At the Hard Rock Stadium circuit, Formula E once again demonstrated that everything can change in an instant. As drivers launch into a race where rain appears unexpectedly, DS Penske faces conditions as unpredictable as the Florida weather. Amid solid performances and unexpected twists, here is a summary of a weekend rich in emotions.
High-Risk Practice
On this 2.32 km Formula 1 circuit adapted for Formula E, lap times fall like leaves in autumn from the very first practice session. Maximilian Günther, a full-time driver for DS Penske, does not hesitate to share his thoughts:
“This is something we already know from Berlin, and it makes things even tighter. The shorter the lap, the smaller the margins. The biggest challenge will be getting the tyres up to temperature, especially with these cool conditions, which will complicate qualifying. Also, the groups only last ten minutes, compared to twelve last year: we will have to attack from the start.”
Despite these challenges, both DS E-TENSE FE25 cars driven by Taylor Barnard and Max Günther show good pace, regularly placing in the top 10. Several pit stops allow for experimentation with different tyre configurations in preparation for Saturday morning’s qualifying. At the end of a session without notable incidents, Taylor Barnard sets an impressive second-best time, less than a tenth of a second off the day’s benchmark.
A Sunday of Changing Colours
The next day, the scene transforms once again. As the sun returns, the clouds remain threatening. During practice, the first times begin to drop on the circuit, and 19 of the 20 single-seaters are within a tight margin of less than seven-tenths of a second. By the end of the session, the pace accelerates significantly.
Maximilian Gunther, DS PENSKE
Taylor Barnard makes a strong statement by setting the best time at 55″531, an impressive lap thanks to his exemplary consistency across all three sectors. The pole position will therefore be decided on the finest details during qualifying.
DS Penske Struggling for Qualification
The championship qualifying, which determines the composition of the qualifying groups, places Max Günther and Taylor Barnard together in the second group. With only four qualifying spots for the quarter-finals, the task seems challenging. The two drivers initially adopt a measured pace, remaining in the top 4 while waiting for the ideal window to exploit the tyres in “time attack” mode.
Tension rises, and Taylor Barnard manages to set the benchmark time for his group, dominating without being disturbed. Unfortunately, Max Günther misses out on qualifying for the quarter-finals by just… six thousandths of a second. In his first duel, Barnard falls just short of a place in the semi-finals by a thousandth. Ultimately, he will start from fifth on the grid, while Max Günther will start five places further back.
A Rainy Race
To top it off, the rain decides to make its appearance at the last minute. On the grid, teams urgently adjust the suspension setup, some betting on the dry nature of the track. The race starts after four laps behind the safety car. Taylor Barnard manages to stay in the top 10 while Max Günther gets caught in traffic and loses several positions.
Taylor Barnard, DS Penske
Having opted to maintain a “dry setup”, the German driver must adopt a moderate pace as the rain, against all odds, intensifies. With 39 laps on the agenda, the first attack modes quickly shuffle the cards. Taylor Barnard opts for patience, remaining in the heart of the group and conserving his energy for the second half of the race.
When he decides to attack, most of his rivals have already used their energy jokers. The young Brit exploits the full traction of his DS E-TENSE FE 25 in attack mode, but can only achieve 14th position, five places ahead of Maximilian Günther.
Looking to the Future
Despite inconsistent performances, the DS Penske team has shown that it can compete with the best. The drivers have managed to take advantage of the changing conditions and prepare their car intelligently. The next round of the Formula E World Championship will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with two races scheduled for 13 and 14 February. Who knows what surprises these races in the desert will hold?
