The day began properly for the French crew DS Penske, with Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne each ending third and fifth in follow.
“Relying on whether or not you take a look at the info for 300 kW or 350 kW, the state of affairs is kind of to our benefit,” mentioned Eugenio Franzetti, DS Efficiency Director. “However I want to not give any predictions for the longer term, as a result of typically it comes all the way down to nothing.”
A comment that rang true, as Vandoorne then simply certified for the ultimate section of qualifying, first in his group, whereas Vergne failed, lacking out on progressing by 5 thousandths in group B.
“Opposite to follow, I did not really feel the automobile as a lot, though we did not change something within the set-up,” the French driver mentioned.
Vandoorne then went on to be dominated by Envision’s Sebastien Buemi, who later grew to become the polesitter forward of Sam Fowl. The entrance row was 100% Jaguar when it comes to engines, forward of the DS Penske of Vandoorne and the NIO 333 of Dan Ticktum.
Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Picture by: DPPI
A race with twists and turns
Vandoorne’s pole place in Sao Paulo simply 4 weeks in the past didn’t convey him luck. The Belgian driver had to make use of up a number of vitality to maintain his place, solely to be overtaken on the finish of the race by those that had remained behind ready to make use of his draft. In Berlin, the configuration of the circuit is completely different, and there have been many adjustments of chief, even constituting a report in a single race, in accordance with the organisers. Right here, everybody is aware of that the bottom could be very aggressive for the tyres, however the configuration of the observe signifies that it’s potential to overhaul in a number of locations.
The methods of probably the most skilled drivers had been shortly opposed to one another. There was a battle of veterans on the entrance, however the group was by no means far-off. On the midway level, the primary 15 drivers had been inside 5 seconds of one another.
Plenty of drivers made their manner up the rating, together with Vandoorne who, after having taken the lead of the E-Prix, misplaced a number of locations earlier than being squeezed towards a wall by Ticktum. Compelled to retire, the Belgian driver didn’t obtain the rostrum that appeared inside his attain.
Stoffel Vandoorne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Picture by: DPPI
Vergne, who began tenth, had 20 laps to attempt to rating factors. After a number of different race incidents, the French driver crossed the end line in seventh place, behind the 2 manufacturing unit Jaguars, the Maserati of Max Guenther, the 2 Envision Racing vehicles and the Porsche of Pascal Wehrlein.
It was subsequently a day that didn’t replicate the true degree of efficiency of the DS E-TENSE FE 23, however which stays encouraging, as the beginning of the second E-Prix of Berlin on Sunday, on a observe that can have been doubtlessly drenched by in a single day rain.
Stoffel Vandoorne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Picture by: DPPI