DS PENSKE KICKS OFF SEASON 12 AT
THE ICONIC SÃO PAULO E-PRIX
São Paulo, Brazil, – Los Angeles, California, USA
Season 12 Kick-Off : The Sao Paulo E-Prix will open Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
Strong Momentum and Clear Ambition: Following a positive pre-season test in Valencia with consistent top-10 performances, DS PENSKE arrives in Brazil fully prepared after an intense off-season, targeting victory from the very first round.
Balanced Driver Line-Up and New Package: The team relies on the talent of 21-year-old Taylor Barnard and the experience of Maximilian Günther, who will celebrate his 100th Formula E race in São Paulo, both driving the DS E-Tense FE25 with new Season 12 software settings.
Round 1 of Season 12 will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, December 6th, 2025
São Paulo, Brazil – The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns this weekend as Season 12 gets underway at the legendary Sambadrome, with DS PENSKE arriving in Brazil focused, prepared, and aiming high for Round 1 of the campaign.
A staple of the Formula E calendar, the São Paulo E-Prix is held on the famous Sambadrome circuit, a demanding 2.9-kilometre layout characterised by a long high-speed straight paired with a sequence of tight, technical corners. Precision, confidence, and race craft will be key on a track that traditionally delivers intense, wheel-to-wheel action.
DS PENSKE enters the new season with strong momentum following an encouraging pre-season test in Valencia, where the team demonstrated consistent pace and reliability, regularly finishing inside the top ten throughout the event. Extensive off-season work has gone into optimising performance, with every department focused on one clear objective: fighting for victory from the opening race.
Behind the wheel of the new DS E-Tense FE25, featuring updated software settings for Season 12, the team can rely on a highly complementary driver line-up. At just 21 years old, Taylor Barnard brings speed, raw talent, and fresh ambition, while Maximilian Günther adds experience and composure. Competing in Formula E since 2018, Günther will reach a major milestone in São Paulo as he celebrates his 100th career Formula E race.
With preparations complete and confidence high, DS PENSKE is ready to take on the challenge of São Paulo and start Season 12 on the front foot.
The São Paulo E‑Prix gets underway on Saturday 6 December, with lights out scheduled for 2:00 pm local time.
Maximilian Günther – DS PENSKE driver
‘São Paulo is a fantastic place for a season opener. We feel very well prepared heading into the new season, had a strong build-up and streamlined all our developments nicely coming into this weekend. The race here is always a great challenge – the layout provides good overtaking opportunities, the temperatures are high and there is a high reward for who reads the race best from a strategy point of view.
It will be special to compete in my 100th Formula E race. It’s a milestone I’m proud of and I’m looking forward to executing a strong weekend together with the team.’
Taylor Barnard – DS PENSKE Driver
‘Starting Season 12 in São Paulo is really exciting. The Sambadrome is an intense circuit – fast on the straight but very tight and technical through the corners – so it’s a proper challenge right from the first race. Pre-season testing in Valencia was positive for us, and the whole team has worked incredibly hard over the off-season. I feel ready, motivated, and focused on fighting at the front with DS PENSKE.
The goal is clear: to compete for the best possible result from race one.’
