Porsche Teammates Crash in Berlin Practice — A Lively Turn to Formula E Weekend

At the Tempelhof Airport circuit in Berlin, the usual calm of a practice session erupted into chaos when Porsche teammates Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa collided during Free Practice 1 (FP1), drawing both amusement and concern from the paddock.

What Happened

In the twilight of FP1, Wehrlein—on a hot lap—slowed unexpectedly off the racing line. Da Costa, believing his teammate was clear, overtook, only for Wehrlein to accelerate into the back of him, sending da Costa crashing into the wall  .

• Despite the impact, Wehrlein still topped FP1; da Costa’s car was damaged and the session was immediately red-flagged.

• The incident triggered a three-place grid penalty and one penalty point for Wehrlein  .

• Porsche team principal Florian Modlinger made clear: this kind of contact is unacceptable, even in practice  .

Reactions in the Pit Lane

Once it was confirmed both drivers were unharmed, the paddock’s mood shifted — team principals and commentators couldn’t help but laugh, struck by the surreal comedy of the incident  .

But amid the laughter, Modlinger remained serious:

“I do not expect that they are best friends… They are professionals and they have to comply with team rules… But this contact is not acceptable.”  

Championship Context

The crash holds significant implications:

• Wehrlein, a former world champion, remains in title contention with three races remaining.

• Da Costa, trailing closely, retains hopes of a strong finish   .

• The penalty on Wehrlein adds complexity to their strategy for the upcoming races.

Despite the FP1 clash, the event showcased Porsche’s endurance: Wehrlein would go on to secure two podium finishes during the Berlin double-header, helping the team maintain its championship leads