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Yesterday, we looked over Jake Dennis’ Season 10 performance as he tries to make it back-to-back World Championships. But, today is the turn of DS PENSKE’s Jean-Eric Vergne. The two-time Formula E champion is on 129 points, 38 shy of standings leader Nick Cassidy (Jaguar TCS Racing), but goes into the London double-header with a chance at the trophy again!
Vergne is the most experienced driver in our super seven, having entered an impressive 128 E-Prix during his 10 seasons in the all-electric championship. He might be the only one of our contenders without a win this year, but his level of consistency has helped him find himself in with a mathematical chance of a third championship crown.
RESULTS: See the full standings for the 2023/24 Drivers' World Championship
Can he do the triple? Time will tell, but there’s no doubt he’ll be giving it all to end his record-breaking season on a high.
How Vergne's Season 10 unfolded
It was a strong start to the season, when Vergne became the second driver to ever pass 1,000 points in Formula E. The amazing achievement has now only been done by himself and ABT CUPRA’s Lucas di Grassi, and shows the level of dedication – plus understanding – of these machines over all three generations to date.
Vergne finished the first race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in sixth, with his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne in eighth. It was a promising opening round for the team, with the Stellantis-powered DS cars hunting bigger and better results.
“It’s clear to see too that there’s a very good feeling within the team,” JEV said after the Mexico City E-Prix. “That’s all really positive and it bodes well for the future. The goal in Diriyah will be to do better in qualifying, but with the hard work taking place within the team and the current dynamic, I’m feeling quite confident.”
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He had reason to be confident, as next time out in Diriyah as Vergne secured the Julius Baer Pole Position! Adding another first place grid slot to his ever-growing tally, the former double champion battled closely with Jaguar’s Mitch Evans throughout the race with the two getting very close to the walls, and each other! The Frenchman settled for second, and picked up his first podium of the year, but was forced to accept eighth the following day.
Then came São Paulo, and it was another double points finish for the DS PENSKE squad. Vergne managed seventh, with Vandoorne just behind in eighth, and meant the team were now third in the Teams’ championship, and Vergne tied with Evans in third for the Drivers’ title. The fight was on.
Only non-points finish of the year
Tokyo was next, and marked a huge moment for Formula E. It was the first time we had raced in Japan, but unfortunately for Vergne it marked his first and only non-scoring race of the season so far. Starting from 13th, he was only able to move up one position by the chequered flag around the tight and twisty street circuit in the heart of Downtown Tokyo.
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Misano was an interesting double-header event for the 34-year-old, as he showed fantastic pace by making it through to both of the qualifying Final Duels. Vergne started on the front row for both races at the Italian circuit, but failed to stay up at the front in both of the very chaotic races. Instead, he locked in crucial points with a sixth and seventh place on the Saturday and Sunday.
Then came Monaco, which marked the halfway point of the season. The DS PENSKE team ran a special slick ‘Grand Gala’ livery, which flipped their usual two-tone colour palette with gloss black as the main colour with gold lining. Perhaps it brought them good luck around the principality, as Stoffel Vandoorne earned his first podium place since the end of his championship-winning season when he finished third, with Vergne in fourth behind. Between them, they picked up 27 points, which is the most the team managed over a race day since Vergne won in Hyderabad last season.
Podium in Berlin
Our return to the Tempelhof Street Circuit – Formula E’s most popular venue – saw Vergne stood back on the podium after a solid second place result. The race, which is known for being tough on tyre management with the abrasive track surface at the former airport, saw lots of drivers coming from far back to fight for the victory. Yet, Vergne stayed put and managed to go from third on the grid to sealing second place in front of the German fans. It marked his 35th top three finish in the electric championship, and sees him second on the all-time podium list with only di Grassi ahead on 40.
The next day in Berlin wasn’t as kind, with a 10th place and a single championship point to his name.
Formula E then visited the Shanghai International Circuit, a track that Vergne knows well from his racing days in Formula 1. That experience came in handy when he set the pace by locking in pole position for Round 11, putting him on equal career poles with Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi with 16. When it came to the race, JEV navigated an intense race with lots of elbows-out racing to cross the finish line in sixth. It was a similar story for the following day too, with the 11-time race winner settling for seventh.
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DS PENSKE’s home race in Portland was up next, as the championship reached its final few rounds. Vergne was able to deliver another piece of silverware at the US race with a third place, after a stunning climb up the grid from 14th. After a great strategy, JEV was running in fifth but a rare error from championship leader Cassidy on the penultimate lap, and Evans having a five-second penalty, saw the DS PENSKE pilot promoted up into third.
Breaking Formula E records
Fresh from his podium the day prior, two-time champion Vergne reminded everyone why is one of the best in the field as he broke another Formula E record. Going up against former teammate, TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa, in the Final of the Duels, the DS PENSKE driver came out on top.
Having equalled the record in Shanghai, his Portland pole meant he is now the owner of the most Julius Baer Pole Positions in Formula E history with 17. It was also his third pole of the season, something he hadn’t replicated since winning the championship back in Season 4!
Next up is London, but the ExCel is statistically not a place JEV had done well at in the past. Since its introduction to the calendar in Season 7, he has failed to score a single point at the unique half indoor-half outdoor venue. The first year saw two consecutive 12th place finishes, the following season was a 14th and a retirement and last year was another DNF and 22nd.
Perhaps with the momentum of Portland, and the positive results for the team this season, his London fortunes can turn around and he can bring the fight to the top guys. His nearest competition is currently Nissan’s Oliver Rowland on 131 points – two away – and da Costa on 134, but Vergne knows what it takes to win a championship or two, so he shouldn’t be ruled out.
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Be sure to tune back each day to read more about each of the seven drivers who are fighting for the Drivers’ World Championship in London next week.