Naël & Maini Lead Mahindra 1-2 in Madrid Rookie Test – Formula E

by Ryan Cooper March 22, 2026

written by Ryan Cooper March 22, 2026 0 comments

Théophile Naël made a stunning debut in Formula E, setting the fastest time in the first session of the Madrid Rookie Test on Sunday, March 22, 2026, with a lap of 1m29.216s. The young driver, currently competing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, topped the timesheets at the Circuito del Jarama, showcasing impressive pace in his first outing with the Mahindra team.

Naël wasn’t alone in delivering a strong performance for Mahindra, as his teammate and the team’s official Reserve Driver, Kush Maini, finished closely behind. The duo secured a one-two finish in the opening session, signaling a promising start for the Indian outfit. DS PENSKES rounded out the top four, with Nikita Bedrin ahead of Daniil Kvyat.

Zak O’Sullivan navigated a minor setback – a trip through the gravel at Turn 3 – to secure fifth place for Envision Racing, while Théo Pourchaire claimed sixth for Citroën Racing. Reigning DTM Champion Ayhancan Güven put Porsche seventh on the leaderboard, and Abbi Pulling finished eighth for Nissan. Richard Verschoor showed promise for Lola Yamaha ABT in ninth, and Freddie Slater completed the top ten.

The session began at 09:00 local time under sunny skies, with teams eager to maximize track time with the GEN3 Evo cars. Abbi Pulling initially set the pace, leveraging her familiarity with both the car and the circuit from her participation in the 2024 Women’s Test.

The morning session wasn’t without incident, as a spin for Andretti’s Callum Voisin brought out the first red flag. He quickly returned to the track after repairs. Later, Porsche’s Elia Weiss also experienced a stoppage at Turn 1, triggering another red flag, and ultimately ended the session with a trip to the gravel at Turn 3.

The session has paused for lunch and will resume at 14:00 local time. Fans can follow the action live on the Formula E Race Centre and social media channels.