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DS PENSKE unveiled its new DS E-TENSE FE 23 Gen3 car and showed off the team's Season 9 driver line-up last week. Vandoorne partners double champion Jean-Eric Vergne at the Franco-American outfit - DS Automobiles having come together with PENSKE AUTOSPORT over the off-season.
On paper, DS Automobiles is right up there in terms of titles and trophies - among the top teams in Formula E history with a pair of Drivers' and Teams' titles and a benchmark of 10 wins in the Gen2 era.
Gen3 sees everybody starting from zero with an all-new car but Vandoorne feels the combination of both his and DS' title-winning expertise could give team and driver an early advantage in 2022/23.
"We were obviously very successful over the past couple of seasons with Mercedes-EQ," said Vandoorne. "I have that experience and I can bring that to the table from my side. DS was one of our big competitiors and for me, it's nice to arrive into a fresh environment and see what they're doing and how they work so we can take the positives from that.
"You talk with the engineers, put everything on the table and learn from each other. There's plenty this team was doing well and there was lots we did well over the last couple of years too. If we can put all the points together then this combination will only make us a stronger package."
It's new surroundings for the Belgian but as a French speaker he has a headstart, and doubly the case given he's worked with some of the engineers at DS PENSKE on his way up the motorsport ladder.
"I'm in for a big change, but I'm settling in well," continues the 30-year-old. I knew some of the guys from the past and some junior series, so that's helped a lot.
"When you're used to working with a team, you get to know how things work and the way people work. The fact we speak the same language is a big benefit as well - to get to know people on a more personal level."