Season 11 – Promising performance for DS PENSKE during the eventful first round in São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
- Strong qualifying sessions with both drivers making to the duels and Max to the semi finals
- The DS PENSKE team showcased solid performance through an action-packed race with Maximilian Günther driving in top 5 before being involved in a collision two laps from the end.
- The two-time champion Jean-Éric Vergne finished P9, scoring the first points of the season for the team, and Maximilian Günther finished P11.
DS PENSKE hit the track at the Anhembi Sambadrome for the first race of Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The team was extremely eager to put the new DS E-TENSE FE25 through its paces during Round 1 in São Paulo this Saturday.
For the first time as a season-opener, the 2024 Sao Paulo E-Prix got off to an impressive start, offering an intense and spectacular race that kept thousands of spectators on the edge of their seats.
The race was interrupted twice, with red flags on Lap 21 and Lap 30, adding to the drama and testing the resilience of teams and drivers. Featuring bumpy long straights, heavy braking zones, and tight corners, this track pushed teams and drivers to their limits, demanding precision and adaptability at every turn.
The team showcased a solid performance in qualifying, with both drivers reaching the duels and Maximilian Günther advancing to the semi-finals. Günther secured P4, while JEV qualified in P8.
With both DS E-TENSE FE25 cars in the top 10, DS PENSKE has made a clear statement of intent as a competitive force on track.
Both drivers had a great start and made a solid first lap to end up with Max and JEV advancing positions.
The São Paulo delivered non-stop action, with the enhanced ‘Attack Mode’ and a track favoring overtaking, the positions changed from one lap to another.
Max, on course for podium finish, was unfortunately involved in a minor collision at the first chicane and was forced to replace the nose of his car, dropping to 14th. The fierce German driver fought hard his way back up to 11th. JEV was unable to capitalize his second ‘attack mode’ due to the red flag. His perseverance and flawless racecraft paid off when he crossed the chequered flag P9, scoring the first points of the season for the team.
With plenty of race data to collect and analyze, the DS PENSKE team will immediately get back to work for the next round of this calendar. Indeed, the championship will return to South America and the festive São Paulo will pass the baton to another colorful and vibrant city, Mexico City.
Round 2 will take place at the legendary Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Saturday 11 January 2025.
The entire DS PENSKE crew along with partner DS Automobiles will be aiming to continue this strong momentum.
Team results – 2024 São Paulo E-Prix Round 1
|
Driver |
FP1 |
FP2 |
Quali |
Race |
|
JEV |
P15 |
P12 |
P8 |
P9 |
|
MAX |
P13 |
P9 |
P4 |
P11 |
Jean-Éric Vergne, DS PENSKE Driver – 2018 & 2019 Formula E Champion
“It was really a strange race, and I admit that I’m frustrated. This year, you can gain a lot with the Attack Mode, and just after I activated my second one, the red flag came out. That was the end for me because I couldn’t regain positions against those who had fully exploited it to overtake me. At the same time, there were some crazy and almost incomprehensible things going on, like the way that competitors who had been penalised with a Drive-Through penalty were able to save energy and end up on the podium. The positive takeaway is that the car is performing well, and the team did a great job. So, I’m confident for the future, but we first need to digest this disappointment.”
Maximilian Günther – DS PENSKE driver
“The final result is hard to accept because it doesn’t reflect our weekend at all. I’m really happy with the pace we showed on track, especially with my fourth place in qualifying. I feel great within the team, and our intense preparation really paid off here. Our race was very solid, and I’m 99% satisfied with it, as I was fighting for a top three finish before the incident. I didn’t score points today, but we know that’s part of Formula E, and some races are chaotic. In the end, we need to focus on the positive: our level of performance. I’m confident for the future.”
