Nissan, DS Penske Win Jeddah E-Prix; Mahindra Finishes in Top 10

Max Guenther from DS Penske and Oliver Rowland from Nissan claimed victory in the Jeddah E-Prix. Formula E visited a new venue for Rounds 3 and 4, racing on a modified 3km layout of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which also hosts Formula 1. The event introduced the new Pit Boost fast charging stop, leading to two distinct races over the weekend.

Indian team Mahindra Racing had a successful outing, finishing both r  aces in the top 10 and securing valuable points.

Pit Boost Debuts in Jeddah

After several delays, Formula E's new Pit Boost feature made its race debut. Each driver had to make a pit stop for a 10% battery recharge using a 600kW fast charger, which took a little over 30 seconds.

This, combined with the existing Attack Mode (which gives drivers a temporary power boost and enables all-wheel drive), added an extra layer of strategy. Pit Boost reshuffled the grid, with early leader Guenther losing positions while Mahindra's Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara gained ground.

"I believe this feature adds more excitement to the races, making them more dynamic and competitive like in the Gen2 era. It prevents drivers from just conserving energy and encourages a faster pace," said de Vries.

"We are still refining our strategy for the optimal timing of pit stops and race exits. We had the quickest pit stop on the grid, but I was released into P2 and spent eight laps alone, which affected my energy management," he added.

Guenther Wins Jeddah E-Prix Round 3

Guenther started from pole but lost his lead after the Pit Boost stop and the first Attack Mode round. Rowland took over at the front but had less energy left than Guenther.

This led to a thrilling last-lap battle, where Guenther overtook Rowland at the final chicane. Rowland struggled to maintain pace with his remaining energy. McLaren’s Taylor Barnard finished third to complete the podium.

"It was a challenging race, but we gave our best effort and secured victory with pole position, the race win, and the fastest lap. I’m very proud," said Guenther.

Rowland Claims Victory in Round 4

In the second race, 20-year-old Barnard made history as the youngest-ever Formula E polesitter. He led the race briefly, but Rowland delivered a strategic masterclass.

Rowland carefully planned his Attack Mode deployment, managed his energy well, and created a significant gap over his rivals. He secured victory with a commanding lead of 5.844 seconds.

With his key championship rivals, Guenther and Antonio Felix da Costa, failing to finish, Rowland extended his lead in the standings. "There was some aggressive racing in the pack, so I made sure to get to the front and stay clear of trouble. Our Attack Mode strategy worked perfectly, allowing me to build a lead for a smooth finish," he explained.

Barnard defended his position against Maserati’s Jake Hughes to secure second place, earning a double podium finish for the weekend. This result moved him to second in the championship, 17 points behind Rowland.

Mahindra Continues Strong Performance

Mahindra Racing reinforced its status as a consistent points scorer by collecting 19 points in Jeddah.

De Vries and Mortara both secured top 10 finishes in the first race. De Vries secured P4, just 1.4 seconds behind race winner Guenther. Mortara started from the back due to a technical issue in qualifying but made an impressive recovery, gaining 15 positions to finish P7.

Also Read: Indian Racing League and F4 India Plan More Street Races

The second race proved more challenging for Mahindra. Despite starting P5, Mortara got caught in an incident at the Turn 4 hairpin, dropping to the back. However, he fought back to finish P10, earning an extra point. De Vries finished in P13.

Reflecting on the weekend, Mahindra Racing CEO and Team Principal Frederic Bertrand said, "Looking at the bigger picture, we've made significant progress, and Friday's race proved that with a strong points haul. Saturday didn't go as planned—Edo was unlucky, and with Nyck, we need to analyze and learn from the race."

Mahindra currently sits sixth in the team standings, just two points behind Maserati. After an eight-week break, the 2025 Formula E season resumes with the Miami E-Prix on April 12.

Want more of the world of automotive–check out the social media pages of GoMotoring. Connect anywhere, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.