A PODIUM AND SOME INPORTANT POINTS FOR DS AUTOMOBILES ON THE LEGENDARY MONACO CIRCUIT! | DS Performance

May 3, 2024

26 4 minutes read

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The DS Automobiles squad put in a great team performance at the Monaco E-Prix

Stoffel Vandoorne was third at the most glamourous race of the year to claim his first podium with DS Automobiles

Jean-Éric Vergne finished fourth, scoring some important points

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship hosted its most prestigious race of the year this weekend, with the Monaco E-Prix eagerly awaited by drivers and fans alike. On top of the well-known challenge of threading a car through the guardrails of the twisty 3.3-kilometre street track, the principality also presented some of the biggest elevations of the year, with the climb up from Sainte-Dévote to the famous Casino, then the descent towards the harbour and the swimming pool complex.

Resplendent in their black and gold ‘Grand Gala’ liveries, the two DS E-TENSE FE23 cars shone in qualifying as well. Having got through to the final stage of the duels, Stoffel Vandoorne claimed second-fastest overall. Underlining the performance of the French premium constructor, this was the fifth time in eight races that a DS Automobiles power train had taken a front-row place on the grid: more than any other constructor. Jean-Éric Vergne was also straight on the pace at the legendary Monegasque street circuit, lining up fifth on the grid.

Stoffel Vandoorne’s race got off to a great start and he took the lead until just before a safety car came out in response to an accident at the swimming pool complex. He dropped a couple of places with the activation of his two attack modes but remained consistently in the fight for the lead, just ahead of his team mate Jean-Éric Vergne. The two former champions managed a perfect team game when a second safety car was deployed, which lengthened the race by two laps.

Once the action resumed with five laps to go, Vandoorne made the most of his performance to secure his first podium with DS Automobiles. JEV – the holder of the record for the most points scored in the history of Formula E – finished fourth, scoring vital championship points. All in all, it was a superb team effort from the French manufacturer.

After the eighth of 16 races this year, Jean-Éric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne are seventh and ninth in the drivers’ standings, while DS Automobiles and its partner PENSKE AUTOSPORT are fifth in the teams’ rankings: very close to the provisional manufacturers’ podium.

Following the Monaco street race, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship competitors head to another classic venue: the Berlin Tempelhof airport circuit. Appearing for the 10th time in Germany, Formula E has put together a new track layout for Berlin, delivering an extra challenge for the double header scheduled from May 11-12.

Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance Director:

“Monaco was a very positive race for us. Our DS E-TENSE FE23 cars were competitive all day and our drivers put on a great show. We had an excellent qualifying session, placing P2 once more,and also P5. That allowed us to start at the front on a track where overtaking is always very tricky, and where there’s always a risk of a coming together. As for our drivers, they were excellent as always. We scored a lot of points, and that allows us to make headway in the championship. Our hard work is paying off, and all the efforts put in by the team have brought us some good results. Stoffel’s podium is the best way to celebrate the ‘Grand Gala’ livery that we brought to Monaco. Now, we are focussing on the Berlin E-Prix that’s coming up next.”

Stoffel Vandoorne, 2022 Formula E champion

“I’m delighted to score my first podium with DS Automobiles in Monaco. It’s been a long time coming and I’m really pleased, especially to do it with this special livery at such a unique event. On top of that, as I live in Monaco, it’s a bit of a home podium for me. We had a good day, without making any real mistakes, with an excellent qualifying session and a solid race. We managed the start of the race well and I was even leading at one point. Unfortunately, I lost the lead when I activated my second attack mode and the two Jaguars got in front of me. From that point, their two drivers played a team game to activate their respective attack modes without losing any places. So I’m happy to be on the podium, but at the same time a bit frustrated, as I feel that we could have won today.”

Jean-Eric Vergne, 2018 and 2019 Formula E champion

“It was a good weekend for the team, with plenty of important points scored. I’m also really happy to see Stoffel back on the podium. It’s been a while for him, and I know just how great it feels to be up there. We’ve clearly got a great dynamic going, which shows how we’ve been working well recently. We’re going to carry on working hard like this and keep giving our all in order to continue scoring big points in the races still to come.”

Key figures since DS Automobiles entered Formula E: