FORMULA E: TAYLOR BARNARD IMPRESSES AS DS AUTOMOBILES FINISH JUST SHY OF PODIUM IN MEXICO

• The distinctive DS Automobiles single-seaters were in the heart of the action in Mexico City

• Taylor Barnard finished fourth after round two of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s Season 12, scoring his first points with the DS PENSKE team

• Maximilian Günther was taken out while fighting for the top five and finished 12th place, a result that did not reflect his pace

Mexico City once again delivered a spectacular backdrop for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with thousands of fans packing the iconic Hermanos Rodríguez circuit on Saturday. Round two of Season 12 lived up to its billing, producing an intense and fiercely contested E-Prix.

The DS E-TENSE FE25 cars showed strong performance from the opening free practice session, with Taylor Barnard going on to become one of the stars of qualifying. The 21-year-old impressed in qualifying by setting the fastest time after reaching the Duels final, only for his lap time to be deleted for exceeding track limits.

As a result, Barnard started second in the grid, constantly among the front runners, with the championship’s leading names. At the end of a superb race, the new DS Automobiles driver crossed the finish line in fourth place, just 1.4 seconds behind the winner. By finishing just off the podium, Taylor Barnard not only scored his first points for the French premium manufacturer but also climbed to sixth place in the provisional championship standings, an early sign of his potential this season.

His DS PENSKE teammate Maximilian Günther did not enjoy the same success. Battling for a place in the top five, the German was spun round by a rival with just 10 laps to go. His eventual 12th place finish did not reflect the true potential of the DS Automobiles driver nor that of his DS E-TENSE FE25.

Along with the rest of the team, he will be eager to build on the promise shown in Mexico at the next round of the championship in Miami. A brand-new American circuit will host the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship competitors on Saturday, 31 January. For the Franco-American DS Automobiles and PENSKE Autosport squad, the race at the Miami International Autodrome will be a very important event.

Taylor Barnard:

“Overall, it was a much more positive weekend than in Brazil. Qualifying went really well. A very small mistake on my part cost pole position but starting on the front row and then finding myself in the lead was obviously very pleasing. The race itself was a bit crazy, as is often the case in Formula E. There were a few moments that might have allowed me to gain one or two more positions, if we’d gauged them differently or had a bit more luck. But fourth place is still a good result and it allows both me and the team to score important points. It’s also a good foundation to prepare for the next races.”

Maximilian Günther:

“Honestly, it was a really encouraging weekend. We were competitive from free practice and I immediately had a very good feeling in the car. I didn’t quite manage to get the tyres into the right operating window in qualifying and narrowly missed out on the Duels, but ninth on the grid was still a decent start position. The race itself got off to a great start. I was able to make up several places while still managing energy effectively; we were definitely in a situation that would have allowed us to fight for a very strong result at the end of the race. Then I was hit from behind while just driving normally through a corner. I was spun around and lost more than 10 places. I fought hard right until the end but could do no better than 12^th at the finish. Nonetheless, I leave Mexico with a smile on my face because the performance of the car and the enjoyment I felt driving it give me a lot of optimism for what comes next. I can’t wait to get to Miami!”

Key figures since DS Automobiles entered Formula E:

• 139 races
• 4 championship titles
• 18 victories
• 55 podiums
• 26 pole positions

        ENDS

PRESS CONTACTS

Krystyna Perry – Head of PR DS Automobiles UK krystyna.perry@stellantis.com 07710 062 783  

Manesh Taank – PR Manager DS Automobiles UK manesh.taank@stellantis.com 07841 569 038  

ABOUT DS AUTOMOBILES

Founded in Paris in 2014, DS Automobiles is a premium brand aiming to embody the French art of travel. Thanks to an exceptional heritage, exemplified by the 1955 DS and enriched by the wealth of French culture, DS Automobiles offers a global and diverse range with DS 3, N° 4, DS 7 and N°8. 

Designed for a clientele seeking something different, who want to travel the world and enjoy every moment, DS creations stand out through their charismatic style, interior refinement, sophisticated technology and first-class comfort. Combined with a suite of bespoke services, they offer a unique brand experience before, during and after each journey. 

With numerous records since its entry into Formula E in 2015, including two double Teams’ and Drivers’ titles, DS Automobiles is at the forefront of electrification and sells each of its models in an electrified version. The Brand offers 100% electric drivetrains as well as self-charging and plug-in hybrids with up to 360hp and 4-wheel drive. In 2025, DS Automobiles is accelerating its transition to electric by launching N°4 with 279 miles of range and N°8, the new DS flagship providing up to 466 miles of range.

With a presence in 40 countries, the DS brand has an exclusive distribution network that includes nearly 450 DS STORES around the world. 

Follow news from DS on www.DSautomobiles.co.uk @DS_UK  

ABOUT PENSKE AUTOSPORT

PENSKE AUTOSPORT is an American racing team founded in 2007 by Jay Penske. The team is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the largest single metropolitan EV market in the world.

After many successful years competing in IndyCar (2007-2014), the team embraced the shift to electric mobility and became one of the founding teams of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

The team motto is the Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” – meaning “out of many, there is one