Monaco, May 11th 2023 - The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship rolled in to Monte Carlo this weekend for round nine of the 2023 season and the sixth edition of the Monaco E-Prix, where the DS E-TENSE FE 23s of Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne showcased their impressive race pace and competitiveness.
Things looked very promising in free practice for the DS PENSKE team, as their cars tamed the 3.3km track on the iconic roads of the Principality, where the ultimate in motorsport meets the epitome of glitz and glamour. However, both Franco-American cars were penalised for low tyre pressure, meaning their qualifying times were cancelled and they had to start the race from the back of the grid. Despite this setback, Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne wowed the 20,000 or so fans lining the streets of Monaco during the race: from a lowly twenty-second on the starting grid, Vergne produced a sensational performance to make up fifteen positions and end in a very respectable seventh place. Vandoorne also showcased his overtaking prowess, fighting back from twenty-first on the starting grid to finish ninth overall.
“We certainly recovered incredibly well today, collecting points for seventh place after starting at the back of the grid,” explained Jean-Eric Vergne at the finish. “Especially when you consider how difficult it is to finish in the top ten at Monaco under normal circumstances. I think we managed the race very well. It’s a real shame that we were unfortunate in qualifying. We want to fight for the title and if we are to do that, we need to avoid this kind of situation reoccurring. Having said that, the car was very fast today. We have to stay positive and keep giving it everything right to the end!” The series now heads to Jakarta in Indonesia, for a double-header on 3-4 June.
In scoring six vital points as the season reaches its half-way point, Jean-Eric Vergne remains very much in the fight for the drivers’ title. Thanks to the performance of Stoffel Vandoorne, DS PENSKE is now only four points adrift of the fourth-placed squad in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship team standings.
