Dominant Dual Victory for Team Penske in China: Günther and Vergne Outmaneuver Rivals with a Proven 1-2 Finish
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In a thrilling display of electric racing prowess, German driver Maximilian Günther snatched his seventh career win in the ABB Formula E World Championship, held in the bustling metropolis of Shanghai on May 31, 2025. The sensational victory marked DS Penske's inaugural one-two finish as team-mate Jean-Éric Vergne roared to a stunning second-place finish in the dying moments of the race.
Starting from pole position, Günther repeated his Jeddah success from February, leading the charge for much of the race. As drivers fought for position during the opening laps, the German maintained a consistent presence within the top five, leading on several occasions. A timely pit-stop on lap 13 for his Pit Boost rapid recharge set the stage for Günther to charge towards the front.
Leveraging his extra energy, Günther executes a strategically brilliant move to overtake championship leader Oliver Rowland shortly after Rowland exited the pits. Steadfast at the front, Günther activated his final Attack Mode on lap 23, briefly falling to fourth before quickly reclaiming his commanding position.
Meanwhile, racing fanatics, including Rowland, Pascal Wehrlein, and Taylor Barnard, held their breath as they battled for positions. Yet, it was Vergne who rose from obscurity to snatch second place from Rowland in a nail-biting final lap, attacking with all his might. Vergne, with a perfectly executed strategy, steals the runner-up position by outmaneuvering Barnard and Dan Ticktum in the nail-biting finale.
A day before his 21st birthday, Barnard narrowly pipped his countryman to the flag, securing his fifth podium finish in ten starts during his inaugural full campaign in the championship. Rowland slipped to fifth in the closing stages, just ahead of Nissan partner Norman Nato. With Wehrlein and Porsche stablemate António Félix da Costa failing to score, Rowland now boasts a considerable 86-point lead at the top of the title table.
Günther's victory was hailed as a masterclass of strategy, pace, execution, and breathtaking overtaking moves. Speaking afterwards, the elated Günther said, "I knew when I put the overlap on Oli and had more energy, I just had to go. My team did a fantastic job, and I'm extremely happy!"
Vergne, despite sustaining injuries during the race, showed incredible determination, remarking, "It was a rollercoaster race! I'm really happy with what we achieved." Barnard, visibly overwhelmed, admitted, "I need to look at the race after to understand a little better what's actually happened. I'm super happy to get another podium."
With Round 11 of the 2024/25 Formula E campaign scheduled for 1 June, racing enthusiasts eagerly await the next electric battle in Shanghai.
Taylor Barnard, No. 5, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team said:
"To be honest, my main emotion is a bit of confusion! I was sitting at the back for a very long time; I was quite good on energy but I didn't understand how the race was playing out. The team did a great job with the strategy because I came out of the pit lane in sixth so I thought, 'now I can fight!', but I need to look at the race after to understand a bit better what's actually happened. I was really struggling with energy on the last couple of laps so I did my best in the last few corners. I'm super happy to get another podium, another 15 points in the bag."
Insights:Recent standings data show that after the Shanghai E-Prix in 2025, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team regained the lead in the teams' championship with 191 points, followed closely by the Nissan Formula E Team with 190 points. The DS Penske team is in third place with 145 points[2].
Maximilian Günther's victory in Shanghai was his first in the month of May[3]. His consistent performance across different calendar months is noteworthy. However, specific standings for the entire drivers' field after the Shanghai E-Prix are not detailed in the provided search results[1].
- Taylor Barnard, of the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, expressed his surprise and joy after claiming another podium finish in Shanghai, admitting he was confused during the race and needs to review it to fully understand the events.
- Amidst the ongoing 2024/25 Formula E campaign, Taylor Barnard's focus now shifts towards the next race in Shanghai, scheduled for June 1st, as racing enthusiasts gear up for another thrilling electric battle.
