Shanghai E-Prix Race 1: Gunther leads Vergne in first ever DS Penske 1-2

Maximilian Gunther led teammate Jean-Eric Vergne to a historic DS Penske 1-2 victory – Full 2025 Shanghai E-Prix Race 1 Results.

From the outset, the first of two electrifying races in the Chinese metropolis was set to deliver a spectacle following a dramatic qualifying session that saw Günther secure pole position for DS Penske.

As the lights went out, the peloton-style racing that has become a hallmark of the FIA Formula E World Championship quickly took hold at the iconic Shanghai International Circuit.

Drivers jostled for position with energy management and strategic deployment of Attack Mode and the new Pit Boost feature at the heart of every move.

Pole sitter Maximilian Gunther initially lost the lead to Pascal Wehrlein who executed a daring move at the start. Meanwhile, his teammate Jean-Eric Vergne initially lying outside the top three bided his time focusing on energy conservation and strategic use of his Attack Mode.

Taylor Barnard who also started from the front row experienced a roller-coaster of a race, dropping back into the chaotic midfield battle which saw Nissan’s Oliver Rowland moving up to second by the end of the Lap 2.

However, the battle would ultimately claim Nick Cassidy who was spun at the final corner after Edoardo Mortara tried to hold off Vergne’s charge on the inside, leaving the Jaguar with nowhere to go on the outside.

As the race progressed, Barnard mounted a determined comeback to take the lead at the end of Lap 20 before losing it to Rowland midway through Lap 24.

Günther later took the lead from Rowland on Lap 26 and proceeded to extend his gap at the front to nearly four seconds as the race entered its final stages. Meanwhile, Barnard applied relentless pressure to Rowland and eventually took second place.

Dan Ticktum delivered a remarkable recovery drive from 21st to seize third in the penultimate lap. The final lap saw Barnard and Ticktum locked in a duel for second, with Barnard defending robustly into Turn 1.

However, as the two locked in a close duel Jean-Eric Vergne seized the opportunity using his remaining Attack Mode to snatch second place, taking the checkered flag behind Gunther for a DS Penske 1-2 finish.

Further down the order the Nissan team had a strong showing with Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. McLaren’s Sam Bird delivered a solid performance to claim seventh, ensuring all Nissan-powered cars finished in the points.

Nyck de Vries brought his Mahindra home in eighth while the Envision Racing duo of Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns rounded out the top 10, both executing consistent races to secure valuable championship points.

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Maserati MSG’s Stoffel Vandoorne finished just outside the points in 11th while teammate Jake Hughes could only manage 16th. The Porsche contingent led by Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa found themselves mired in the midfield, finishing 12th and 13th.

2025 Shanghai E-Prix Race 1 Results