The Formula E celebrated a significant milestone this weekend with its 150th race, a figure that resonates as an echo of DS Automobiles’ unwavering commitment to the championship. Engaged since the second season, the French manufacturer shone during its 139th appearance, thrilling spectators at the heart of racing passion. In Mexico, at the famous Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, DS Penske once again captivated attention, even though for Taylor Barnard, it was only his second visit to this 2.608 km circuit. However, the young Brit, armed with meticulous preparation, quickly revealed himself to be at ease, supported by his experienced teammate, Maximilian Günther.
Free Practice: Potential Already Visible
At over 2,200 metres above sea level, the Mexican round presents a unique challenge. The thinning of oxygen affects not only the drivers but also impacts battery cooling, requiring specific strategic adjustments. During the first free practice session, under an outside temperature of 20 °C, teams made numerous adjustments. Between tyre changes and chassis settings, the hierarchy remained unclear.
Maximilian Günther, DS Penske DS E-Tense FE25
The DS E-Tense FE25s showed signs of potential. Although discreet in the middle of the session, they made a spectacular comeback in the final minutes. Barnard and Günther climbed to second and third places before finishing slightly behind Porsche and Nissan. With a top 5 grouped within less than three tenths, the tension was palpable for the rest of the weekend.
Qualifying Under Pressure
On Saturday morning, at 7:30, the drivers returned to the track for final adjustments. The temperature was cool, at only 10 °C, while the sun began to illuminate the Mexican megacity. Günther immediately positioned himself at the front, as teams prepared to face uncertain weather, with a 40% chance of rain.
Qualifying began to the cheers of the packed stands at Foro Sol. Barnard started strong in Group A, setting a high pace. Second at mid-session, he returned to the pits to prepare for a final attack lap that secured him a place in the quarter-finals. In Group B, Günther followed a similar strategy but fell short by just a tenth of a second, finishing fifth in his group.
Maximilian Günther, DS Penske DS E-Tense FE25
Barnard then eliminated Nico Müller (Porsche) in the quarter-finals, before triumphing against Edoardo Mortara (Mahindra) in the semi-finals, in an intense duel. In the final, he faced veteran Sébastien Buemi (Envision). While he set the fastest time, his lap was ultimately disqualified for a slight exceeding of track limits. He would start from the second position, while Günther qualified in ninth.
A Promising Race
At the start, Sébastien Buemi made a braking error at the first corner, giving Taylor Barnard the opportunity to take the lead. Maximilian Günther also made an excellent start, gaining three positions. The two DS Penske drivers then adopted a cautious approach, navigating within the top 10 while delaying the activation of their first Attack Mode to conserve energy.
Unfortunately, a collision involving other competitors led to the deployment of a safety car, disrupting the hierarchy. Despite this, both drivers still seemed capable of aiming for a top 10. However, Günther became collateral damage from this collision and fell back to 12th position.
Up front, Barnard continued to attack and fought for the podium. Two additional laps were added by the race control, and the Brit ultimately had to settle for a solid fourth place after being one of the major players in this lively race.
The third round of the Formula E World Championship will take place on 31 January in Miami (USA), where DS Penske hopes to continue this promising momentum.
