Double dose of emotions for DS Penske

Since entering the Calendar of the World Formula E Championship, in 2015, Monaco has established itself as the most prestigious channel on the calendar. In 2025, the peculiarity is high: two races are for the first time disputed on the weekend, and it is a rarity that divides. Winner here in 2019, Jean-Éric Vergne does not hide his reserve: “The double headers do not bother me, except in Monaco”indicates the only double champion of the discipline. “This is the queen race, the event that everyone wants to register for their record. There should only be one winner here.”

This attachment is understandable: DS Automobiles, with Renault, is one of the only two manufacturers to have won the Monaco E-Prix twice. Better still, the French premium manufacturer is the only one to have won over the two versions of the circuit, with Jean-Éric Vergne in 2019 on the short route, then António Félix Da Costa in 2021 on the F1 circuit.

First laps … and first surprises

Maximilian Gunther (DS Penske).

Photo of: DPPI

From free tests 1, the DS e-Tense Fe25 have demonstrated a solid potential. Thanks to the introduction of Gen3 Evo, the most advanced single -seaters ever seen in Formula E, the lap times fall spectacularly: almost three seconds better than the 2024 pole position! A dazzling progression, unprecedented in a world series of electric single -seats. But the qualifications prove to be less favorable. Placed in the same group, the two DS Penske pilots are braked in their momentum: Jean-Éric Vergne is embarrassed on the track, while Günther fails only seven hundredths of the quarterfinals. Result, less good starting positions than those hoped for at the start: 10th for the German pilot, 16th for French.

An animated race… and strategic

Maximilian Gunther (DS Penske).

Photo of: DPPI

In Monaco the overruns are rare in Formula 1, but the formula E in abundance. After a clean departure, the DS E-Tense Fe25 settle in a peloton in full energy management. Then comes a full race Yellow, which freezes the low -speed positions following a track outing, before a tactical end, punctuated by the Attack modes and the now famous pitboost, compulsory stop of a minimum of 34 seconds to partially recharge (up to 3.85 kWh).

In this strategic waltz, Günther saves the 10th place point, while Vergne, unlucky, ends in 12th position.

“We did not take advantage of our set-up as we hoped”concedes Nicolas Maudu, Managing Director of DS Penske.“We have opted for a stable approach in order to avoid risks, but the differences have been played with little. Tonight, we will modify the settings to maximize our potential tomorrow. Our goal is to better succeed in our qualifications to offer us a race to the outposts.”

While each stable will try to refine their car for a new racing scheme (no Pitboost, an adapted number of towers), nothing is played. With a new test session to come tomorrow morning, DS Penske then hopes to reverse the trend. The lessons learned this Saturday is to transform the DS E-Tense FE25 into major protagonists of the second race, as has already been the case several times since the start of the season.

On a layout where every centimeter counts and every kilowatt can make the difference, the slightest improvement can be decisive. And in Monaco more than elsewhere, the exploits of the next day often have a taste of revenge.