DS Penske’s first ever 1-2 in Formula E was a masterclass in simplifying a strategy that might have consumed other teams such were the different approaches that Maximilian Guenther and Jean-Eric Vergne could have taken in Shanghai today.
Guenther’s strategy took a little bit from his successful Jeddah execution but this time he was able to get the deal done much quicker, largely thanks to a delayed second attack mode that had his side of the garage eventually purring.
Guenther has had an engineering change this season as Ricardo Santos replaced Jamie Gomeche for the Jeddah races.
In the conext of Guenther telling Formula E Notebook at Tokyo recently that he felt as if he hit his stride early with the DS Penske organisation, it indeed feels like he is an old-hand at the team rather than someone who has now scored to wins in just 10 starts in the black and gold colours of the American-French-British alliance.
Phil Charles has always believed in his ‘professor’ and looked back on the Shanghai race with FEN shortly after he had swigged gleefully from the champagne bottle.
“I wish I could say it (strategy) is that locked-in before the start of the race,” said Charles.
“Life would be a bit easier if it was, but unfortunately it isn’t and that definitely keeps us on our toes! The attack modes and energy usage best-approach constantly changes depending on what position you are in. If you are out of position you tend to have to try something different to keep you into the box seats.
“That often involves using energy or attacks earlier,” added Charles.
“It’s a really knife edge decision making scenario because if you don’t get up there it becomes increasingly difficult as the races go on to progress and if you use that energy or attack, that can cause you pain later when others, that were already well placed have those ‘natural resources’ still in their pockets.”
From Guenther’s viewpoint the late last attack give him a few palpitations but his clinical running of the last six laps proved so decisive.
“We waited quite long for our last attack not just because we were able to,” said Guenther.
“Being in front and then having this overlap and good energy at the end this then gave us the shot for the win and it was quite clear that then I needed to pass Ollie and try to disappear in the distance and try to gap him as fast as I could and this worked out nicely.
“I saw the guys fighting for P2 and then I just did the most efficient laps I can and winning with seven seconds is pretty awesome.”
While Guenther pulled his own pin with a good number of laps to go, carving through the three Nissans of Rowland, Nato and Barnard, Vergne had to get creative with a do or die move at the last chicane on a surprised Dan Ticktum.
“I realised that everybody was pushing so hard and probably over-consuming as
well,” reckoned Vergne.
“I was like it makes no sense to overtake when everybody is over-consuming because then it’s just going to mean I will end up in a worse situation. So, I tried to save as much as possible just before my second attack.
“Then I was able to save a bit of energy and I was able to push. Also in the last few laps, I saw the guys fighting very hard and I was thinking maybe they’re going to struggle in energy.”
