Formula E’s only rookie driver for season 10, Jehan Daruvala was pleased with what was a “very productive” test, as he continued to settle into Maserati MSG Racing.

Whilst Daruvala has previously tested for Mahindra Racing in season nine, this week’s official test in Valencia marked his first official run for Maserati, ahead of his spot on the grid for the 2023/24 season.

He competed in every session of the heavily interrupted week, following a sudden battery fire in the WAE (formerly Williams Advanced Engineering) garage during Tuesday’s lunch break.

In the first session of the test on Tuesday morning, Daruvala set the 13th quickest time, whilst he completed 45 laps overall. The Indian driver improved on his position on Thursday afternoon when testing was finally able to resume, as he ended what became the second day of testing in an impressive ninth spot. 71 laps of the Circuit Ricardo Tormo were completed by him in that session.

The final day saw him return to being the 13th quickest driver, but more importantly, he completed a stellar 128 laps. It meant that his grand total for the “smooth week” was 244 laps of the Spanish venue, which allowed him and the Monte-Carlo-based team to get through “all of the run plans”.

Daruvala enjoying a solid week of testing will do his confidence the world of good, ahead of his official debut in Mexico City in January. He’s already proven just in the test alone that he’s got the pace to get amongst the midfield at the very least, in what is arguably the most competitive championship to make your rookie appearance.

His one-lap pace also looks very strong, as his quickest lap during the week was just over three-tenth slower than Maximilian Günther’s.

The Formula 2 graduate now has just over two months to go through all the collected data, with him having his eyes set on entering the season-opener “in an even stronger position”.

“It’s been a very productive, insightful, and smooth week for me, and in the end, we got through all of the run plans that we wanted to complete,” Daruvala said.

“The test was a very important opportunity for me to get used to the car, to the systems, and the procedures we have, and every lap has been invaluable to improving my own understanding. Now we need to go over the data we collected so we can go to Mexico City in an even stronger position.”

Ahead of pre-season testing getting underway on Tuesday, Maserati MSG Racing unveiled their new livery for season 10, which does differ from their previous design.

Maserati showed their new livery to the world on Monday morning, less than 24 hours before the cars are released onto the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. Whilst most of the colour scheme and design from season nine has been retained, there has been a dramatic change to how the car looks at the rear.

The Maserati Tipo Folgore now features Rame Falgore at the rear of the car, in what is an eye-catching addition to the Monte-Carlo-based team’s livery. Rame Falgore (Copper Glance) being added to the livery is a nod to the Italian manufacturer’s new era of electric vehicles. These will make up the company’s entire range by 2030.

Adding copper detailing to the rear of their season 10 challenger is a class touch by Maserati, who continue to look to the future both on the circuit and off of it. One feature which does appear to have been removed is the LGBTQ+ flag, which was seen on the team’s front wing endplates in season nine and was something which they were praised for.

It was Maserati who actually topped pre-season testing almost 12 months ago, courtesy of Maximilian Günther. The German has been retained for Formula E’s centurion campaign but will now be partnered by the only rookie on the grid, Formula 2 graduate Jehan Daruvala.

Despite topping testing ahead of season nine, Maserati started the 2022/23 campaign woefully, before coming to life in Berlin. From the Berlin E-Prix onwards, Maserati boasted real pace, to the extent that Günther topped every session bar one across the two races in Jakarta.

Whilst Daruvala will need time to settle into Maserati and into Formula E, Günther will be hoping to start the new season the way he ended the recently completed season. Should he do this and show immediate pace in Mexico City, then he could very well be a championship outsider.

Maserati MSG Racing Team Principal James Rossiter has admitted that “there’s still a huge amount to learn”, following his first campaign in his role at the Monte-Carlo-based team.

For the first time in his motorsport career, Rossiter made the step up to become a Team Principal in season nine, after being chosen as ex-Formula 1 driver Jérôme d’Ambrosio’s replacement. D’Ambrosio left his position ahead of Venturi Racing’s rebranding into Maserati, with the Belgian having since moved to work for Mercedes in F1.

Following his move into the senior Maserati position, Rossiter also confirmed his retirement from motorsport, bringing a long and successful career to a close. Rossiter didn’t completely make the huge leap from being a driver to being a Team Principal, as he held the role of Sporting Director at DS Techeetah in season seven and eight.

Nevertheless, stepping into the Team Principal role in a team as big and illustrious as Maserati was a big step for Rossiter, who faced challenges right from the get-go. The historic Italian manufacturer’s return to single-seater racing failed to go as planned, with multiple driver errors having left the side towards the foot of the standings early on.

