DS PENSKE PLAYS IT SAFE

he German finished third, ahead of the Penske DS entries of Stoffel Vandoorne and Vergne.

A few hours earlier, qualifying delivered the names of the favourites. At the end of Groups A and B, the four cars in the Stellantis group were in the running - Gunther and Edoardo Mortara for Maserati, and Vandoorne and Vergne for DS Penske.

The track obviously suits DS Automobiles well, given that Vergne achieved pole position in 2022. But in the quarter-finals, both DS and Maserati found themselves in a situation of direct internal competition, which eliminated any hope of a front row dominated by their team colours. 

The first duels were won by Vergne, Günther, and also Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) and Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti).

Dennis advanced to the final at the expense of Vergne, fending him off by 0.359s, while Gunther got the better of Wehrlein.

Gunther then secured Maserati its first pole position in Formula E and the first in open-wheel racing for the Italian manufacturer since Juan Manuel Fangio's pole position at the Argentine Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1958.

Who is the best in energy strategy? 

Formula E is a championship where, since the arrival of Gen 3 single-seaters, leading from the front is extremely complicated due to the high levels of energy management.

Vandoorne Stoffel, DS Penske Formula E Team

Photo by: DPPI

On the radio, engineers have been heard asking their drivers to ease off at certain points during the race to conserve their battery life.

In this championship, the energy strategy counts more than anywhere else, since the aim is to reconstitute at least 30% of the energy expended during each lap by regenerating the battery cells when slowing down and braking.

This is a difficult exercise in normal circumstances, but is even more complex in Jakarta, because of the ambient heat - 33°C in the air and 39°C on the ground at the start) - which can have an impact on the proper functioning of the batteries.

 

"It was a pretty positive day for us," said Vergne. "Even though I lost a position at the start when I started from the dirty side of the track, finishing fifth is a good result, and I couldn't have done better.

 

Vergne Jean Eric , DS Penske Formula E Team

Photo by: DPPI

 

Sunday's race, the 11th of the season, will begin at 10:03 CEST [09:03 BST], with similar conditions forecast. 

Although no one has a crystal ball to know exactly what will happen, generally the teams that are ahead on day one remain competitive the following day.

2023-06-03T19:20:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd