Mexico City, Mexico, February 16th 2022 - Jean-Eric Vergne and Antonio Felix Da Costa kicked off their weekend in style, taking fourth and fifth in qualifying in Latin America as the DS TECHEETAH team showed clearly that it had gotten to grips with the Formula E world championship’s new qualifying format.
It also confirmed that their below-par return in Diriyah two weeks ago, where the Franco-Chinese squad had struggled in the new format, was merely a bump in the road. In the race itself, the DS E-TENSE Fe21s confirmed their excellent form at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, back on the race calendar this year. Cheered on by a large and enthusiastic crowd, both Jean-Eric Vergne and Antonio Felix Da Costa showcased their skills throughout the race, completing several key overtaking moves whilst the team adopted the right strategy in the pit lane. Although he held second briefly, in the end Vergne secured a fine third place to claim his first podium finish of the year and kick start his 2022 season, whilst Da Costa put his first points on the board with a promising fourth place. “The Mexico race track has a reputation for creating challenging situations in terms of energy management and this year proved to be no exception,” commented Thomas Chevaucher, Director of DS Performance and DS TECHEETAH Team Principal. “We therefore had to be quick and have a very good strategy to be able to manage the closing stages of the race and we had both these qualities this weekend. Yet again, the team bounced back very strongly after the difficulties of Diriyah and that’s the mark of a champion! We have scored a lot of very important points for both championships and we are now really looking forward to the Rome E-Prix to build on this fine comeback.”
Jean-Eric Vergne, the best-placed finisher of the two DS TECHEETAH drivers was equally enthusiastic about the result: “The race was a really intriguing battle with the different strategies adopted. Our team made a great call in changing my strategy, allowing me to do 40 laps instead of 39. I lost a few places at the start but I was able to regain them at the end. Today, we were the second best team, so we’re going to keep working in order to become the best. We have made a lot of progress since Riyad. The aim is to score points in all the races and finish on the podium if possible! We head home after this weekend eager for more success!” Jean-Eric will however have to bide his time somewhat, as the next round of the Formula E world championship is not due to be held for almost two months, a double-header scheduled on 9-10 April in Rome.
Jean-Eric Vergne has gradually picked up the pace after tentative start in Saudi Arabia, moving into the top six of the drivers’ standings in Mexico, just three points behind the third-placed driver. Meanwhile, Antonio Felix Da Costa scored his first twelve points of the season. The combined efforts of Vergne and Da Costa have enabled DS TECHEETAH to move to within touching distance of the top-three in the teams’ standings.
