The DS Penske team showcased a solid performance in Round 2 of the Formula E championship at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
What happened to DS Penske in Mexico?
Both drivers, Jean-Éric Vergne and Maximilian Günther, made their mark during qualifying, advancing to the Duels thanks to consistently quick lap times.
The qualifying session saw an intense teammate battle in the quarter-finals, where JEV narrowly outpaced Günther in a closely fought contest. This earned Vergne a spot in the Semi-Finals, where he delivered the third-best time overall. Günther also performed strongly, starting the race in sixth position.
Porsche dominated the headlines early, with Pascal Wehrlein setting a record fourth pole position at the circuit. Despite this, it was Oliver Rowland who emerged victorious, delivering a standout performance for Nissan.
The race was punctuated by tactical overtakes, safety car deployments, and a few incidents, including a collision that ended David Beckmann’s race. DS Penske, however, avoided trouble and executed their strategy effectively, securing crucial points for the championship standings. Jean-Éric Vergne’s solid performance saw him cross the line in 5th place, earning 10 valuable points. Günther followed closely behind in 6th, securing an additional 8 points for the team.
What do the drivers think?
Vergne, reflecting on the weekend, was cautiously optimistic about the team’s results:
“On the whole, it was a good weekend for both me and the team. But I‘m still feeling a bit frustrated as it’s the second time in two races that the Safety Car has come out just when I’ve activated my Attack Mode. Without that, I really think we had the potential to finish on the podium.”
The race itself unfolded as a strategic affair, a contrast to the dramatic opener in São Paulo. The DS PENSKE team executed a well-planned attack mode strategy, ensuring both drivers remained competitive while avoiding on-track incidents. Their calculated approach enabled them to maintain strong positions throughout the race.
Vergne continued:
“The positive side is clearly finishing in the points for the second consecutive occasion, having a competitive car, and that we’ve all worked well. We need to keep pushing to do even better next time.”
The second race with DS Penske for Günther
Günther echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the team’s consistent performance and steady progress. He said:
“Sixth place for me and two cars in the top six is a solid team result after a very positive weekend. We suffered a bit with tyre degradation, but we delivered a good all-round performance and scored some important points.”
Despite the challenges of managing tyre degradation, Günther was particularly satisfied with the improving synergy between himself and the team. This was only his second race with DS PENSKE, but the growing rapport is a promising sign for future rounds.
“I‘m happy with our speed in qualifying but also with the way that the relationship has developed between myself and the team. I’m feeling better and better in the car, and the goal is now to continue on this trajectory to move further up the order. Now I can’t wait for Jeddah!”
Next Stop: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The Formula E championship heads to Jeddah for the next two rounds, featuring a debut set of night races on February 14 and 15, 2025. DS PENSKE is eager to carry their form into the unique and challenging new venue.