Top-10 finishes were a rarity for the outfit early in season nine, before their campaign came to life in Berlin. Maximilian Günther claimed the team’s first podium of the season in the German capital, something which truly kickstarted a tremendous run of form.

Günther went onto top every single session in the Jakarta double-header bar one, the opening race of the weekend. It meant he was victorious in race two, securing Maserati their first single-seater victory since 1957.

It was a hugely memorable moment for the entire team and Rossiter included, given that it was the first victory he’d experienced as a team’s leader. Günther continued his fine form in Rome, where he salvaged a home rostrum for Maserati.

The side’s second half of season nine was a real success, with the entire squad having built in stature and confidence as the campaign developed. Rossiter, too, really grew into the Team Principal role, something which understandably takes time to adjust to. This will only continue during the current off-season and into season 10, where Maserati will look to challenge the frontrunners more often.

There is no doubting that it was a maiden season as a Team Principal to remember for Rossiter, who is relishing the “amazing journey” he’s embarked on.

With it still being very early days in his Team Principal career, the 40-year-old is continuing to learn more things about the role and what he needs to do “every day”, something which has seen him step “well outside my comfort zone”.

“I mean, I’m finding areas every day that I can continue to improve. It’s been an amazing journey. Not even 12 months yet from my first day here. It’s been an incredible road,” Rossiter said during a virtual roundtable to select media, when asked by Motorsport Week about what he’s learnt since becoming Team Principal and what he feels he needs to improve on.

“I mean, what I’ve learned, the people that I’ve met here, the whole experience, challenging myself, being well outside my comfort zone on many occasions, as I said before, going through the low moments that we had early on in the season really showed me that grit and determination is what’s needed for success.

“And how you build off of those low moments will shape how long you will stay at the top of the mountain for and putting in all the effort and all the energy. It really showed me that all the men and women that I’ve worked with here are willing to put in every single second to make sure that it counts.”

Rossiter continued to stress that the entire team “bring their best” every day they’re at work, with the team boss recognising the importance of insuring that they have a “clear direction” to work in under his leadership. This is not only for Maserati’s benefit but also his own.

“Every day they turn up, they bring their best and whatever I can do to enhance that and to really lead them, give them clear direction, give myself clear direction. Many times, it’s been a journey and one that I’m very excited to have been on for the last 12 months,” Rossiter added.

“I can’t wait to see what I will continue to learn in the future. There’s still a huge amount to learn and hopefully I can do myself proud as well as everyone in the team.”

Newly announced Maserati MSG Racing driver Jehan Daruvala has recognised that his debut Formula E campaign will be a “learning process”, with him expecting the “racing itself” to be difficult to adjust to.

It was announced on Wednesday that Daruvala would be making the step up from Formula 2 in 2024 to race in Formula E, a series he has been around this year.

Alongside his MP Motorsport F2 duties, Daruvala held the role of Mahindra Racing reserve driver during season nine, with him having also participated for the Indian manufacturer in the Berlin rookie test.

It does mean that Daruvala has some experience in Gen3 machinery, although he would’ve had more if Mahindra hadn’t faced issues in the Rome rookie practice session. Leaving his position at Mahindra to race for Maserati is a bold decision, mostly due to how special it would’ve been for the Indian driver to have raced for Mahindra.

However, Mahindra clearly have other ideas for the future that don’t include Daruvala, with the Banbury-based team having signed Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara. Daruvala has actually replaced Mortara at Maserati, a team who showed real promise in the second half of last season.

Maximilian Günther proved that Maserati’s package is more than competitive enough to fight for podiums and even victories, something Daruvala will aspire to achieve. However, his initial target for season 10 will be to settle into the championship, having competed in F2 for four seasons.

He is, of course, a very decorated F2 driver, having won four races in the junior category – his last win came in the 2022 Monza feature race. At just 24 years old, Daruvala could go onto have a long Formula E career, something which would likely increase the chances of Hyderabad returning to the calendar in the future.

Whilst it’s undoubtedly an exciting time for Daruvala following his move to the Monte-Carlo-based team, Formula E has proven to be one of the most challenging categories to adjust to. Ex-F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi is living proof of that, with the Italian having endured one of the worst rookie seasons in the history of the all-electric series in season eight.

As Daruvala points out though, he has “always been fast” no matter what car he’s driving, giving him confidence that he can settle into the series quickly. Looking ahead to his maiden campaign, he’s optimistic that he’ll be able to produce quick laps in qualifying; however, he admits that the frenetic peloton-style of racing will require time to understand.

