Jeddah ePrix 2025 – Race 1: Maximilian Günther offers DS Penske their first victory of the season

The first race of the inaugural Jeddah ePrix in Formula E delivered on all its promises from start to finish. Right up to the final meters of this suspenseful race, it was impossible to determine the winner.

Poleman Maximilian Günther in his DS Penske managed to maintain his leading position during the opening laps. The first laps were marked by several collisions involving several favorites such as the two Porsches of Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa, Mitch Evans and his Jaguar, or Nico Müller whose Andretti took off before ending its race in a runoff area.

In order to clear the track of the various debris littering it, the safety car took to the track on the 7th lap. At the end of the neutralization period, Oliver Rowland, starting third in his Nissan, took advantage to get the better of the leader’s DS.

On the 15th lap, history will remember that it was Taylor Barnard who became the first driver to make the first pit stop in the history of Formula E. For just under ten laps, drivers made their mandatory 30-second stop to recover 10% energy, equivalent to 3.85 kWh. After all 22 single-seaters had passed through, it can be confirmed that the system worked well and no incidents were reported.

By perfectly managing this pit window, Rowland emerges with a significant lead over a tightly grouped pack led by Nyck de Vries and Jake Hughes. The Pit Boost allows drivers to attack in the final part of the race.

A breathtaking end to the race

With still several Attack Modes to activate, the battles are intense at all levels of the pack. Notably for the second place, which now pits De Vries against Günther, who has returned to the front after losing some time in traffic during the Pit Boost. Up front, Rowland is not sparing his machinery and finds himself in the final laps under threat from competitors with more energy than him.

The top three take their second Attack Mode almost simultaneously to finish the race. Günther takes full advantage of this power boost, coming back like a cannonball under Rowland’s rear wing. The last two laps are very intense. De Vries is overtaken by the McLaren of the surprising Taylor Barnard while the top two race wheel to wheel.

In the last chicane just a few meters from the finish line, Günther launches his attack and overtakes his opponent. The German driver thus wins the sixth race of his Formula E career and, more importantly, allows DS Penske to find themselves back on the top step of the podium since the Hyderabad ePrix two years ago.

In the championship, Günther takes third place, six points behind leader Rowland and three behind Da Costa, who is only 9th in this first race of the weekend.

The second will take place tomorrow, also at 6 p.m.

Jeddah ePrix 2025 Standings – Race 1

Driver championship standings

Team championship standings