A positive weekend for DS Penske

After Max Gunther’s victory in the first of the two Jeddah Formula E races, it was the French driver of the DS Penske crew, Jean-Eric Vergne, who stood out within the second race, spending most of it on the entrance of the pack.

Nonetheless, he misplaced a number of positions within the remaining corners earlier than crossing the end line in seventh place.

Whereas the rain had the courtesy to attend till the top of the primary race, the monitor was completely soaked even earlier than Saturday’s observe session. And when it rains on this arid area, the drops are as large as footballs…

In simply 5 minutes, the monitor was drenched, bringing oils to the floor of the asphalt. Warning was important because the vehicles left the garages, however the floor dried as shortly because it had been soaked.

At 1300 native time, the one observe session of the day ended with a benchmark lap set by Gunther — the standout performer on Friday — in simply 1m15.044s, solely a tenth off his good lap from the day earlier than.

Vergne, placing in a stable effort, completed eleventh, lower than half a second from the highest. Whereas no factors have been awarded for this, it was a confidence booster.

Qualifying drama

Most of the high drivers discovered themselves in Group A throughout qualifying. Gunther secured his ticket to the quarter-finals by ending third, whereas Vergne narrowly missed out by only one hundredth of a second.

Within the quarter-finals, Gunther confronted off in opposition to Oliver Rowland (Nissan), who was anticipating revenge after being crushed the day gone by by the German’s DS Penske.

This time, the British driver had the higher hand and superior to the ultimate, the place he was finally defeated by Taylor Barnard (McLaren). At simply 20 years outdated, Barnard turned the youngest polesitter in Method E historical past.

Vergne within the warmth of battle

Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske

Picture by: DPPI

Ranging from sixth and twelfth positions, Gunther and Vergne have been prepared for a combat. Nonetheless, an early collision between Gunther and Antonio Felix da Costa’s Porsche despatched them to the again of the pack. Pressured to pit, they each needed to retire, leaving Vergne as DS Penske’s sole remaining consultant on monitor.

The Frenchman put in a powerful efficiency, sustaining a place within the high 5 — an excellent spot to handle power successfully.

With 36 Method E podiums to his title, JEV quickly broke into the highest three, participating in battle with Jake Hughes’ Maserati and Barnard’s McLaren.

Not like the primary race of the weekend, there was no Pit Increase (a compulsory cease for a fast recharge), however drivers nonetheless needed to strategically use Assault Mode, which offered four-wheel drive and additional energy for eight minutes.

On the entrance, Rowland was main, however the strategic use of Assault Mode reshuffled the pack within the remaining laps.

In a nail-biting end, the place each proportion of battery counted, Vergne was compelled to concede a number of positions within the final corners. In his 137th Method E race, the championship’s solely two-time title winner secured a seventh-place end, bringing in invaluable factors for DS Penske.

After this promising weekend, DS Penske can draw a constructive conclusion from its journey to Jeddah. Gunther delivered a superb victory, Vergne confirmed nice dedication, and each drivers collected vital factors for the crew.

Subsequent cease is the USA, with a brand-new monitor in Miami on 12 April.