DS Penske racks up points in Shanghai

The history books will remember that on the same weekend, PSG won its first Champions League football title, while DS Penske scored its first double in the Formula E world championship. It was a victory meticulously crafted by Max Gunther, but also a brilliantly smart race by Jean-Eric Vergne, resulting in an unprecedented victory for the Franco-American team. But just when everything seemed to be falling into place for a perfect weekend, the weather threw a spanner in the works on Saturday night. Undeterred, the race directors adjusted the schedule to avoid the heaviest rain, and by 7AM the electric cars were queuing up on the pit straight to take to the track.

This final practice session before qualifying was scheduled to last 30 minutes, which was enough to realise how difficult it was to drive in these conditions. After six minutes, a red flag suspended the session as the conditions were deemed too poor. The cars returned to the pits to wait for further instructions. The race directors then decided to extend the session by 30 minutes, until 8AM, but the rain intensified. Meanwhile, the teams pampered their cars, kept the batteries at the right temperature and monitored the tyre pressure (set higher than normal for driving on wet ground). Then, shortly before 7:50AM, it is announced that the practice session is cancelled, in the hope that conditions will improve for qualifying.

Some drivers were able to complete a maximum of two or three laps, with Vergne setting the second fastest time in this truncated session, during which it was very difficult to get a feel for the suitability of the set-up for wet conditions. They will have to make do with what they have.

An adapted qualifying format

Qualifying was postponed but would still take place. A queue formed again in the pitlane, waiting for the green light from the safety car, which had just spent a long time on the track assessing the difficulties. The first laps were understandably cautious, but the drivers did not hesitate to take risks as the duel procedure would not be used and the group classification would determine the starting grid. In these very tricky conditions, any slight acceleration, even on the straights, results in wheel spin. This is where the drivers’ balancing skills come to the fore, as they push their cars to the limit. But conditions are changing and Group B finds the track even more treacherous due to the increasing rain. A red flag stopped the action, and all that remained was to cross the finish line to determine the starting grid. Vergne, third in Group B, and Max Gunther, fifth in Group A, started from sixth and ninth positions respectively.

Vergne dances in the rain, Gunther unlucky with his battery

Initially scheduled for 3:04PM, the race was rescheduled for 1:04PM to avoid the heaviest rainfall. Several adjustments then pushed the start back to 2:34PM.

The 22 participants set off behind the safety car. This procedure was designed to limit the risk of accidents in the first few corners, before the race director decided to let the drivers express themselves. This happened after seven laps, with everyone quickly switching to Attack mode to take advantage of the temporary four-wheel drive. The line with slightly less water was narrow, and every move to try to overtake was high risk.

Positions changed as energy strategies evolved, while spray flew from the rear of the cars. Rather than attacking to overtake, the challenge was to stay on track. For most of the race, caution prevailed, with everyone waiting for the final laps and a new Attack Mode period to try something. Unfortunately for him, Max Gunther suffered a battery failure (a water leak on a part common to all the cars) and had to retire while in seventh position.

Vergne was fifth and could still hope for a good result. With six laps to go, almost the entire grid activated their second Attack mode, promising a tense end to the race. However, given the weather conditions, the gaps between the cars were significant and the standings remained unchanged. After the previous day’s 1-2 finish, DS Penske took the points for fifth place thanks to the French driver’s strong performance.

Maximilian Guenther, DS Penske

Photo by: DPPI

Despite a mixed Sunday, DS Penske was the big winner of the weekend. With 56 points, it is the team that scored the most points in Shanghai. Vergne moves up to fifth place in the drivers’ championship, just ahead of Max Gunther. DS Penske consolidates its third place in the Teams’ standings.

The next Formula E race will take place on 21 June in Jakarta, Indonesia.