SÃO PAULO E-PRIX: FIRST POINTS ON THE BOARD FOR DS AUTOMOBILES

• Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship got underway with an action-packed race in São Paulo marked by drama in the closing stages

• Maximilian Günther finished in sixth place, securing eight championship points, with Taylor Barnard classified 13^th

• The next E-Prix will take place on January 10 in Mexico

Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship kicked off on Saturday with a thrilling  São Paulo E-Prix. The iconic Sambadrome circuit, with its long straights and tight corners, delivered non-stop action from start to finish. A dramatic incident in the closing stages of a tightly fought race triggered a red flag and a restart behind the safety car.  

Despite the finish,  Maximilian Günther managed to score his first points in the championship. At the wheel of his DS E-TENSE FE25 car, the German driver delivered an impressive comeback drive, climbing from 16th on the gird to claim sixth place. His performance secured eight valuable points for DS PENSKE in the teams’ standings.

Taylor Barnard also looked set for a top 10 finish. The British driver was the only competitor in the top ten who still had an Attack Mode activation remaining. However the red flag neutralisation halted his momentum and a 12-volt battery issue forced him to stop in the pit lane. Classified 13th, Taylor nonetheless demonstrated strong pace and adaptation to his new team environment.

At the end of the first round, DS Automobiles and its partner PENSKE AUTOSPORT collected valuable data and insights for the rest of the championship.

The next E-Prix is due to take place on January 10, 2026, at Mexico City’s Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.

Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance Director:

“It was an action-packed first round with lots of racing incidents and surprises. We scored some valuable points thanks to a very nice comeback from Max, but we could have taken a lot more were it not for the bad luck suffered by Taylor. Formula E is always unpredictable! We’re now going to work on some of the settings and come back even stronger Mexico.”

Maximilian Günther:

“It’s important to have scored some precious points right from the start of the season. Thanks to a great fightback through the field, we managed to take sixth place. In qualifying, things didn’t exactly go as we wanted. But we kept calm and finally got through this first race. Even though we suffered at the end of the race without ‘Attack Mode’, we held on and were rewarded with a few points in the bag.”

Taylor Barnard:

”The first weekend of the season didn’t quite end as we hoped. It’s pretty frustrating, as we were in a good position to score points. I think we could have finished sixth if the car hadn’t stopped in the pit lane during the red flag period. Having said that, we need to put our best foot forward now and just concentrate on the next race.”

Key figures since DS Automobiles entered Formula E:

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

ENDS

PRESS CONTACTS

Manesh Taank - 07841 569 038 manesh.taank@stellantis.com – PR Manager

Krystyna Perry - 07710 062783 - krystyna.perry@stellantis.com – Head of PR

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 headquarted in Los Angeles, California, the largest single metroplitan 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.