The Formula E continues to make sparks fly in Jeddah, where the DS E-TENSE FE25s once again demonstrated their potential. Maximilian Günther and Taylor Barnard, the drivers of the Franco-American team, faced a weekend full of twists and turns. Between daytime qualifications and a nighttime race, the spectacle was there, with a hint of strategy that tested the teams’ skills.
A Promising Start to the Weekend
The urban track in Jeddah seems to favor the DS E-TENSE FE25s. In 2025, Günther had achieved a resounding grand slam by taking pole position, victory, and the fastest lap. Barnard, for his part, had managed to climb onto the podium during the first round of the previous year. After a Miami event disrupted by capricious weather conditions, the Saudi sky was kind this time, providing an ideal atmosphere for competition.
The forecasts predicted heat, but a welcome breeze brought some relief. The free practice sessions, held on Thursday evening, served as an observation for the drivers. Maximilian Günther made a strong impression by setting the best time, immediately raising the bar and warning the competition. “It’s a bit like starting from scratch,” he confided before the weekend. Extra pressure for the defending champion? Not really, according to him. “We don’t think about past races. The cars have evolved, everything is prepared in the simulator, you have to take things as they come,” he added with a relaxed demeanor that betrays well-placed confidence.
Daytime Qualifications, Night Race
On Friday, the temperature rose another notch. Under an unrelenting sun, the thermometer read 29°C in the air — nearly 40°C on the ground — when the DS Penske cars hit the track for the second practice session. Both drivers settled into the top 10 while fine-tuning their setups. A Nissan going off track caused a red flag, providing an additional opportunity to refine the setup. Later in the afternoon, Günther and Barnard found themselves in the same qualifying group, complicating access to the duels. But both men rose to the occasion, recording the 3rd and 4th fastest times of their session.
Confident, Günther showed particular strength in the duels, first eliminating Antonio Félix da Costa (Jaguar) before facing Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) in the semi-finals. Unyielding, the DS Penske driver made it to the finals, securing the second place on the grid. Barnard, for his part, qualified fifth, with a staggered strategy at the front. At 8 PM, under the lights illuminating the circuit, the race launched in a more breathable atmosphere.
A Race Full of Strategies
Günther perfectly surged at the start to take the lead by the first corner, while Barnard mixed it up in the battle for the provisional podium. An intervention from the safety car tightened the pack before energy strategies took center stage. First to activate his Attack Mode on lap 16, Günther attempted to capitalize on these six minutes of extra power before diving into the pits for his Pit Boost, recovering 3.85 kWh of energy in the process.
Barnard, on a different strategy, stopped earlier while his teammate battled at the front. Günther then took command, managing a brief advantage before his stop, while Barnard triggered his Attack Mode to settle firmly in the top 10. Once all strategies unfolded, the hierarchy solidified. Taylor Barnard concluded a solid race in tenth place, earning a precious point, while Maximilian Günther crossed the line in twelfth position. A result below initial ambitions but rich in lessons for the future.
A Thrilling Future Ahead
The second race of the weekend will take place this Saturday, February 14, still in Jeddah, starting at 8 PM local time (6 PM in France). With strategic adjustments and the experience gained from this first round, the DS Penske drivers could very well make headlines again. The public eagerly awaits to see if the Franco-American team can leverage the lessons from the first encounter.
To follow the performance evolution of the DS E-TENSE FE25s and discover more thrilling moments of the season, feel free to check our dedicated section on Formula E.
