A weekend of positive points and lessons to learn for DS Automobiles in Diriyah ePrix 29.01.2023: • The DS Automobiles were unable to score points in the third race of this year’s ABB FIA Formula E World Championship • Jean-Eric Vergne finished 16th in Diriyah on Saturday while Stoffel Vandoorne was 20th following a post-race penalty • Ther

 
•    The DS Automobiles were unable to score points in the third race of this year’s ABB FIA Formula E World Championship


•    Jean-Eric Vergne finished  16th in Diriyah on Saturday while Stoffel Vandoorne was 20th following a post-race penalty


•    There are several lessons to be learned ahead of the next round in India on  February 11
 


The third race of this 2023 campaign, which took place in Diriyah (Saudi Arabia) did not result in DS Automobiles being able to add to its points tally in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship After Jean-Eric Vergne finished seventh on Friday, this time it was his team mate Stoffel Vandoorne who seemed set to make his mark after starting from eighth on the grid.



Unfortunately, a radio problem prevented the Belgian from applying his ideal strategy in a race that was once more extremely closely-fought. Lacking the information he needed to take the fight to his rivals, the Belgian was unable to make his way up the field. He crossed the finish line in 11th place but was penalised after the finish for not having activated ‘attack mode’ for a second time (as a result of the radio problem) which dropped him down to 20th in the final classification.



Jean-Eric Vergne could do no better than 16th in qualifying and so had a difficult race, especially following contact with his former team mate Antonio Félix Da Costa. Despite his best efforts, the only double champion in the history of Formula E ended up 16th at the finish.



While the results on paper bear little resemblance to the hopes the team harboured at the start of the year, the two Saudi Arabia races allowed the French premium manufacturer as well as the whole DS PENSKE team to take on board several useful lessons for the rest of the season.



 Within the offices and on the simulator back at base in Versailles, efforts are set to be redoubled. Following an intense start to the season, the clear goal will be to improve at the brand-new Hyderabad circuit in India, which will host the fourth race of Season 9. The ABB FIA Formula E championship resumes on 11 February.
 



Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance director:


“It was a very educational weekend with some very positive things to retain and other more complicated experiences that nonetheless taught us a lot. The team is very motivated to make the most of all the lessons learned and we are now all fully concentrated on the next race in India!”
 



Jean-Éric Vergne, Formula E champion in 2018 and 2019:


“Today I just didn’t have the pace, neither in qualifying nor the race. We tried lots of things and we need to evolve the car in order to make progress.


I’m very happy with the work the team has done all weekend and I think I drove well. However, we just weren’t fast enough, so I hope we can improve things in the near future.”
 



Stoffel Vandoorne, reigning Formula E champion:


“It was a complicated day. Nonetheless, we could have improved in qualifying because for the first time I was able to get through to the duels (which pit the top eight after qualifying against each other by group).



This shows that we’re making progress, even though we've still got some work to do. I got underway from eighth on the grid and felt confident we could make up places, given the efficiency our car has shown since the start of the season.


Unfortunately, I lost the steering wheel readout after four or five laps, and all radio communication with the team. So I didn’t have any information to manage my energy, and just to make things worse, I was penalised after the race for not having taken my second ‘attack mode’. You could say that luck isn’t on our side at the moment…”
 




Key figures since DS Automobiles entered Formula E:


•    92 races
•    4 championship titles
•    15 victories
•    44 podiums
•    21 pole positions



 Nathalie Dumas ,Benjamin Maigre - photos DS / FormulaE