After Max Gunther’s victory in the first of the two Jeddah Formula E races, it was the French driver of the DS Penske team, Jean-Eric Vergne, who stood out in the second race, spending most of it at the front of the pack.
However, he lost a few positions in the final corners before crossing the finish line in seventh place.
While the rain had the courtesy to wait until the end of the first race, the track was thoroughly soaked even before Saturday's practice session. And when it rains in this arid region, the drops are as big as footballs…
In just five minutes, the track was drenched, bringing oils to the surface of the asphalt. Caution was essential as the cars left the garages, but the ground dried as quickly as it had been soaked.
At 1300 local time, the only practice session of the day ended with a benchmark lap set by Gunther — the standout performer on Friday — in just 1m15.044s, only a tenth off his perfect lap from the day before.
Vergne, putting in a solid effort, finished 11th, less than half a second from the top. While no points were awarded for this, it was a confidence booster.
Qualifying drama
Many of the top drivers found themselves in Group A during qualifying. Gunther secured his ticket to the quarter-finals by finishing third, while Vergne narrowly missed out by just one hundredth of a second.
In the quarter-finals, Gunther faced off against Oliver Rowland (Nissan), who was eager for revenge after being beaten the previous day by the German’s DS Penske.
This time, the British driver had the upper hand and advanced to the final, where he was ultimately defeated by Taylor Barnard (McLaren). At just 20 years old, Barnard became the youngest polesitter in Formula E history.
Vergne in the heat of battle
Starting from sixth and 12th positions, Gunther and Vergne were ready for a fight. However, an early collision between Gunther and Antonio Felix da Costa’s Porsche sent them to the back of the pack. Forced to pit, they both had to retire, leaving Vergne as DS Penske’s sole remaining representative on track.
The Frenchman put in a strong performance, maintaining a position in the top five — an ideal spot to manage energy effectively.
With 36 Formula E podiums to his name, JEV soon broke into the top three, engaging in battle with Jake Hughes' Maserati and Barnard’s McLaren.
Unlike the first race of the weekend, there was no Pit Boost (a mandatory stop for a quick recharge), but drivers still had to strategically use Attack Mode, which provided four-wheel drive and extra power for eight minutes.
At the front, Rowland was leading, but the strategic use of Attack Mode reshuffled the pack in the final laps.
In a nail-biting finish, where every percentage of battery counted, Vergne was forced to concede a few positions in the last corners. In his 137th Formula E race, the championship’s only two-time title winner secured a seventh-place finish, bringing in valuable points for DS Penske.
After this promising weekend, DS Penske can draw a positive conclusion from its trip to Jeddah. Gunther delivered a brilliant victory, Vergne showed great determination, and both drivers collected important points for the team.
Next stop is the United States, with a brand-new track in Miami on 12 April.
