With a long history in Formula E dating back to the inaugural 2014/15 season, Jean-Eric Vergne - more affectionately known as JEV - is the only driver in the series to have achieved more than a single title, and back-to-back championship titles, both of which he claimed with current team DS TECHEETAH.
JEV's motorsport career started earlier than most, as he entered his first karting race in 2000 aged just four years old. Progressing to single-seater racing with Formula Renault in 2007, it wasn't long until the Frenchman secured support from Red Bull and was admitted into its Junior Team.
With the outfit's backing, he won the 2010 British F3 championship before making his Formula 1 test debut for Toro Rosso that same year. He finished second in the Formula Renault 3.5 series in 2011, which earned him the opportunity to test with Red Bull Racing in Formula 1 as he earned promotion to its sister squad - Scuderia Toro Rosso. Over the next three seasons, Vergne took part in 58 grands prix, scoring 51 points and securing a best finish of sixth.
After a controversial exit in Formula 1 in 2014, JEV entered Formula E with Andretti for the series' debut season. Despite a stunning debut with the American squad, the Frenchman made a move to Virgin Racing for his second campaign. Although the switch allowed him to add to his pole tally, victory still proved elusive for Vergne.
Another change of scenary came for his third campaign as he linked up with TECHEETAH. It wasn't until the final round of the season that he finally made his breakthrough with an emotional maiden win in Montreal. Remaining with the team for the 2017/18 season, JEV continued to soar. With four wins and six podiums, he assembled a title tilt which he converted into his first Formula E Drivers' Championship at the New York City season finale.
Intent on retaining his crown, Vergne embarked on his fifth season in Formula E with his newly manufacturer-backed squad DS TECHEETAH, as the French automotive brand joined the fold. Despite a potent powertrain, JEV battled his way through a rollercoaster season which saw the title fight head right down to the wire in the New York City finale
With four title contenders in with a chance of scooping top honours, it was Vergne who held his nerve to emerge victorious from the battle in Brooklyn - making history as the series' first double champion. The Frenchman aimed to make it a hat-trick in Season 6, but new teammate Antonio Felix da Costa quashed his dream to seal the title for himself.
Vergne's as fired up as any driver, and with title-winning machinery beneath him, he has fire in the belly and as good a chance as any of taking top honours come the final chequered flag of the campaign. With one of the most competitive line-ups in motorsport history standing in his way in Season 7, though, and the reigning champion in the garage next-door, it won't be easy.
Vergne wound up 10th, with a Rome victory his highlight of the season and a podium in New York City in the shadow of Manhattan another high point. Both DS drivers, with three titles between them, were a match all season.
JEV was in contention for the Drivers’ title throughout Gen2’s final campaign. Podiums in Mexico, Rome, Monaco, Berlin and Jakarta filled a heady mid-season for the Frenchman, but retirements in New York and London hamstrung the double title-winner before he got to the Seoul finale.