Guenther in command for DS Penske

Pole place, victory, and quickest lap: Max Guenther delivered a surprising grand slam for DS Penske within the first race of the Jeddah E-Prix. 

For the primary time, Method E took to the Jeddah Method 1 circuit, set alongside the shores of the Crimson Sea. “First instances” appear to be omen for DS Penske, whose final victory dated again to February 11, 2023, in Hyderabad (India), on an unknown and non permanent road circuit. In Jeddah, the motion started as early as Thursday with a rookie take a look at, adopted by the primary free follow session. It was a cautious begin, with groups specializing in tire administration and digital programs. However by Friday morning, the depth ramped up. Beneath comparatively gentle afternoon temperatures, the second follow session allowed groups to fine-tune their setups forward of qualifying. On this recreation of precision, Max Guenther rapidly emerged as a severe contender, clocking the second-fastest time of the session, whereas Jean-Éric Vergne missed out on the quarter-finals by a mere four-thousandths of a second. 

Guenther Dominates 

In his first duel, the German driver and his DS E-TENSE FE25 confronted off in opposition to Mahindra’s Nyck de Vries, with a statistical “probability” of 75% to win. The numbers did not lie—Guenther superior simply to the semi-finals, the place he met 20-year-old British driver Taylor Barnard. This time, expertise made the distinction, and Guenther reached his first qualifying remaining with DS Penske. His opponent? Pascal Wehrlein, the reigning world champion. However Guenther delivered a flawless lap, crossing the road almost three-tenths of a second forward. It was his first pole place with DS Penske and likewise the workforce’s first of the season. 

“We did an incredible job as a workforce, and I wish to thank DS Penske for offering me with such an incredible automotive,” Guenther stated instantly after the session. ”I felt snug in each sector, and this pole place got here on the excellent time. Now, we have to carry this efficiency into the race.” Little did he know simply how properly issues would go! 

A Profitable Technique 

Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske

Photograph by: DPPI

Because the lights went out, Guenther instantly set a robust tempo, holding onto the lead. Jean-Éric Vergne, ranging from tenth, gained 4 positions inside simply three laps. After a number of incidents, a security automotive was deployed, briefly neutralizing the race. 
Then got here the second to check this season’s greatest innovation: the PitBoost, permitting drivers to regain 3.85 kW of battery energy with a compulsory 34-second pit cease. Mixed with Assault Mode—which grants extra energy for a complete of eight minutes—this made race technique an actual puzzle! However on this complicated situation, DS Penske performed their playing cards completely. 

Within the second half of the race, Guenther, operating in sixth place, activated his first Assault Mode on the ideally suited second, permitting him to regularly climb the ranks. With lower than ten minutes remaining, he was as much as third, completely positioned for a possibility. His second and remaining Assault Mode, activated concurrently with Taylor Barnard, gave him the sting he wanted. 

Within the closing laps, Guenther noticed a gap in opposition to Oliver Rowland’s Nissan. The German had managed his vitality flawlessly, whereas Rowland’s reserves had been depleting dangerously. Within the remaining lap, the Nissan had solely 0.4% of its battery left, in comparison with 1% for the DS Penske. That was the second Guenther launched his decisive assault, sealing a commanding victory and securing the quickest lap of the race. 

The triumph was additional sweetened by Jean-Éric Vergne’s strong efficiency, bringing house useful factors with a sixth-place end for DS Penske. 

The second Jeddah race is about for Saturday night time on the identical time. One factor is for certain: the DS Penske automobiles would be the ones to look at!