DS Automobiles SailGP Team France makes a strong statement in Perth practice

DS Automobiles SailGP Team France at Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix practice race © Brett Phibbs for SailGP

In Perth, the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France delivered a highly promising first official practice day ahead of the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, the opening event of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship. The DS Automobiles SailGP Team France has made an ideal start to its 2026 campaign.

This official practice day, initially scheduled to be contested for the first time with all nations entered*, ultimately brought together 12 teams, split into two fleets for the training races. In ideal conditions — winds ranging from 10 to 15 knots, flat water and the 18-metre wing fitted to the F50s — the French team immediately demonstrated its level of competitiveness.

A solid and reassuring start to the season

The DS Automobiles SailGP Team France stood out from the outset, winning the first fleet race and finishing second in the second race. A very encouraging outcome on the eve of the official racing, scheduled for Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January.

An intensive preparation phase ahead of official practice

Prior to this opening on-water confrontation of the season, the French team was able to fully get up to speed thanks to a particularly intensive preparation programme, built around multiple training days on the water and extensive work across all performance areas: technical development, data analysis, onboard coordination and collective processes.

This preparation phase allowed the newly formed group to quickly find its bearings, test different configurations and approach this official practice with a well-established operational foundation.

A new era for the French team

This practice day also carried strong symbolic significance. It marked: the first official appearance under the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France name, following yesterday's announcement of DS Automobiles as Title Partner; and the first Sail Grand Prix with the new sporting organisation, following an off-season transfer window unveiled in late December, including Philippe Presti as Team Manager, Leigh McMillan as Wing Trimmer, and Bruno Mourniac as Grinder.

Philippe Presti: strong signals from the very first races

Newly appointed Team Manager Philippe Presti shared his first impressions of this initial head-to-head with the rest of the fleet, while highlighting the work still ahead: "We're really at the beginning, but I can feel a very strong energy within this team, with undeniable leadership from Quentin (Delapierre). There's a real desire to learn and to improve, and that's fundamental."

The Team Manager also emphasised the quality of the technical preparation and the solidity of the group: "The boat is perfectly prepared, there isn't a single issue. The work done by the technical team is remarkable, and that's gold in a championship like SailGP."

From a sporting perspective, the day validated key elements of the new setup: "This first outing has been very positive. We saw two very different race scenarios: one race controlled from start to finish, and another where the team had to fight back and recover positions. That's exactly what we're looking for.

The energy is there, the leadership is clear, the boat is perfectly prepared and the processes are starting to work well. There's still room for improvement, but we're already in the game. These first races give us confidence going forward.

All the teams are in an adaptation phase. That's where we have a role to play: being solid from the start, scoring points when we're in control, and continuing to improve."

An exceptional show in prospect

With 12 teams entered, an ever-rising level of competition and extremely tight margins, the Perth Sail Grand Prix promises a high-intensity weekend, combining tension, adrenaline and spectacular racing.

After a successful first week and practice day, the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, together with its official partners ALL - Accor, L'Oréal Groupe and Leyton, now approaches the official racing with confidence, clarity and ambition, fully ready to launch its 2026 season.

*The Spanish team was unable to take part in the practice race and will ultimately not be able to race this weekend, following damage sustained to their F50 after violently hitting a wave during a manoeuvre.