Théophile Naël sets the pace in Madrid Rookie Test for Mahindra Racing

Naël leads the way at Jarama

Théophile Naël delivered a statement performance at the 2026 Madrid Rookie Test, setting the fastest time of the day for Mahindra Racing with a 1m29.216s lap during the morning session.

Naël’s benchmark proved untouchable. Despite improved track conditions later in the day, no driver was able to eclipse his morning effort, underlining the strength of his performance. The Frenchman, who usually competes in FIA Formula 3, further reinforced his credentials by ending the afternoon session third overall, capping off an impressive debut in Formula E machinery.

Mahindra shows strong form

DS PENSKE’s Nikita Bedrin topped the afternoon session with a 1m29.250s effort, but it fell just short of Naël’s morning benchmark. The narrow margin highlighted the competitive nature of the field, even if the ultimate headline belonged to Mahindra.

Disruptions and track challenges

The morning session was punctuated by several red flags as drivers familiarised themselves with both the GEN3 Evo package and the technical demands of the Jarama circuit. By contrast, the afternoon ran more smoothly, interrupted only by a brief pause to clear gravel at Turn 3.

While incidents were part of the learning curve, the overall running provided teams with meaningful track time and a clear performance reference — none clearer than Naël’s session-defining lap.

The Madrid Rookie Test once again served as a critical proving ground — and in 2026, it was Théophile Naël who left the strongest impression.