FP2 | FE | Round 12 | Jakarta E-Prix | Hughes topped dirty session

Formula E kicked off Round 12 in Jakarta with a dramatic Free Practice 1 session under intense heat. Drivers quickly hit the Ancol Beach circuit to adapt to the challenging conditions. Maximilian Günter topped the timesheets with a blistering 1:06.05. On the other hand, Robin Frijns brought out a red flag after crashing before Turn 7 due to suspension failure. Championship leader Oliver Rowland lost valuable track time early on and later hit the barriers, though he still managed fourth. Several drivers improved late on, but no one could beat Günther’s time. During FP1, the heat seemed to play a big role in the strategy of the teams. Meanwhile, they should prepare for possible weather changes for FP2, as rain was predicted ahead of this session of the Jakarta E-Prix and the humidity was high.

First action on track

As the track went green, the first cars took the chance to test out the different conditions. After a very dry and hot FP1 of the Jakarta E-Prix, FP2 looked entirely different. With a wet track, high humidity and a high chance of new rain. Though not having the same conditions, the drivers started to put in timed laps early in the session. The two Jaguar drivers took the first timed laps, with Nick Cassidy only slightly ahead.

While these times didn’t mean that they would stand at the end, it was clear, that the drivers did gain grip the longer they were on track. Though they did not come near the pace of Maximilian Günther from FP1 of the Jakarta E-Prix, at this point of FP2.

Turn 6 as the challenge point during FP2 of the Jakarta E-Prix

While the drivers had to fight with dust in the first practice session, this one brought out some slides from the drivers. As Taylor Barnard slid around in his McLaren while putting in the fastest lap so far in the session. All eyes were on Frijns as he slid around the Ancol Beach circuit in Jakarta, as the issues of the car from the day before seemed to be resolved.

Meanwhile, Turn 6 looked like the curve that could bring the drivers off the track. As more and more slid around that turn of the Jakarta E-Prix, during the first 10 minutes of FP1. Though the wet track could potentially be the cause for issues, it seemed that the teams learned some things during the wet Tokyo E-Prix.

Early Attack Mode laps around the Ancol Beach circuit

Barnard and his teammate Sam Bird started the pack of with early Attack Mode laps, that put their time up for this FP2. Though, as the other teams started to do that as well, it was clear that McLaren had some differences to the top cars. With 20 minutes left on the clock, most of the cars are back in the box. As Da Costa complained about his grip on the track and Nick Cassidy’s front right suspension gave out.

Though the dust was not as big of a problem during FP2 of the Jakarta E-Prix, the track still looked dirty. Visible on the pitted cars, which made dirt the new problem next to humidity and wet conditions.

Can Günther keep his streak?

With 15 minutes left on the clock, the pitted cars, started to go back on track again. And while a race line did start to dry up, the track was still wet due to the humidity in Jakarta. Which caused for sliding all around the grid.

Though these conditions were anything but ideal, the drivers using Attack Mode during the lap, could improve their times, as they started to put out their push laps. With Qualifying ahead, the drivers and teams wanted to learn as much as possible during this FP2. Due to the weather, it could be that Qualifying has entirely different track conditions.

Günther started his push laps of FP2 during the Jakarta E-Prix with 10 minutes left on the clock. The DS Penske driver, wanted to build his track record, as he was the fastest on track 7 times out of the last 8 sessions.

The Last few minutes of sliding and dirt

While the last minutes started to count down, Frijns and Rowland were put under investigation for tyre pressure infraction. As those two being watched by the race control, the rest of the pack fought for each track position during FP2 of the Jakarta E-Prix. Though, a penalty during the free practice sessions would not impact the Qualifying or Race that much.

With only 3 minutes left to go, the drivers used another Attack Mode to put in the fastest lap of FP2. Though, the time of Jake Hughes is yet to beat by his competition. As the time ran out, it looked like the drivers didn’t push for a faster lap to keep the risk at a minimum. Due to Qualifying being only 2 hours after FP2. As the last flying laps were put in, the chequered flag went out for this session. Though, the drivers did train a standing start with these track conditions to complete FP2.

FP2 of the Jakarta E-Prix ended with Jake Hughes on top, followed by Pascal Wehrlein and Taylor Barnard.

Provisional Results

1. Jake Hughes
2. Pascal Wehrlein
3. Taylor Barnard
4. Edoardo Mortara
5. Stoffel Vandoorne
6. Nyck De Vries
7. Oliver Rowland
8. Robin Frijns
9. Jean-Éric Vergne
10. Jake Dennis
11. Sébastien Buemi
12. António Félix Da Costa
13. Mitch Evans
14. Norman Nato
15. Dan Ticktum
16. Nico Müller
17. Maximilian Günther
18. Sam Bird
19. David Beckmann
20. Zane Maloney
21. Lucas Di Grassi
22. Nick Cassidy