Jean-Eric Vergne and Maximilian Gunther showed pace on the temporary Indonesian circuit - but racing incidents prevented them from converting their obvious form into points.
While Monaco has become a double-header, Jakarta has gone in the opposite direction, going from two races in season 9 (2022-2023) to a single E-Prix this year. Race control opted for a 38-lap format, as in 2023, with a regulatory energy allowance of 38.5 kWh instead of 36 kWh, no doubt to accommodate the higher performance of the Gen3 EVOs, which were running on Indonesian soil for the first time.
An interesting fact about Gunther, following his victory – a double for DS Penske – in Shanghai at the end of May: the German is now part of a very select group of drivers who have won more than one race with three different teams.
Until now, only Antonio Felix da Costa had achieved this feat. The two men also have another thing in common: they have both been victorious with DS Automobiles, highlighting the importance of the French manufacturer in the championship.
Legitimate hopes
The two DS Penske drivers arrived in Jakarta with solid experience on the track (which has evolved marginally since 2023), but also with good previous results that were just waiting to be confirmed. For Gunther (then with Maserati, another Stellantis brand), the last weekend in Indonesia ended with pole position, a podium finish on day 1, and then victory the following day, again from pole position.
For Vergne, Jakarta 2023 meant points for 5th place in the first of the two races, to DS's credit. This year, during the first practice session, we were waiting to see where everyone stood. And the trend quickly became clear: Gunther set the fastest time with a very impressive lap of 1m06.050s, nearly three tenths ahead of his closest rival. It was a very consistent, solid performance that bodes well for the rest of the weekend, especially as the DS Penske driver is in third place in 300 kW mode. Vergne is in the top 10, gradually fine-tuning the settings of his DS E-Tense FE25.
A ruthless race
On Saturday morning, the second practice session was conducted cautiously on a wet track, which would dry out for qualifying. Starting in Group A, JEV produced one of his trademark laps to top the timesheets and qualify brilliantly for the quarter-finals. In Group B, on a slightly improving track, Gunther was unable to repeat the ideal scenario, finishing two tenths of a second behind. In the final table, Vergne faced Nick Cassidy's Jaguar. According to the Formula E statistical system, the Frenchman had a 68% chance of winning. But in the end, it was the New Zealander who made it through to the semi-finals.
Starting 8th and 12th on the grid, Vergne and Gunther had a chance to play their cards right in terms of energy management and race strategy, with several options for the two mandatory Attack modes, which could be taken as ‘2 min + 6 min’ (or vice versa), or two times 4 minutes. On this fairly short (2.370 km) but very twisty (18 corners) circuit, an agile and well-balanced car is essential.
Unfortunately, while in Attack mode (350 kW and 4-wheel drive), JEV was involved in a collision that damaged the front of his car. In the same lap, fate struck again, and Gunther was forced to retire after a collision with another competitor.
Now in 21st place and with only one Attack mode left, JEV put his racing skills to work for his team. However, a five-second penalty put an end to his ambitions, despite an impressive pace that allowed him to move up five positions before the chequered flag.
The next and penultimate round of the Formula E World Championship will take place in Berlin (Germany) on 12 and 13 July for the 13th and 14th rounds.
