SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 8, 2025 – The lights are turning green on a new all-electric adventure for DS Automobiles as the brand kicks off its 11th season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. With the São Paulo E-Prix opening Season 12 on December 6, DS heads back to the iconic Sambadrome armed with a refined race car, a hungry young talent, and a seasoned Formula E star ready to hit his 100th race.
A High-Speed Season Opener in the Heart of São Paulo
Once again, the Formula E season starts in Brazil, where the 2.9-kilometre São Paulo circuit weaves through the legendary Sambadrome. Long straights, tight corners and a lively urban backdrop guarantee the kind of close, energy-focused racing that makes this championship so addictive to watch. For DS Automobiles and partner PENSKE AUTOSPORT, it’s the perfect stage to send a message: they’re here to win races and fight for the final podium at season’s end.
With 10 teams on the grid and a calendar that stretches across continents, Season 12 promises packed grandstands, late-braking duels and the kind of strategic drama only electric street racing can deliver. For DS, every lap is also a rolling showcase of its electrified technology and premium French style.
New Talent Meets Proven Experience
This year’s DS PENSKE line-up blends fresh energy with deep Formula E experience. On one side of the garage is 21-year-old Briton Taylor Barnard, an up-and-coming driver who’s already collected five podiums and two pole positions in just 19 races in his young career. He arrives in Formula E with a clear goal: turn that raw speed into points and podiums on some of the world’s most demanding city circuits.
Alongside him, German driver Maximilian Günther brings the kind of calm, race-smart presence that only years in the series can build. Having been part of Formula E since 2018, he’ll celebrate his 100th race in São Paulo – a milestone that underlines how deeply he understands the rhythm, strategy and unpredictability of electric racing. Together, they give DS PENSKE a line-up that can attack in qualifying and grind out results on race day.
A Refined DS E-TENSE FE25 Ready for Battle
Behind the drivers stands a Franco-American squad with serious pedigree. Engineers and mechanics have fine-tuned the DS E-TENSE FE25 with new software settings designed to squeeze maximum efficiency, performance and control out of every kilowatt. In a series where energy management can decide the race in the final laps, that behind-the-scenes work matters just as much as what happens at the start line.
For DS Automobiles, this long-term commitment to Formula E isn’t just about trophies. Since joining the series in 2015, the brand has used racing as a high-speed laboratory to test ideas that can later filter into its electrified road cars. With two double titles, 18 victories, 55 podiums and 26 pole positions already on the board, the stats tell a clear story – but the ambition is to keep adding to that haul.
Editorial Extra: 3 Reasons DS Fans Should Tune Into Season 12
- Milestone moments: São Paulo could be the scene of Max Günther’s 100th Formula E race and the start of Taylor Barnard’s first full-season charge with DS – a perfect mix of heritage and fresh promise.
- Electric tech you can feel: Every race helps DS refine its electric powertrains and software, the same expertise that shapes its E-TENSE road cars. Watching the races is like seeing future tech being tested in real time.
- Global city-showcase vibes: From São Paulo to Mexico and beyond, the championship races through some of the world’s most vibrant cities, turning each E-Prix into a blend of motorsport, nightlife and urban culture.
A Season Built on Heritage and Hungry for More
Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance Director, sums up what this new chapter means for the brand: the São Paulo race isn’t just another round – it’s the start of DS’s 11th season in a series that perfectly fits its identity. Electric performance, bold design and advanced technology all come together on circuits around the world, lifting the brand’s image while feeding real innovations back into the showroom.
With Taylor and Max at the wheel of the DS E-TENSE FE25 and a team determined to fight at the front, DS Automobiles isn’t just showing up for Season 12 – it’s aiming to shape it. From the opening laps in Brazil to the final chequered flag, fans can expect tight battles, bold strategies and plenty of moments worth replaying.
To explore more about DS Automobiles, its electrified lineup and its Formula E journey, visit https://www.dsautomobiles.com/.