Championship leader Pascal Wehrlein crashes in inaugural Formula E race practice session in Hyderabad

The Formula E Twitter handle said the delay was due to force majeure (unforeseeable circumstances) and did not specify that it was because of a dusty track.

Due to force majeure, Free Practice 1 has been delayed until 16:45 local time.#HyderabadEPrix

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) February 10, 2023

Soon after the session started, championship leader Wehrlein of the Porsche Formula E team suffered a heavy crash at Turn 18, raising questions over track conditions.

It's a heavy shunt for our Championship leader @PWehrlein at the start of FP1.

Thankfully, he's out of the car and okay. @GreenkoIndia #HyderabadEPrix

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) February 10, 2023

However, it was later revealed that a mechanical failure contributed to the crash.

“The throttle was stuck open and that led to the crash. It is normal for a street circuit to be dusty at the start. Had slick tyres been used, the grip would have been an issue but the (Hankook) tyres have a much harder compound,” a track official said.

Sebastian Buemi of Envision Racing set the fastest time of the session.

The 2.835-km street circuit, constructed around the Hussain Sagar lake by the NTR Gardens, will see the first top-tier FIA World Championship motorsport event in the country for a decade and will become India’s first elite electric motor racing event.

Related: Where to buy Formula E tickets, and how much they cost

Where to watch Formula E?

For people who are wondering where to watch Formula E, Star Sports Select 2 will televise the race in India.

Disney+ Hotstar will show all of the competitive action live from the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad ePrix.

Disney+ Hotstar is the destination for all the Formula E action across the weekend.

Mahindra & Mahindra to supply course cars

Formula E and Mahindra & Mahindra on Friday, 10 February announced that all course cars and vehicles for VIP guest laps at the inaugural 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix taking place this Saturday will be provided by Mahindra & Mahindra.

The electric vehicle selection will consist of six course cars and eight Mahindra & Mahindra XUV4000 vehicles for VIP laps.

Making its debut in India courtesy of Mahindra & Mahindra is the Battista — the pure-electric hyper GT by Italian luxury carmaker Automobili Pininfarina.

Also read: Drivers sceptical of India’s 1st street racing circuit during Formula E

(With PTI inputs)