DS Automobiles has always attracted the best drivers in Formula E, a specific discipline where experience counts. Over the years, the French manufacturer has entrusted its single-seaters to three-time WTCC world champion Jose Maria Lopez, three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Andre Lotterer, 2021-22 Formula E world champion Stoffel Vandoorne and the drivers who brought it two constructors' titles and two drivers' titles: Antonio Felix Da Costa and Jean-Eric Vergne.
This also means that to have the honour of driving for DS, you already need a certain pedigree and potential. For once, Taylor Barnard is relatively new to the scene. Nevertheless, the young Briton showed last season that he is a force to be reckoned with, which did not escape the attention of the strategists at DS Automobiles and its partner Penske Autosport.
Barnard has broken several records in his short time in Formula E. Replacing Sam Bird due to injury at short notice, he became the youngest driver to start an E-Prix (Monaco 2024, at 19 years and 331 days). Then, in the very next race in Berlin, he became the youngest driver to score points, which led to him signing a contract with McLaren.
Completely uninhibited and responsible for several spectacular performances, the young Brit quickly became a real phenomenon. In the first race of the 2024-2025 season, in Sao Paulo, Barnard became the youngest driver to finish on the podium, coming in third. A few weeks later, he became the youngest driver to claim a pole position in Formula E. His achievements did not go unnoticed by DS Penske, and the young Barnard is now a driver for one of the most successful teams in the championship.
A new recruit for DS Penske at the start of the 2024-2025 season, Maxmilian Guenther had also held the title of youngest Formula E driver when he joined the series for the 2018-2019 season. With an impressive track record and immediately at ease behind the wheel of the DS E-TENSE FE25, he made a lasting impression by achieving a grand slam at the Jeddah E-Prix in February. With another victory a few weeks later in Shanghai, Guenther has become a pillar of the Franco-American team.
With one driver who already knows the taste of victory and another who is a fearless new recruit, DS Penske has one of the fastest and most talented duos for this 12th season of Formula E. It should be noted that this stage also marks the end of the partnership between Jean-Eric Vergne and DS Automobiles, who have won two team championship titles, one drivers' championship title, six victories, 25 podiums and 11 pole positions over the past eight seasons together.
