Maximilian Günther ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne: DS Penske celebrated a resounding success in the first race of the double-header in Shanghai
DS Penske celebrated a milestone on Saturday in the first of two Formula E races in Shanghai: Maximilian Günther secured victory from pole position, while Jean-Eric Vergne drove from tenth to second place in a furious comeback. It is the team’s first double victory in the Gen3 era.
After his grand slam in Jeddah – pole position, victory, and fastest lap – Günther traveled to China full of confidence. Both Günther and Vergne finished in the top 10 in practice. The modified kerbs in turns 11 and 12 made setup a challenge, but DS Penske proved to be well prepared.
Günther strong in qualifying, Vergne unlucky
In qualifying, Günther was the only driver to stay under 1:10 minutes – a clear statement. Vergne, on the other hand, missed out on the duel phase by just eight thousandths of a second – a bitter blow for the two-time champion, whose race pace was nevertheless promising.
Günther then went on to leave Oliver Rowland (Nissan) and Nick Cassidy (Jaguar) behind him. In the final, he prevailed against McLaren driver Taylor Barnard. “This pole feels good. The car was perfect, and I’d like to thank the team for their hard work,” said Günther. He promised a smart approach with a flexible strategy for the race – a wise approach given the new pit boost rule.
Double victory with tactical masterstroke
Günther initially lost positions at the start but quickly regained the lead. Vergne stayed out of the skirmishes and remained within striking distance. While many drivers stopped to recharge their batteries on lap 14, Vergne initially stayed out – a strategic move. Both DS Penske drivers made clever use of their attack modes and remained among the front runners.
In the final stages, Günther pulled away from the competition by four seconds with a clever, late use of his second attack mode. Behind him, Vergne worked his way forward quietly and steadily. In the final chicane, the Frenchman snatched second place from Dan Ticktum (Cupra-Kiro) and Taylor Barnard (McLaren) at the last second.
“I saw how other drivers were using a lot of energy in some corners. I deliberately drove efficiently so that I could attack at the end,” explained Vergne. “Yesterday in practice, I was still unhappy with the car, but today it went much better.”
Leap in the team and manufacturer standings
The one-two finish is a huge success for DS Penske and the Stellantis Group. Günther and Vergne climb to fifth and sixth in the drivers’ standings, while the team moves up to third in the team standings. Stellantis is now also third in the manufacturers’ standings.
Rain is forecast for Sunday’s second race – with a new setup, no pit boost, but still with two attack modes, the balance of power could shift again. Excitement is guaranteed.
