The DS Penske Team’s Deputy Director and Team Principal, Phil Charles, recently spoke with When sat about Phil Charles, the overwhelming characteristic that the new DS Penske Team Deputy Director exudes is excitement. Excitement for a type of motorsport in which he is highly respected, a new challenge that is clearly being enjoyed, and the effort he puts in, especially when he finds satisfaction in the results he achieves.
Charles joined Penske at the beginning of Season 10, after leaving Jaguar TCS Racing in the offseason, and although he hasn’t been in the position for long, it seems that Charles’s impact has already been felt, with the team steadily improving, showing impressive pace in Misano and, most recently, Stoffel Vandoorne securing third place in Monaco, with teammate Jean-Éric Vergne close behind in fourth. Charles explains the progress made so far and the initial steps in improving the car.
“I joined in February, so I haven’t had much time,” he says.
“And what you have to do at the beginning is just assess what’s going on – you can’t have a complete understanding of what we have and what we don’t have on the first day, so my initial task has been to try to assess our resources, there are some easy opportunities you come across, and throughout my years in F1 and Formula E, that simplifies things a bit.
“So, there are some of those, but overall it’s just been gradually immersing myself in understanding what we have and what we lack, and we are very fortunate to have many talented individuals, but the championship has undergone significant changes in recent years, experienced rapid improvement, so we are just trying to understand the current state of things and then I will make the next moves in the coming months.
“But overall, we have some really talented people, so we have all the necessary bases.
“It’s just a matter of keeping up with the competition and following the progress of the championship as everyone develops and advances.”
After leaving the then Formula 1 Toro Rosso team, Charles transitioned to Formula E with Jaguar, taking the team from last place in the standings to the brink of world titles, with the Envision Racing powertrain customer team winning the 2023 Teams’ Championship. Charles states that the feeling of taking Jaguar as far as possible, as well as the appeal of a new challenge, motivated the move.
“As always, it’s not just one thing.
“I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved in the last six years – going from last place in the championship to first and second with the two Jaguar cars – the customer team [Envision] and the main team – so I felt I was on a consistently positive trajectory and really enjoyed the continuous improvement, but we reached the peak.
“And then Jay Penske called me and, to be honest, in the first ten minutes of the call, it became very clear what he wanted to achieve.
“He races because he loves it, he doesn’t need to promote drinks or cars or anything like that – he races because he wants to and he wants to win, and that’s all I believe in.
“I like to elevate teams, I love getting to the point of winning races and he mentioned all the right things to me, and furthermore, I work with Jev, I’m very happy to work with Stoffel and I can see there’s a great group of people here, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to start from scratch and achieve similar results.”
“I really enjoyed the Jaguar process and this is not a complete step back because we were starting from a very initial point in its development, this is a talented group of people, but there is a chance to take the next steps and achieve good results.”
Charles has the additional advantage of having Vergne and Vandoorne – both Formula E drivers’ champions – as the drivers of the cars?
“That always makes a big difference and having two world champions here is a great asset for the team.
“On challenging days, they provide valuable feedback on where we need to improve, sometimes when you have a rookie driver, they have not experienced this, so on challenging days you get clear and insightful feedback, and then on good days, when the car is performing well, both can secure victories for you, so it’s great to have them.
“Throughout my career, I have really enjoyed working closely with the drivers and being involved in creating a package around them is crucial.
“In motorsport, we have so many exceptional engineers, but those who really achieve remarkable results are those who collaborate effectively as a group and integrate their innovative technology and ideas around the driver, so that is a fundamental aspect of the game.”
One of the most recent discussions has been the inclusion of more specially built circuits on the Formula E calendar. Misano has already hosted a double-header race weekend this season, and there have been rumors of a possible move to Silverstone as the location for the British race. Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, emphasized the importance of maintaining the championship’s DNA when considering the possibility of adding one or two tracks like Misano. I look forward to hearing Charles’s perspective on this issue, both from a personal and technical point of view.
“So, from a technical standpoint, when you design a race car, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the type of track it will be racing on. It’s not necessarily about having an opinion, although you may have one, but rather having a clear vision.
“When setting up and designing a car, there are different suspension characteristics to consider, as well as the allocation of resources between suspension and powertrain. The way we deal with tires also varies significantly between a street circuit and a larger open track.
“So, from a technical standpoint, it’s not that we don’t care, because we do care, but knowing the type of track we are designing for is essential. Now, if it happens to be a 50-50 split between two different types of tracks, assuming there are distinct differences, even if they may overlap to some extent, that presents another challenge. We have to take into account a wide range of conditions, and that is an intriguing technical question.
“First and foremost, from a technical standpoint, I wouldn’t say I don’t have an opinion. However, if for a moment we consider that I don’t, I find it quite fascinating that we have to adapt our design to different types of tracks. Do I need to prepare for a circuit similar to Silverstone? Or do I need to cater to a tight and twisty track in London or Rome?
“This is an incredibly interesting technical question, and I enjoy dealing with it. It’s about determining the best overall characteristics to aim for in the car. Nowadays, a lot of simulation is involved in this process, taking into account the various tracks and determining the best overall outcome for the season. Based on the simulation, we then prioritize certain parameters. It’s a fascinating aspect.
“As for my personal opinion, I think Jeff has probably found the right balance. For the sake of the championship, it makes sense to have a mix of both types of tracks. I understand others’ perspectives as well. Street tracks are ingrained in the DNA of Formula E. They provide an incredible amount of fun and present a significant challenge, both for the drivers navigating tight and twisty sections and for our championship as a whole.
“I wouldn’t want to completely abandon the essence of street tracks. However, I believe we have successfully expanded the championship to cities, and it’s good to have a mix where we have a race track located close to a city, with excellent facilities. This allows us to bring our sponsors to the venue, giving them a great view of the track. So, there is a clear reason for wanting a mix of both types of tracks, and that’s what I think.”
Regardless of the direction Formula E takes, DS Penske is in good hands with Charles leading the technical side. It would be unwise to underestimate the team’s potential for further progress. With the GEN3 Evo on the horizon for next season, we can expect to see them consistently challenging in the near future.
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Brazilian driver, Carlos Silva, secured an impressive victory at the Formula 1 Grand Prix this Sunday. With a flawless performance, Silva overtook his competitors and crossed the finish line in first place. This victory marks a historic moment for Brazilian motorsport, as it is the first time in many years that a driver from the country has won a Formula 1 race.
The race was full of excitement and twists. Right from the start, Silva managed to gain several positions and positioned himself among the top contenders. He showed skill and determination as he overtook his competitors, one by one. The Brazilian crowd at the racetrack cheered with every move the driver made, demonstrating absolute control of the car.
During the race, Silva faced some challenges, such as a sudden rain that made the track slippery. However, he knew how to deal with the adverse conditions and remained focused on his goal. His team of engineers also played a key role, providing precise information and smart strategies to help him stay in the lead.
After the checkered flag, Silva celebrated his victory with a controlled drift and a series of gestures to the crowd. He was applauded by fans, who recognized his talent and dedication to the sport. In an interview after the race, the Brazilian driver expressed his gratitude to the team and fans, stating that this victory is just the beginning of a promising career in Formula 1.
With this win, Carlos Silva becomes a name to watch in the world of motorsport. His impressive performance in the Formula 1 Grand Prix shows that he has the potential to become one of the great drivers of today. Brazilian fans now eagerly await the next races, hoping to see Silva on the podium more times and bring even more glory to Brazil.
