Credit: Sam Bagnall courtesy of FIA Formula E
Maximilian Günther is “very relaxed” about his Formula E future, with it yet to be confirmed whether he’ll be retained by Maserati MSG Racing for 2024.
The German was arguably one of season nine’s unsung heroes, having recovered from a miserable start to the Gen3 era. Following his move from Nissan to Maserati for the 2022/23 season, Günther failed to score a point in the opening six races.
He was expected to be a driver to watch after topping almost every session in pre-season testing; however, he was watched for all the wrong reasons in the opening rounds. Günther finished 11th in Mexico City before not even starting the second round in Diriyah, due to a heavy crash in qualifying. P19 was all he could salvage in round three, also in Diriyah.
The 26-year-old endured yet further miserable luck in Hyderabad, where he had looked set to finish in the points. Günther was caught up in a multi-car accident caused by Sam Bird, which blocked the Maserati driver, who ended up finishing 13th.
Günther’s bad luck continued in Cape Town, where he looked exceptional. He secured second on the grid and was amongst the podium places all race, until he hit the wall at the opening corner, forcing him to retire. Despite the crash, it was proof that the German did boast strong pace.
Pace was again not a problem for Günther in São Paulo, yet he could only salvage 11th. It marked a sixth consecutive race in 2023 without scoring a point, much to his and Maserati’s misery. However, that all changed in Berlin.
Round seven in the German capital is where Günther’s season came to life, as he not only scored his first points of the season, but he achieved Maserati’s first podium in Formula E. A stunning overtake on Sébastian Buemi at the final corner was enough to claim P3, to his and the team’s delight, and arguably relief.
It was the start of a phenomenal second half of the season for Günther, who finished sixth and claimed the fastest lap in his second home race in Berlin. Round nine in Monaco would’ve been a third consecutive points finish for Günther had he not been involved in a controversial incident with Dan Ticktum, which resulted in the Maserati driver retiring.
He bounced back with an almighty bang at the Jakarta double-header though, where he put on one of the most impressive displays in the history of the all-electric series. Günther left the Indonesian capital as the ‘King of Jakarta’, after topping every session bar one.
Günther started both races on pole and claimed victory in the second race of the double-header, whilst he finished third in the opening race. His victory marked Maserati’s first in single-seater racing since 1957, in what was a historic moment for the Monte-Carlo-based team.
Sixth in Portland was his next result, before claiming another podium in the first of two races in Rome. Three and six were seemingly his lucky numbers, as Günther finished sixth again in the second race in the Italian capital. His P6 in Rome was his final points finish of 2023, after finishing 12th and 14th in London.
Nevertheless, following a run of four podiums in the final 10 races, Günther remarkably ended the season seventh in the Drivers’ Championship and as one of the quickest drivers in the paddock. His impressive second half of the season also saw Maserati rise to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Whilst Günther’s second half of 2023 was emphatic, it can only be wondered what he could’ve achieved had he started the season stronger. It does at least give him some confidence ahead of season 10.
Understandably, Günther is “extremely proud” of how Maserati turned around their season, with him recognising that they built “so much momentum” from Berlin onwards.
“I think we can actually be extremely proud about this turnaround of the season,” Günther told Motorsport Week during the London E-Prix.
“Since Berlin we built so much momentum with so much quality and such a good and strong consistency. Always up there scoring the podiums. The race win with a very special weekend in Jakarta with two poles and, yeah, lots of great achievements.
“I think this year we really build a great base of our car on one lap in Quali, but as well in the race, which was very important to be competitive this year.
“Still, we have many ideas how to improve further and how to grow further in the future. But I think for the moment we can be really proud from where we started and where we finished the season.”
Despite being Maserati’s lead driver by some margin – Edoardo Mortara scored just 39 points compared to Günther’s 101 – the German isn’t yet confirmed for a seat with the team next season.
Whilst Maserati haven’t officially announced that they’ll be retaining Günther just yet, the general belief is that he will stay with the side for a second season. The driver can’t yet confirm whether he will remain with the Italian manufacturer next year, but he is “very relaxed” about the situation.
“Well, at the moment I can’t say anything. As soon as I can confirm something, I will do it, but yeah. I’m very relaxed,” said Günther.
Keyword: Günther ‘very relaxed’ over Maserati future