DS Penske has confirmed rising British star Taylor Barnard and Maximilian Günther for Season 12 of the Formula E championship, creating what is bound to be one of the most compelling driver pairings on the grid.
A strong legacy
DS Automobiles has always attracted top drivers in Formula E. The French manufacturer has worked with some of motorsport’s biggest names, including three-time World Touring Car champion José María López, Le Mans winner André Lotterer, and 2021-22 Formula E champion Stoffel Vandoorne. António Félix da Costa and Jean-Éric Vergne brought DS two constructors’ titles and two drivers’ championships.
DS typically chooses experienced drivers with strong track records. Taylor Barnard breaks this pattern – he’s relatively new to the scene. However, the young Briton impressed everyone last season with his raw talent and fearless driving.
The phenomenon of Taylor Barnard
Barnard has smashed several Formula E records in just a short time. He joined the series as an emergency replacement for the injured Sam Bird. At Monaco in 2024, aged 19 years and 331 days, he became the youngest driver ever to start an E-Prix.
The records kept falling. In his next race at Berlin, Barnard became the youngest driver to score points. McLaren quickly signed him after this breakthrough performance.
This season, Barnard continued his remarkable streak. He finished third in São Paulo, making him the youngest podium finisher in Formula E history. A few weeks later, he claimed his first pole position, again becoming the youngest driver to achieve this milestone. DS Penske took notice of these achievements and moved quickly to secure his signature.
Günther brings experience
Maximilian Guenther adds valuable experience to the partnership. The German driver once held the record as Formula E’s youngest competitor when he joined Formula E in 2018-19. Now he has developed into a proven race winner.
Guenther joined DS Penske this season and immediately showed his class. He dominated the Jeddah E-Prix with a perfect weekend – pole position, race win, and fastest lap. He followed this with another victory in Shanghai, proving he can deliver consistent results with the DS E-TENSE FE25 car.
DS Penske has created an ideal driver combination. Guenther brings race-winning experience and technical knowledge. Barnard offers raw speed and the hunger that comes with youth. Together, they could give DS Penske genuine championship potential.
Vergne era ends
Barnard’s arrival in DS Penske’s Formula E team also marks the end of Jean-Éric Vergne’s time with DS. The Frenchman spent eight successful seasons with the team, winning two team championships, one drivers’ title, six races, and achieving 25 podiums and 11 pole positions.
Vergne built an incredible legacy with DS, but the team now looks forward to a new chapter. They believe Barnard and Guenther can maintain their winning tradition whilst bringing fresh energy to the programme.
Formula E enters its 12th season with DS Penske fielding one of the strongest driver line-ups. Barnard’s meteoric rise combined with Guenther’s proven ability creates genuine excitement about their championship prospects.
