Maximilian Guenther delivered one of the most electrifying finishes in Formula E history, pulling off a jaw-dropping last-corner overtake on Oliver Rowland to snatch victory in the opening round of the Jeddah E-Prix.
Guenther, who started from pole, looked like he had lost his grip on the race after Rowland surged to the lead on Lap 11 and expertly managed his Attack Mode strategy. But the DS Penske star played the long game, saving energy and executing a masterful strategy, putting him in position to launch a final-lap ambush that left Rowland helpless.
Guenther’s Last-Lap Heroics – A Move for the Ages
With just two corners to go, Guenther saw his chance. Rowland, desperate to save energy, had no answer for the German’s audacious dive up the inside into the Turn 14-15-16 chicane. The move was aggressive, clinical, and sealed Guenther’s first victory since Tokyo 2024—making him the first polesitter to win in 17 races.
“I just went for it. The opportunity was there, and I took it!” Guenther said post-race, still buzzing from the breathtaking finish.
Rowland, who had looked poised for his first win of the season, had to settle for second but still left Jeddah as the new championship leader.
Barnard Shines, de Vries Battles, and Chaos Unfolds
Rookie Taylor Barnard impressed with a hard-fought podium finish, making a late charge to challenge the leaders. He edged out Nyck de Vries, who matched his best-ever finish for Mahindra in fourth.
Meanwhile, Formula E’s heavyweights suffered brutal setbacks. Defending champion Pascal Wehrlein and title rival Mitch Evans tangled on the opening lap, sending both tumbling down the order. Wehrlein limped home in 15th, while Evans was dead last, a lap down, after repairs and a five-second penalty.
Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa, the pre-race points leader, was also caught in the chaos, getting tagged by Nico Mueller in a dramatic Lap 1 incident that sent both cars scrambling.
Championship Shake-Up: Rowland Leads, Nissan on Top
Despite the heartbreak of missing out on the win, Rowland now leads the drivers’ standings by four points over da Costa, while Guenther rockets up from 10th to third in the title race.
In the teams’ championship, TAG Heuer Porsche barely holds onto first place, just three points ahead of DS Penske. But in the manufacturers’ battle, Nissan has surged to the top, thanks to Rowland’s podium and McLaren’s solid showing.
What’s Next?
With one of the most chaotic and thrilling Formula E races in recent memory in the books, the grid now turns its attention to Round 2, where the battle for supremacy is wide open. Can Guenther carry this momentum forward? Will Rowland strike back? Can Wehrlein recover?
One thing is certain—Formula E just delivered a season-opening statement, and Jeddah won’t soon be forgotten.