Compared to his previous experience in F2, the Indian driver recognises that Formula E is “mentally very difficult” because “there’s a lot to manage”, such as the energy levels. As a result, he’s aware that his first season in the category will be a “learning process”.

“I think to be honest, I think the racing itself is going to be the part I think I will have to adjust to the most,” Daruvala said during a virtual roundtable to select media, when asked by Motorsport Week how long he expects it to take to get used to Formula E’s style of racing.

“I’ve always been fast in everything I’ve driven. I was also fast in the rookie test. I mean, it doesn’t mean I will automatically be fast when I drive, but I think doing a qualifying lap is something that I can do, but there’s a lot of learning to do behind-the-scenes in terms of in racing itself and Formula E.

“There’s a lot to manage. The energy, it’s mentally very difficult, so it’s definitely going to be a learning process for me, but something that I feel like I can cope with quite well with my experience in junior racing.”

Maximilian Günther has revealed that Maserati MSG Racing’s “ambition” for season 10 is to take the “fight” to the Jaguars and the Porsches, who dominated the first campaign of the Gen3 era.

Season nine was very much dominated by the cars powered by either Jaguar or Porsche, who between them claimed 14 of the 16 wins. It was Jaguar’s customer team Envision Racing who sealed the Teams’ Championship, whilst it was Jake Dennis who was crowned Drivers’ Champion following a successful campaign with Porsche customer outfit Andretti.

Despite their dominance, it was Maserati who actually entered the new era of Formula E as the quickest team, based on the times set in pre-season testing. Günther was exceptional in Valencia and was actually the fastest driver, something which arguably made people expect a great deal from him in the opening rounds.

The start of the 2022/23 season couldn’t have actually gone any worse for Maserati, with driver errors having ridiculed their chances of top-10 finishes. Günther in particular didn’t score his first points of the season until round seven in Berlin, where he finished on the podium.

Other than in Cape Town where a driver error saw him retire from a promising position, Berlin was the first occasion where Günther showed the pace he boasted in testing. The Berlin E-Prix just seemed to bring Günther and Maserati’s package to life, with a sensational second half of season nine having followed.

With the exception of an unfortunate retirement in Monaco – he collided with Dan Ticktum in controversial fashion – Günther finished no lower than P6 in seven of the eight races from Berlin R1 to Rome R2. He scored all of his 101 points in this eight-race period, enough for seventh in the Drivers’ Championship.

After his Berlin rostrum, he went onto claim a second podium in Jakarta R1, before he secured Maserati’s first single-seater win since 1957 in Jakarta R2. Günther’s Jakarta double-header performance was something very special, as he topped every single session bar the first race. It was a weekend where Maserati and the German driver looked unbeatable, and better than Porsche and Jaguar.

Another podium followed in Rome R1, before a disappointing two days in London completed Günther’s first season with Maserati. Forgetting about the first six rounds of the Gen3 era, Maserati had a package which was capable of competing with the Jaguars and the Porsches, courtesy of the 26-year-old.

If Maserati can start season 10 in the way they performed in the second half of season nine, then there is absolutely no reason why the Monte-Carlo-based team cannot compete with those who dominated the all-electric series last season.

Not only did Günther prove that the team’s package is strong, he also showed that when he’s at his best, he is one of the fastest drivers on the grid.

Retaining Günther for season 10 is an absolute no-brainer and a smart call by Maserati, with the German actually now being the team’s more experienced driver, as Jehan Daruvala has moved from Formula 2 to replace Edoardo Mortara.

There are some areas that Maserati need to improve on, with consistency being one of them based on how contrasting their performance was in each half of season nine. However, Günther does believe that taking the fight to the Jaguars and the Porsches isn’t only possible, it’s what the team are targeting for Formula E’s centurion campaign.

“It’s definitely what we target for next season,” Günther said during a virtual roundtable to select media, when asked by Motorsport Week if it’s possible to fight the Jaguars and the Porsches next season.

”I think our second half [of season nine] was good and we know that for sure the main opposition will most likely be Jaguar and Porsche as they’ve been [at the top] last year at the end.

”I feel with the base we have, with the ideas we have as well, what to work on, what to improve. Yeah, for sure,” Günther added in regard to trying to beat the leading sides in 2024.

“Our ambition is to fight against them and just to basically do the best possible job from our side every weekend that we can do and then we will see where we will end up against them.”

Maserati MSG Racing have announced the signing of Formula 2 driver Jehan Daruvala for the 2023/24 season, with him partnering the retained Maximilian Günther.

