The Franco-American DS Penske team demonstrated its competitiveness throughout the Monaco Formula E weekend. Despite both cars consistently challenging for points, the second race in the Principality ended with a result that fell short of expectations.

Maximilian Günther secured third place in qualifying and set the fastest lap in the first Monaco E-Prix on Saturday. Taylor Barnard, who finished seventh the previous day, aimed to build on this momentum. In the single free practice session on Sunday morning, the two DS Penske drivers confirmed their intentions by setting the third and fourth fastest times, less than four tenths of a second off the fastest lap.

In qualifying, warmer conditions and a Group B draw left both drivers vying for the top four positions. Barnard showed immediate strength, dominating the session. Günther, however, had a disallowed first lap and was hampered on his final attempt, falling just seven hundredths of a second short of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

But the cruellest defeat was for Barnard, who missed out on a semi-final spot by a thousandth of a second to Antonio Félix da Costa, highlighting the narrow margins in Monaco.

A Solid Strategy, but a Frustrating Outcome

The two DS Penske cars started from 6th and 12th on the grid, hoping to capitalize on a race expected to differ from the first. The absence of a mandatory pit boost and two opportunities to activate attack mode offered more strategic possibilities. The slightly shorter distance—28 laps instead of 29—forced the engineers to revise their energy strategies.

During the race, several collisions disrupted the running order, but Barnard and Günther avoided any incidents. Activating attack mode on the outside of the Place du Casino corner temporarily cost them positions but allowed them to fight their way back up the field. Long established in the top /10, the two drivers managed their energy smartly. However, Barnard made contact with the kerb during an overtaking attempt near the tunnel entrance, while Günther lost positions in heavy traffic. Both drivers finished outside the points, a harsh result given their strong performance throughout the weekend.