Maximilian Günther delivered a dominant drive to hand DS Penske its first-ever 1-2 finish in Formula E on the weekend, while Monaco-based Maserati MSG Racing secured a strong double-points result in challenging conditions.
History was made at the Shanghai E-Prix as Maximilian Günther powered to a commanding victory in Round 10, leading DS Penske to its first-ever 1-2 finish after 142 starts in the all-electric championship. The German driver, who switched from Maserati to DS Penske at the end of last season, put on a strategic masterclass, overtaking Oliver Rowland with a decisive use of Attack Mode and pulling clear of the chasing pack.
Günther’s victory was cemented in the final moments of the race when teammate Jean-Éric Vergne executed a bold last-corner move on McLaren’s Taylor Barnard to claim second place, sending the DS Penske garage into celebration. Team Principal Jay Penske embraced the team on the pit wall, while Deputy Team Principal Phil Charles was seen wiping away tears in an emotional and long-awaited achievement for the outfit.
“What a day!” said Günther. “Starting from pole gave us the foundation, but the race was long and needed precise management. All the planets aligned, and I’m so proud we could win like that. This 1-2 is the reward for all the hard work behind the scenes.”
It marked Günther’s second victory of the season, following his earlier triumph in Jeddah, and reaffirmed DS Penske’s growing strength as the season intensifies. The team’s milestone moment came after Günther led the field in qualifying, dispatching rivals Oliver Rowland and Nick Cassidy in the Duels before taking pole by nearly four-tenths of a second.
While DS Penske celebrated at the front, Maserati MSG Racing delivered a quietly impressive performance of its own in Sunday’s rain-affected Round 11. Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne expertly navigated the treacherous conditions to finish fourth and seventh respectively, lifting the Monaco-based team to sixth in the Teams’ Championship with 89 points.
With torrential rain forcing the cancellation of Free Practice 3 and the qualifying Duels, the starting grid was determined by group times. Hughes began the race in P5 and quickly moved up a position on the opening lap, maintaining his focus as the race unfolded under difficult conditions. He resisted the urge to attack for a podium in the closing stages, instead opting for a clean, controlled drive to bring home fourth.
“It’s been a while since I’ve scored points, so this feels really good,” said Hughes. “We had a strong weekend overall and finally converted that into a result.” Vandoorne, who started eighth, improved steadily to claim seventh. “Visibility was tough at the start, but the car came alive as the race progressed. It was a matter of staying composed,” he said.
Team Principal Cyril Blais praised the duo’s disciplined approach: “It was a challenging race where precision and patience mattered most. Jake and Stoffel showed the kind of execution we needed after a demanding run of races.”
Sunday’s victory went to Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy, who returned to the top step after dominating in wet conditions from pole. It was a timely result for the New Zealander amid speculation about his future, and a welcome boost for Jaguar, who continue to struggle in the Gen3 Evo era.
Elsewhere on the grid, standout drives from Dan Ticktum for CUPRA KIRO and disappointment for Mahindra Racing added to the drama of the weekend. Ticktum climbed from 21st to fourth in Saturday’s race, while teammate David Beckmann continued to struggle. Mahindra’s Nyck de Vries, who had shown promise in practice, finished 12th in Round 11, while Edoardo Mortara retired from Saturday’s race and finished 19th on Sunday.
With the championship now heading to Jakarta on 21st June, Maximilian Günther sits sixth in the Drivers’ standings with 71 points, while Maserati MSG Racing prepares to build on its Shanghai momentum as the title race heats up.
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Main photo of Maximilian Gunther, source DS Penske