Gabriele Minì topped both sessions of the Berlin E-Prix rookie test, taking not only the fastest lap of the day but the entire weekend. The Italian F2 driver traded his PREMA F2 car for a Nissan FE car for the Monday test.
He had his first rookie test session back in Berlin last year, returning in 2025 for both the Jeddah FP0 session and returning for the second year to the rookie test. Minì told FFN that his main goal was to ‘show the pace’.
He said, “I think it will be a good experience. Back with Nissan, I’ve already been working with them. I’ve already been working with them so it will be good to try to help them like we did last year already and earlier this year with the FP0. To be honest. I think the main goal is to try to show the pace but to work well with them and show myself.”
Coming back to Berlin the Italian admitted that even though he’s been to Berlin before, each time behind the wheel of the Nissan is a new adjustment.
“It’s like three corners out of the six. I know half of the track at least, which is better. And the thing is that now the tyres have changed, the attack mode has changed so it will be a bit different. And every time there is a really big break.”
“I’ve done the test here in Berlin in 2024, then I did five laps in Jeddah and now after I don’t know how many months I’m back here. So, I’m not saying you start from scratch every time. But it’s like you kind of get used again to F2 so it’s quite hard to come back.”
Difference to F2
One of the biggest challenges for drivers coming over to FE is adjusting to the driving style and systems in the Gen3Evo machinery. Gabriele Minì talked about the multitude of controls.
He told FFN, “It’s just really strange. First of all, you go in and switch on the car and there’s nothing happening. So, it’s something you have to get used to and then all the controls. All the systems that you have in the car. You need to know how to use them and how to exploit them as best as possible.”
“Which is not always easy, it doesn’t come naturally. Sometimes you have to do things that because of the system might be quick but which are not in F2. So, it’s something that you have to get used to it already from the simulator but then on the real life, on the real track I’d say.”
With Formula One as the dream for so many young drivers the fight to get a seat grows harder every year. Being able to adapt quickly is a vital part of a driver’s repertoire with cars constantly changing and conditions rarely predictable.
Minì also emphasised the importance of taking part in tests for different series and growing your adaptability. He said, “I think it’s really important because in the end there’s never going to be a car that maybe 100% suits your driving style. So, it’s up to the driver to try to change their habits and their driver style really to try to adapt to it.
“So, I think it’s really important, and it’s really good to try to change and do different experiences in order to be good at it.”
Support from Nissan
Nissan has had a stellar season in 2025 with Oli Rowland taking the title in Berlin Race 2. Minì has been able to draw the experience from not just Rowland but the engineers and team themselves.
Something he noted as being helpful in his time in and around the team, saying, “It’s always better to have someone who’s leading the championship as your kind of mentor for those tests than someone who’s not.”
“But once again, Oli’s always been really strong. Nissan has always been a really good team. They showed it last year especially. Towards the end of the season they were always really fighting for podiums and wins. So, I’m glad I’ve been with them. I’m glad I’ve had this opportunity.”
The Italian was happy to play his part for the team, collecting data and completing the team’s run plan for the day. He told FFN, “It’s also up to me to try to put these things that the team and Oli and the drivers try to suggest and teach to put it on track. So, it’s a bit of work that needs to come from every side really.”
Minì topping the times in both session no doubt impressed the team and achieved his goal for the weekend of ‘showing the pace’.
A future in FE
Despite doing work with Nissan over the last year, Minì’s focus is still on Formula One especially as he’s reaching the mid-point in his rookie F2 season after narrowly missing out on the F3 title.
He’s had the support of Alpine since 2023 in his junior career, working with them at Enstone in his time off between races on the Simulator. However, with Alpine’s own reserve driver woes and opening for an F1 seat seems distant.
When asked about whether he wants to pursue a seat in FE, he said, “At the moment, it’s something I’m not thinking about really. I’m trying to stay focused on Formula 2 and try to have my shot at F1. Doing some simulators at Alpine and showing good speed to them. The main goal is still that.”
“But of course, in the future, if I don’t have a possibility there, then this could be probably one of the options.”
