An impressive preseason testing showing from Jean-Eric Vergne in his new Techeetah car means he is in a much better frame of mind heading into the new season compared to this time last year.

The Frenchman confirmed at the London race in July that he would be leaving DS Virgin Racing. It was a difficult season, which saw him score just two podium finishes (albeit perhaps two more than he thought he would amid difficulties with the team’s overweight twin-motor powertrain). That run of tough races followed an equally difficult first season, in which he made an astonishing debut for Andretti in Punta del Este and was on target for a win before suspension failure ended his race.

JEV had told us at Battersea Park this summer that he would be back in a race-winning car for season three, prompting all sorts of speculation given that Renault, ABT and Jaguar were widely thought to be the leading teams for season three. Shortly afterwards, his move to the new Techeetah squad which has taken over Team Aguri, was revealed. It was a puzzling turn of events given that not much was (or is) known about the Chinese entity.

Vergne immediately set about answering any questions during his first outing in preseason testing at Donington Park yesterday, finishing the day with the fastest time. It was also a new lap record for Formula E at the British circuit. Armed with a powertrain identical to that being run in the Renault e.dams cars (which won both the teams’ and drivers’ titles last season, lest we forget), the Frenchman made a big impression.

“I’m really pleased,” Vergne told Current E today. “I think we have a strong package. Unfortunately we couldn’t drive over the summer like all the other teams did, so we have some ground to catch up. I’m confident the team can catch this up and we’ve got some really good people in there.”

As Techeetah isn’t a constructor, the team hasn’t had the benefit of 15 days private testing that the manufacturer entities have; nor has the team had the opportunity to put the powertrain on the dyno for months to learn the intimate details about its performance. The showing this week is therefore all the more impressive.

It isn’t just on-track where Vergne has seen an improvement though: even on a personal level, he has noticed a big, positive change. “I feel so much better than last year, just in myself,” Vergne said. “I feel better with the team. I feel like I can drive again. Last year I felt like I was not myself driving the car and I didn’t know why. Now I know I can drive the car properly and not make any mistakes. This feels so good, you know. It’s boosts my confidence, especially my level of pleasure while driving.”

When asked how the atmosphere at Techeetah compared to that of DS Virgin Racing in season two, Vergne said: “It’s really nice. I wouldn’t compare anything, but all I can say is that people can see on my face that I’m much happier.”

It’s been an odd year or so for JEV. He joined the Andretti squad with something to prove after losing his F1 seat; his blistering speed was clearly evident immediately. Then, last summer, he was in with a shout of picking up a 2016 F1 drive with the new Haas team. That all seemed to come undone around the time of Formula E preseason testing last year. So the F1 door seemed to be closing just as his new Formula E team turned up with a heavy, difficult-to-drive car. Little wonder he wasn’t too happy.

It may be another reason why the widely anticipated on-track fireworks between team mates Sam Bird and JEV didn’t materialise until the end of the season, although behind closed doors there was a distinctly frosty atmosphere between the pair.

This season has already started on a more positive note for the French racer. “It’s early, but I’m in a much better spirit,” Vergne said. “I want to get back to what I used to enjoy before.”

Should Vergne recapture the kind of early form he showed with Andretti in season one and that of his F1 days with Toro Rosso, with what could arguably the best powertrain on the grid, he could surprise many with his results in season three. Watch this space…

Luke Smith