Maximilian Günther sets the pace in Free Practice 1 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Lights Out
DS Penske’s Maximilian Günther topped the timesheets in Free Practice 1 for Round 4 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The German driver posted a lap of 1:15.714 to edge out Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein by just 0.030 seconds.
The session saw 20 drivers complete their first running on the challenging 3.001 km (1.865 miles) street circuit, with Günther demonstrating strong pace across all three sectors.
Attack Mode
Top 5 Finishers:
- Maximilian Günther (DS PENSKE) – 1:15.714
- Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) – 1:15.744 (+0.030)
- Jake Dennis (Andretti) – 1:15.876 (+0.162)
- Edoardo Mortara (MAHINDRA) – 1:15.956 (+0.242)
- Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) – 1:15.965 (+0.251)
The top five were separated by just 0.251 seconds, highlighting the competitive nature of the field. Porsche showed strong form with Wehrlein in second, while Andretti’s Jake Dennis rounded out the top three.
Sector Analysis:
Looking at the fastest individual sector times:
- Sector 1: Wehrlein (21.332s)
- Sector 2: Dennis (23.347s)
- Sector 3: Günther (30.747s)
Günther’s theoretical best lap of 1:15.714 matched his actual fastest lap – one of only two drivers to achieve this perfect lap alongside Wehrlein. This indicates clean, consistent running from both championship contenders.
Notable Performances:
- MAHINDRA Racing showed competitive pace with Mortara in P4, posting the 7th fastest time in Sector 2
- Envision Racing’s Sébastien Buemi finished P7 (1:16.027), demonstrating solid midfield pace
- CUPRA KIRO’s Dan Ticktum impressed in P8 with strong sector times across the board
Struggles:
- Jaguar TCS Racing’s António Félix da Costa had a difficult session, finishing P20 (1:18.214), 2.5 seconds off the pace
- LOLA YAMAHA ABT struggled with both drivers in the bottom three – Maloney P18 and Di Grassi P19
The Bottom Line
With the top 16 drivers covered by less than a second, Free Practice 1 sets the stage for what promises to be a tightly contested qualifying session. Günther and DS PENSKE have laid down an early marker, but Porsche and Andretti are breathing down their necks.
Session: Free Practice 1, Round 04 – Jeddah E-Prix
Date: February 12, 2026
Circuit: Jeddah Corniche Circuit (3.001 km / 1.865 miles)
Source: FIA Formula E Timing & Scoring