DS Penske fought for the podium in Race 2 at the Formula E Monaco E-Prix. However, the team finished outside the top five.
Great Qualifying Led to a Tough Race for DS Penske at the Monaco E-Prix
Race 2 of the Monaco E-Prix began on a high for DS Penske, with both drivers securing spots on the second row of the grid. Jean-Éric Vergne qualified ahead of teammate Maximilian Günther. Pole position went to Oliver Rowland, while Nyck de Vries lined up second.
The Early Laps in Monaco
Both DS Penske drivers came under pressure from Envision’s Sébastien Buemi in the early laps.
The Swiss driver overtook Günther, who immediately activated Attack Mode in response. Vergne also triggered his Attack Mode shortly after and managed to fend off Buemi’s advances with skill.
Drawing on his experience, Vergne rose to second place by passing De Vries. Then, through the tunnel, he overtook Rowland to take the lead.
While Vergne controlled the race from the front, Günther battled in traffic. After being passed by De Vries, he remained closely followed by Buemi.
It was a promising start for the United States-based team, which headed to Monaco with high hopes for a podium or two. However, their joy was short-lived.
READ MORE: Formula E: Oliver Rowland Extends His Championship Lead in Monaco
Mid-Race Struggles for DS Penske
Vergne’s grip on the lead began to weaken with ten laps to go. This was not what DS Penske wanted to see when their hopes for a podium were high.
The duel with Rowland intensified, and the Briton reclaimed first place on lap 19. After being overtaken by De Vries, Vergne dropped to third. However, Rowland’s pass was deemed questionable, prompting Nissan to instruct him to hand back the position.
Unfortunately, with just five laps remaining, Vergne moved back into third. By then, Buemi had surged to the front, with De Vries in second.
All change ⚡😮
A huge battle between de Vries, Rowland, Buemi and Vergne ⚔️#MonacoEPrix pic.twitter.com/0io0oFVDmm
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) May 4, 2025
Elsewhere, Günther’s race grew increasingly complicated. He dropped to eighth, trailing both Porsche drivers, Antonio Félix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein, who recovered strongly after slow starts.
Sunday at the Monaco E-Prix was shaping up to be a day to forget for the team.
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Late Decline and Final Positions
In the closing laps, Vergne’s performance declined significantly. He slipped behind Cassidy’s Jaguar, Da Costa’s Porsche, and De Vries.
Struggling with his braking energy, Vergne reached the finish line with a depleted battery, placing him at a disadvantage compared to his rivals. It seems the Frenchman had pushed too hard in the early stages of Race 2.
Despite their early promise, DS Penske finished with Vergne in sixth and Günther in eighth. While points were scored, their podium hopes were not met.
Sébastien Buemi claimed victory for Envision, followed by Rowland in second and Cassidy in third.
The race results after another fantastic #MonacoEPrix 👏🇲🇨 pic.twitter.com/fDcvbynurA
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) May 4, 2025
Formula E will return in two weeks for rounds eight and nine on the streets of Tokyo.
READ NEXT: Formula E: Victory for Buemi in Race 2 at the Monaco E-Prix
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Andreas Beil
Recording Date: 04.05.2025
