The 2024/2025 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is wrapping up in London this weekend with a double-header on a unique track. The fully electric single-seaters are racing on a circuit that weaves in and out of the iconic ExCeL exhibition centre, in the east of London. This final event is particularly important for DS Automobiles and its partner PENSKE AUTOSPORT, who are aiming to maintain a podium position in the final teams’ standings.
True to his reputation as a fierce competitor, Jean-Éric Vergne put in a stellar performance, moving up from 15th on the starting grid to finish in fifth place. After opting for an early mandatory PIT BOOST stop – a new ultra-fast 30-second charge introduced this season, providing a 10% energy increase – Vergne and his DS E-TENSE FE25 showed excellent pace. Following the PIT BOOST stops by all the competitors, JEV found himself in sixth, a position he held until the chequered flag before benefiting from a competitor’s penalty, repositioning him to 5th.
The result could have been even better but just as Vergne activated his second Attack Mode, a safety car neutralised the race, which likely cost him a finish higher up the order. Nonetheless, fifth place represented a strong recovery and a solid reward, earning ten valuable points for both driver and team. Still sixth in the championship, JEV is now within striking distance of a top-five finish. Unfortunately, Maximilian Günther wasn’t able to replicate his teammate’s success. After advancing to the duels in qualifying and starting from a promising sixth on the grid, the German driver was squeezed into the wall on lap one. The resulting damage to his suspension ended his race prematurely. Despite Vergne’s 10 points, DS PENSKE dropped one spot and now sits fourth in the teams’ standings. The 16th and final race of the seas (17:00. local time) will be decisive. The entire DS PENSKE team is now hoping for a strong finish to the season.
Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance Director: “It was a very mixed race for us. JEV’s comeback was brilliant: going from 15th to fifth on such a narrow and twisty circuit was fantastic. Truly impressive, even though the safety car came out just as he activated his second Attack Mode. On the flip side, Max was really unlucky to get hit early on. Forced to retire while running seventh, he definitely deserved better. Tomorrow, we’ll give everything to finish the season on the third step of the teams’ podium.”
Jean-Éric Vergne: “It was a good race since I managed to move up from 15th to fifth. We had good pace, and the team and I made some great strategic decisions. It’s a real shame the safety car came out right after I activated my second Attack Mode, as I think I could win a position. But let’s focus on the positives: we had a really strong race.”
Maximilian Günther: “My race was very short; definitely not the one we were hoping for. Qualifying had gone really well. After a tough start to free practice, we bounced back with sixth on the grid, which was great. I really believed we had a strong shot at a top result from that third row. And then… what can I say? On the first lap, in Turn 2, I was hit the first time and nearly spun. I managed to keep going, but only briefly. By Turn 5, another driver pushed me into the wall. The suspension broke, and that was it…but I guess that’s racing! I’m looking forward to tomorrow now: we can do even better and finish the season on a high note.”
