DS Automobiles and its drivers took to the track in Jeddah for the fourth race of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season. The Jeddah E-Prix, known for its electrifying atmosphere, saw Jean-Éric Vergne securing valuable points for DS Automobiles. Despite an intense battle for the podium, Vergne finished the race in seventh place. Meanwhile, Maximilian Günther delivered a spectacular performance in the previous round, securing DS Automobiles’ first win of the season. This outstanding start to the season showcased the team’s strong lineup, advanced technology, and strategic expertise.
As teams and drivers gathered for the fourth race of the season, DS Automobiles continued to demonstrate its competitive edge. After Maximilian Günther claimed the first pole position and victory of the season for DS Automobiles in the first race, Jean-Éric Vergne took the lead for the team in the second day’s race. Starting from 12th place on the grid, the French driver quickly moved up the ranks, reaching fourth place by the race’s midpoint. However, unlike the previous day, there was no PIT BOOST available throughout the 31-lap event to provide extra energy.
Energy management played a crucial role in the race, resulting in a highly strategic competition. Vergne strategically utilized “Attack Mode” for over six minutes toward the end, battling fiercely for a podium finish. Despite his efforts, he slipped from fourth to seventh place in the final moments. As the only driver to have won two Formula E World Championships, Vergne once again secured valuable points for the DS PENSKE team. With four races completed out of 16, he currently holds sixth place in the provisional standings.
Maximilian Günther started the second day’s race from sixth place but was forced to retire after an incident at Turn 3. On Friday, he had delivered a flawless performance, securing pole position, race victory, and the fastest lap, earning maximum points for DS Automobiles in the first leg of the Jeddah E-Prix.
Following the exhilarating rounds in Saudi Arabia, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will now head to Miami. This iconic metropolis on the U.S. East Coast will host the fifth race of the season on April 12.
Sharing his thoughts on the race, DS Performance Director Eugenio Franzetti stated: “Today’s race was different from yesterday—more challenging for us. After a collision on the first lap, Max sustained severe damage and had to retire. However, JEV delivered a stellar performance, climbing from 12th to seventh place. In fact, he was still fighting for a podium finish just a few corners before the end. While we had hoped for more, we are pleased with our progress in both the team and driver standings. The gap between us and the leaders remains minimal. Rest assured, we will be fully prepared for the next race in Miami.”
Two-time Formula E World Champion Jean-Éric Vergne reflected on his performance: “Despite fighting at the front for most of the race, I lost a few places on the final lap. Nevertheless, moving up from 12th and battling for a top-three finish was a significant achievement. The key takeaway is that we worked exceptionally well as a team. Both Max and I contributed valuable points to our team. This marks my fourth consecutive points finish this season. As always, we will continue working hard and are confident about making further progress in the upcoming races.”
Maximilian Günther also shared his thoughts: “Looking at the weekend as a whole, I can say it was a positive one for us. We delivered a high level of performance on both days. Most importantly, the team proved to be highly competitive and worked seamlessly together. We demonstrated our strength throughout the weekend, and I’m excited to carry this momentum into the next races.”
Maximilian Günther
