Techeetah: ‘Growing pains’ of DS partnership easing

Techeetah Formula E chief Mark Preston says the early “growing pains” in the team’s partnership with French manufacturer DS have now eased as they look to build on Jean-Eric Vergne’s Sanya victory.

DS ended a three-season relationship with Virgin to link up with Techeetah for the 2018-19 Formula E season, the team having won last year’s drivers’ championship with Vergne.

The new DS Techeetah team experienced a tricky start to the season as it saw hopes of victory in Ad Diriyah pass after a penalty before a four-race run without a podium prior to Vergne’s win in Sanya last month.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s Rome E-Prix, DS Techeetah team principal Preston said the early teething problems that came with the merger are now beginning to ease.

“We’ve been back at base in Versailles to prepare and there is a really nice atmosphere in the team which is good,” Preston said.

“It’s never easy merging two successful teams like we have this year but we’re feeling the growing pains ease off and we’re coming together as a team more and more each week.

“We’re a really strong combination and the alliance between performance and avant-garde is starting to shine through.”

DS performance director Xavier Mestelan Pinon added: “The Rome E-Prix is the mid-point of the Formula-E season and the beginning of the European races.

“We are firmly in the hunt for the driver and team titles, and just like previous seasons, you have to fight for every single point to win in this championship, proving what an exceptionally high level we must perform at to be competitive.

“We will continue on with the momentum we gained in Sanya and to work towards further success on track.”