DS is one of the most successful brands in the history of Formula E, having taken part in the championship since its first seasons. Over the years the teams with which he has collaborated have changed, including Virgin, Techeetah and Penske, but the goal always remains the same: to win. Four titles, of which two drivers and two reserved for teams, are the spoils that add to the numerous successes achieved during the French brand’s stay in the electric category.
Now the goal is to return to triumph and be protagonists also during the Gen 3 technical cycle, where a victory and a total of six podiums were recorded, the last of which was achieved in Berlin last weekend. Until now, Gen 3 has been dominated by two brands that have made efficiency their strong point, namely Porsche and Jaguar, an aspect which, especially in 2023, has allowed it to emerge in the most complex races in terms of energy.
However, behind them the two DS drivers were often among the protagonists, so much so that last year Jean-Eric Vergne had finished the championship in fifth place, as did the team, finishing only behind the teams that had characterized the season. Of course, however, this is not enough.
Stoffel Vandoorne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images
For a brand like DS Automobiles, which has already won in Formula E, the natural objective is to give drivers a car that can fight for the world championship. The first part of the Gen 3 technical cycle did not quite follow the desired path, which is why behind the scenes engineers continued to work to improve in those areas not subject to approval, such as software. In Formula E, as the Powertrain group at the hardware level undergoes a “freeze” cycle every two years, the focus shifts to the code, which takes on a key role.
In order to improve its performance, both in terms of pure potential and energy management in the race, during the winter break DS worked in depth on the software that regulates braking and the charging phase, because that is where the teams can find ample margins to lower lap times.
It is no coincidence that, in fact, the Franco-American team has made great strides forward this year, entering the fight for top positions several times, especially in qualifying, where several front rows finished. If on the single lap DS often demonstrated that it could be in the game, in the race it was sometimes unable to realize that potential, with a bitter aftertaste from the feeling of having missed a good chance.
In Formula E the themes of efficiency and strategy often go hand in hand, but it is no mystery that the team could have achieved something more by bringing home better results, as in Brazil or Misano, events where it was unable to capitalize better on the first files obtained in qualification. “Surely. I think our position in the standings doesn’t reflect where we should be, but the positive thing is that we still have many races to fight for better results and that’s what we will do,” said Jean-Eric Vergne when asked on the issue by Motorsport.com.
Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Photo by: DPPI
The short-term objective is therefore to be able to capitalize on the performance of the single-seater, because the latter has made steps forward compared to last year. However, it is clear that to continue the growth path towards the top, reinforcements on a human level are also needed. This is why the Franco-American team pushed the accelerator, hiring new high-level engineers who could give new life to the team in an internal turnover process.
Many innovations on an organizational level have characterized the last year of DS, starting from the farewell of Thomas Chevaucher, former director of the project who went on to strengthen the FIA’s organizational chart.
This farewell, however, opened the door to what was perhaps one of the most significant blows in Formula E in recent championships, namely the transition of Phil Charles from Jaguar to DS starting this season. Charles, who also has a past in Formula 1, was one of the key figures in the project which is currently putting Jaguar in a position to challenge for victory in almost all races. For DS Penske, it’s not just a top-tier shot to strengthen its team, but it also means snatching a high-profile engineer from the competition.
“There are two main reasons why I came to DS: the first is Jean-Eric Vergne and the second is Eugenio Franzetti [Direttore di DS Performance]. JEV picked me up and said ‘you have to come!’ and then Eugenio was really incredibly persuasive: he wants to improve things, he wants to win. The team has great drivers and great people, and so does Jay Penske,” Charles explained when speaking about his arrival at DS where he took on more responsibilities in the role of Deputy Team Principal, also strongly pushed by team owner Jay Penske.
Phil Charles, Deputy Team Principal, DS Penske
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
The arrival of Charles was not the only signing that characterized last year’s signing campaign. A new engineer has arrived from Porsche to work on Stoffel Vandoorne’s car, but other engineers have also arrived under the advice of the new Deputy Team Principal, who in this role can also act with greater freedom on the people he needs to have alongside him to bring the team at the top.
For example, a new role is that of the engineer dedicated exclusively to understanding tires, a theme that has taken on central importance especially with Gen 3. The tires of this technical cycle are very hard, an aspect that guarantees great durability over the course of the of the weekend, but this characteristic also guarantees little grip, so the search for those last hundredths in terms of grip can make the difference, especially if in qualifying you are fighting for thousandths of a second.
Remaining linked to the tire theme, like other teams, DS Penske has also aligned itself with the trend of purchasing “blankets” for tires. Even if, as per the regulations, the teams cannot heat the tires using special devices as happens in Formula 1, in order to also reduce energy consumption, on the other hand the search for the last cents becomes fundamental. For this reason, the teams have also started to invest in blankets which have the purpose of keeping the tires warm before qualifying, so that they can count on tires in a better window during qualifying.
Stoffel Vandoorne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Certain progress has already been observed during this season, in which there has been no shortage of rivals, because in addition to Jaguar and Porsche, Nissan has also been added, one of the surprises of this first part of the world championship. The hope would be to realize the potential of the car and reach at least the podium in the team classification, a goal currently only 16 points away.
On the other hand, it is natural that certain mechanisms, particularly after the arrival of new engineers, need time to fit together and function in the best possible way, with the challenge moving to next season and the Gen 3 Evo, when the teams will also have the opportunity to homologate a new Powertrain by intervening at a hardware level to bridge the gap from Porsche and Jaguar.
Behind the scenes, teams have already begun testing the new Powertrain, as well as the new tyres, with private testing which, in Jaguar’s case, began last March. Although it has not yet been possible to test the complete package with the new aerodynamics, revealed in Monaco a few weeks ago, the teams have had the opportunity to test the 2025 car “in pieces”. The challenge to return to the top is open.
#figures #technicians #pushing #top
