F3 star surprises to top talent-packed Formula E rookie test

Formula 3 star Theophile Naël caught many by surprise to top Formula E's annual rookie test, despite no prior experience in the all-electric machinery. 

Naël's timesheet topping time in the first of two three-hour sessions was the quickest of the day at the Circuito del Jarama, with the 18-year-old faster than several more experienced drivers. 

DS Penske's young talent Nikita Bedrin set the quickest lap, posted in the second session on what was a day of four red flags and sunny conditions. 

Mahindra reserve Kush Maini completed the top three when it came to fastest laps, marking a positive rookie test for the Indian manufacturer. 

However, when it came to the slower 300kW mode, the likes of Victor Martins, Theo Pourchaire and debutant Richard Verschoor impressed.

Nissan's Abbi Pulling was comfortably the fastest female driver, just 1.5s off the fastest lap in 11th.

Morning session

The morning session was one of red flag disruption, with it being required three times across the opening three hours of running. 

A first red flag was required just minutes into the session after Andretti's Callum Voisin spun at the high-speed Turn 5 before pulling off the circuit. Minor repairs were required before he went back on track. 

Just short of the halfway point and a second red flag was flown, this time for Porsche's 16-year-old Elia Weiss, who locked up at the first corner and became beached in the gravel. 

Unfortunately, his session worsened considerably, as he was the cause of a third red flag in the final minutes of the morning. 

Weiss carried too much speed into the banked Turn 3 and went into the narrow gravel trap, before making contact with the barrier. 

While Weiss was having problems, it was Mahindra's Naël who topped the morning timesheets on a 1m 29.216, two tenths ahead of Maini in the other Mahindra and the DS Penskes of Bedrin and Daniil Kvyat.

Afternoon session

Compared to the morning, the afternoon session was incredibly smoother. Just one red flag period took place an hour into the running, due to significant gravel between Turns 3 and 4 needing to be cleared. 

Unfortunately, following his morning difficulties, Porsche decided to limit Weiss' running, with only a few laps completed. 

At the top and it was again the Mahindras and Bedrin setting the strongest times, but it was the latter who was quickest in the session, posting a 1m 29.250, just shy of the fastest time of the day.

Maini was second and just 0.080s adrift, with Naël impressing once again in third. Victor Martins and Pourchaire completed the top five.