French Teenager Theophile Nael Dominates Historic Madrid Formula E Rookie Test
In a stunning display of emerging talent, 18-year-old French driver Theophile Nael topped the timesheets on his Formula E debut with Mahindra Racing during the Madrid Rookie Test on Sunday. This landmark event marked the first time the rookie test was held at the historic Circuito del Jarama, following the inaugural Madrid E-Prix where Antonio Felix da Costa secured victory.
Nael and Bedrin Lead the Pack in Competitive Sessions
Driving the No. 48 Mahindra Racing car, Theophile Nael recorded the fastest time of the morning session with an impressive benchmark of 1:29.216. Russian driver Nikita Bedrin, representing DS Penske, topped the afternoon session with a time of 1:29.250 but was unable to surpass Nael's overall leading performance. Both drivers demonstrated remarkable consistency, each finishing third in the alternate session.
Mahindra Racing's official reserve driver, Kush Maini, secured a strong second place in both sessions, highlighting the team's competitive edge. The test featured 20 elite rookie drivers who had the opportunity to experience the powerful GEN3 Evo Formula E car across six hours of valuable track time.
Driver Reactions: Positive Development and Team Progress
Speaking after his successful outing, Theophile Nael expressed his satisfaction with the team's achievements. "It was a great day. We completed all of our run plans and found some intriguing things for the race team," Nael stated. "I'm happy with the way we evolved throughout the day, and the things we discovered will really help the team going forward. That's the main job for us, and we did that. I'm happy with that and I really enjoyed the day."
Nikita Bedrin, who finished third in the morning before claiming the top spot in the afternoon, shared his positive experience. "It was a really positive day here in Madrid. I ended the second session in P1 and P2 overall," said the 20-year-old driver. "We also completed a lot of test items for the team, and we're really happy with what we achieved. I had strong lap times in both energy-saving and push laps. It's not an easy track to drive, so I think we adapted well."
Bedrin further celebrated his performance on Instagram, posting several pictures from the track with the caption: "Ending the day as the fastest here in Madrid at the @fiaformulae rookie test! Positive development work completed today. The track is really challenging and bumpy, but it made for a highly productive and genuinely fun session. Enjoyed every second of it – thanks to @ds_penske_fe for the opportunity."
Women Drivers Showcase Talent in Madrid Rookie Test
The Madrid Rookie Test also provided a platform for female racing talent, with four drivers who had previously participated in Formula E's Women's Test taking part. This group included Abbi Pulling from Nissan, Ella Lloyd representing Envision Racing, Juju Noda of Jaguar, and Bianca Bustamante from Cupra Kiro. Their involvement underscores Formula E's commitment to diversity and inclusion in motorsport.
Looking Ahead: Berlin Double-Header on the Horizon
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship continues its exciting season with Rounds 7 and 8 scheduled as a double-header in Berlin. These races will take place from 1–3 May at the iconic Tempelhof Airport circuit, promising more high-voltage electric racing action for fans worldwide.
This successful rookie test in Madrid not only highlighted emerging talents like Theophile Nael and Nikita Bedrin but also provided crucial development data for teams as they prepare for the upcoming challenges of the Formula E championship.
