that we witnessed several times during the championship’s first visit here last year and will likely see again.
With halfway of the session completed, Stoffel Vandoorne found himself fastest. The Belgian driver achieved his only Julius Baer Pole Position of Season 9 at this E-Prix, but wasn’t able to convert it into a podium. The DS PENSKE team are currently second in the Teams’ World Championship and Vandoorne claimed he had “unfinished business” at this Sambadrome – can he do the double and get consecutive pole positions at this circuit?
Although this race was dominated by Jaguar TCS Racing last year, several other teams had their time at the top. The TAG Heuer Porsche team had their own chance at filling the top three slots with nine minutes to go, with reigning champion Jake Dennis quickest followed by Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa in second and Norman Nato in third.
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However, track evolution meant the times kept tumbling as the 30 minute session drew to an end. Edoardo Mortara of Mahindra Racing went second with a time of 1:13.096, just 0.028s off the time of Mitch Evans who was quickest at the time. Both Mortara and Mahindra are without points over the first three rounds, but will hope their fortunes change here in São Paulo. Ticktum also slid into third with less than two minutes to go, as the street circuit superstar looks to get his first points of the season.
However, it was Jaguar TCS Racing who got back to the top and dominated the top two positions with Evans going quickest at the chequered flag. Mitch, who won the race last year went two tenths quicker than his teammate and current standings leader Nick Cassidy who went into second, with the team looking just as strong here as they were in 2023.
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2024 São Paulo E-Prix Round 4
On to race day on Saturday 16 March; Free Practice 2 kicks off the day at 07:25 local, qualifying follows at 09:40 local with lights out on Round 4 at 14:00 local/17:00 UTC.
WATCH: How to watch or stream Formula E's Sao Paulo E-Prix where you are
View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.