The Formula E grid roared back to life in Mexico City after the festive break, with the opening practice sessions for the Mexico City E-Prix setting the stage for a thrilling weekend. The spotlight fell firmly on two drivers who have historically turned speed in Mexico into championship glory: Andretti's Jake Dennis and Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein.
FP1: Jake Dennis Picks Up Where He Left Off
Fresh from his victory in the season opener in São Paulo, Jake Dennis showed no signs of slowing down. The British driver immediately stamped his authority on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit during the first free practice session (FP1) on Friday. Dennis recorded the fastest lap of 1 minute 06.053 seconds to top the timesheets, bringing his Brazilian momentum directly to North America.
Ahead of the race weekend, Dennis had emphasized his focus. "Starting the season with a win in São Paulo was a great way to kick things off, but the focus now is firmly on Mexico City," he stated. "It's a track I know well and I've got some good memories there... We've shown we have strong pace, so the aim is to put together a clean weekend and keep building momentum as a team."
His confidence is rooted in a powerful trend. Dennis won the Mexico City E-Prix back in 2019 and proceeded to clinch the Formula E championship that very season. In FP1, he was followed closely by Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein in second place, with Nissan's Oliver Rowland securing third. The DS Penske duo of Maximilian Gunther and Taylor Barnard rounded out the top five.
FP2: Pascal Wehrlein Strikes Back
The narrative shifted slightly in the second practice session. While Dennis continued to show strong form, it was Pascal Wehrlein who emerged with the fastest time in FP2. The Porsche driver, who had finished second in FP1, topped the later session, sending a clear signal of his and his team's competitive edge.
Wehrlein's history in Mexico mirrors that of his rival. The German driver won here in Season 10 and, just like Dennis, converted that victory into a Formula E world title. This historical precedent adds a fascinating layer of psychological intrigue to their on-track battle.
The order behind Wehrlein in FP2 saw a reshuffle compared to the first session. Envision Racing's seasoned campaigner Sebastien Buemi took second, while DS Penske's Taylor Barnard impressed again to finish third. Wehrlein's Porsche teammate, Nico Muller, was fourth, with Jake Dennis slotting into fifth. Notably, Oliver Rowland, third in FP1, could only manage 12th in the second session.
Mexico: A Proven Launchpad for Champions
The performances of Dennis and Wehrlein have ignited talk of the "Mexico trend" within the Formula E paddock. The circuit has repeatedly served as a prophetic indicator of ultimate success. For a driver, winning or showing dominant pace at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez appears to be a powerful omen for championship aspirations.
As the series celebrates a milestone 150th race in Mexico City, the electric racing spectacle continues to captivate fans globally. The combined results from Friday's practice suggest the fight for pole position and the race win will be intensely contested, with both Dennis and Wehrlein carrying not just speed, but the weight of a winning precedent, into the rest of the weekend.
