DS Automobiles SailGP Team France remains joint third overall in the Championship standings
by France SailGP Team 1 Mar 04:21 PST
DS Automobiles SailGP Team France © Martin Keruzoré for K-Challenge
Still in the top three of the 2026 Rolex Championship, DS Automobiles SailGP Team France remains joint third overall following the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, confirming its strong position in the title race.
Although unable to race due to damage sustained to its F50 in Auckland, the French team made full use of the Australian weekend.
The event, won for the first time by the US SailGP Team, allowed the French squad - largely present on site, including Manon Audinet alongside the group - to turn this stop into a strategic sequence of observation, analysis and consolidation ahead of the next event in Rio.
Joint third in the provisional standings
Despite not racing, DS Automobiles SailGP Team France retains a solid position in the Championship. With the five compensation points awarded under the rules, the team sits joint third in the provisional overall standings.
"We're coming out of what happened in Auckland and Sydney in a fairly good position. There's no need to panic. We just need to keep doing what we're doing, calmly, and things will go very well," continued Quentin Delapierre.
A weekend of analysis at the heart of the action
Even without racing, DS Automobiles SailGP Team France stayed close to the action. On the water, in the coach booth and at the heart of race operations, the athletes closely observed the tactical and technical developments of the competition.
"The team had a very instructive weekend in Sydney. We were able to study the competition, look at innovations and what has been implemented," explained Quentin Delapierre, driver of the French F50.
In light wind conditions, several trends stood out: "There was quite a lot of use of both boards and new techniques to secure last-minute engagements. The coach booth will be even more decisive at the upcoming events. Their input can often mean gaining two or three places and saving a race."
On Saturday, Quentin Delapierre went on board with SailGP commentator Lisa Darmanin to analyse the races from the heart of the racecourse. On Sunday, he was in the coach booth alongside Philippe Presti, projecting himself into real race conditions.
"We really put ourselves in race mode as if we were competing. We rehearsed tactical scenarios and tested our communication systems. The objective is that everything is perfectly dialled in for Rio and that we're immediately in the fight."
Strong partner engagement
Beyond the sporting analysis, the weekend was marked by significant partner engagement.
The team hosted an exclusive L'Oréal Group dinner at its Sydney base, welcoming guests and partners in a privileged setting.
ALL Accor also delivered a strong activation on Manly Beach, where SailGP athletes swapped their foils for surfboards alongside Australian icon and world champion Sally Fitzgibbons. In a convivial yet high-performance atmosphere, the crews shared waves and exclusive moments together, offering a sporting interlude ahead of the intensity of racing on Sydney Harbour.
The full presence of the staff and a large part of the crew, including Manon Audinet, helped maintain strong connections within the team ecosystem and reinforced the collective dynamic despite the absence on the water.
Eyes on Rio
Meanwhile, the French F50 continues its repair phase. Technical teams are working in coordination with SailGP to ensure a return to competition under the best possible safety and performance conditions.
Ahead of the Rio Sail Grand Prix, DS Automobiles SailGP Team France will continue its data analysis, strategic preparation and optimisation of communication/performance processes.
Solid, united and still in the Championship's top three, the French squad approaches the rest of the season with ambition and composure.
KMPG Sail Grand Prix I Sydney - event standings:
1. US. SAILGP TEAM, Taylor Canfield
2. EMIRATES GBR, Dylan Fletcher
3. LOS GALLOS, Diego Botin
4. RED BULL ITALY, Phil Robertson
5. BONDS FLYING ROOS, Tom Slingsby
6. ROCKWOOL RACING, Nicolai Sehested
7. MUBADALA BRAZIL, Martine Grael
8. GERMANY BY DEUTSCHE BANK, Erik Heil
9. ARTEMIS, Nathan Outteridge
10. SWITZERLAND, Sébastien Schneiter
11. NORTHSTAR, Giles Scott
12. DS AUTO TEAM FRANCE et BLACK FOILS DNS
DS Automobiles Team France and the Black Foils missed the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix due to damage sustained to their F50s following their collision at the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland.
Rolex SailGP Championship Season 2026 - Provisional standings:
1. EMIRATES GBR, Dylan Fletcher - 28 pts
2. BONDS FLYING ROOS, Tom Slingsby - 25 pts
3. US. SAILGP TEAM, Taylor Canfield - 20 pts
4. DS TEAM FRANCE, Quentin Delapierre - 20 pts
5. LOS GALLOS, Diego Botin - 16 pts
6. ARTEMIS, Nathan Outteridge - 15 pts
7. RED BULL ITALY, Phil Robertson - 11 pts
8. ROCKWOOL RACING, Nicolai Sehested - 11 pts
9. GERMANY BY DEUTSCHE BANK, Erik Heil - 10 pts
10. NORTHSTAR, Giles Scott - 6 pts
11. MUBADALA BRAZIL, Martine Grael - 5 pts
12. BLACK FOILS, Peter Burling - 2 pts
13. SWITZERLAND, Sébastien Schneiter - 1 pts