After four seasons in F2, Daruvala will finally leave the feeder series to join a World Championship, in the form of Formula E. The Indian driver isn’t exactly a stranger to the series, having been Mahindra Racing’s reserve driver in season nine, whilst he also completed the Berlin rookie test and the Rome rookie session for the side.

It means that as well as departing F2, Daruvala has also left Mahindra, to take a full-time seat at Maserati alongside Günther, who will compete with the side for a second season.

Daruvala has taken the place of Edoardo Mortara, who recently left the team ahead of a rumoured move elsewhere, potentially to Mahindra. The 24-year-old is already an accomplished racing driver despite his young age, with him being a four-time F2 race winner.

Whilst he hasn’t won a race this season for MP Motorsport, he has featured on the rostrum three times, with his most recent podium appearance having come at Monaco, where he finished second in the F2 sprint race.

Daruvala’s arrival will see him embark on his maiden Formula E campaign, with him looking set to be the only rookie driver on the grid. The ex-Mahindra reserve is very much looking forward to racing for Maserati and is fully focused on “hitting the ground running” in the Mexico City season-opener in January.

“Formula E is a championship that I have admired for a long time, and after taking part in two test sessions, I’m very happy to have the opportunity to step up to a full-time race seat,” said Daruvala. “From my experiences so far, the Gen3 car is completely unique to drive, but I’ve found it to be a very rewarding experience.

“I would like to thank James and Maserati MSG Racing for giving me this chance and I can’t wait to learn more about the car and get to know the team better in pre-season testing, before hitting the ground running in Mexico City in January.”

Günther retained for 2024

Unsurprisingly, given just how well he ended season nine, Maserati have made the smart decision to retain Günther for season 10. The German only joined the team at the start of the 2022/23 season and showed instant speed in pre-season testing, where he topped almost every session.

However, the opening rounds were a disaster for Günther, who made several driver errors. His qualifying crash ahead of Diriyah R1 was particularly costly, as his car was too damaged to participate in the E-Prix. In all honesty, the opening six rounds for him and the team were dreadful, before his and Maserati’s campaign came to life at the German driver’s home event.

The Berlin double-header was the real turning point of Günther’s and Maserati’s season, as he claimed the team’s first podium of the year. With the exception of a DNF in Monaco, Günther finished no lower than sixth from rounds seven through to round 16 in London.

Across the final nine rounds of the campaign, Günther secured three P3 finishes, two pole positions in Jakarta and a famous victory also in the Indonesian capital. Günther’s stunning victory in Jakarta marked Maserati’s first in single-seater racing since 1957, marking a day to never forget.

Günther had a real swagger about him in the second half of the season, which could see him challenge the frontrunners from the get-go in season 10, if he can start the new season how he ended the previous one.

He’s delighted to remain with the Monte-Carlo-based team for a second season in what’ll be his fifth Formula E campaign, at just the age of 26 years old. The German driver is confident that himself and the team can continue from where they left off at the London E-Prix in July, and “achieve bigger and better things” in 2024.

“I’m very proud to continue with Maserati MSG Racing. We had a great first season together, particularly with the momentum we built in the second half of the year with one win, four podiums and two poles,” said Günther.

“Continuing to build on this base is something that I’m very much looking forward to in 2024, alongside working with Jehan as my new teammate. After seeing our performance trajectory unfold this year, I‘m confident we can go on to achieve bigger and better things in the future.”

Rossiter ‘confident’ Maserati can ‘fight at the front’

Team Principal James Rossiter is “excited” about Maserati’s line-up for season 10, with him recognising that the side now have a “blend” of youth and experience. Daruvala will, of course, need some time to get up to speed; however, the team boss is hopeful that Günther’s “strong understanding” of the Gen3 era will support Daruvala’s integration into the team and Formula E.

Daruvala certainly has incredibly big shoes to fill, given that Mortara was a valuable member of the team for six seasons. Whilst the Swiss driver was a key part of the side’s cog, Rossiter is a huge believer in Daruvala’s “determination”.

Maserati’s driver pairing is certainly an exciting one which will arguably only grow stronger the longer Daruvala spends behind the wheel, leaving Rossiter “confident” that with the Indian star alongside the very quick Günther, the Jaguars and Porsches can be challenged in 2024.

“We’re excited about our driver lineup for Season 10, and we’re confident that the blend of Max’s experience with Jehan’s determination will prove to be a competitive combination. Max impressed us throughout the 2022/23 season, and continuing our relationship was a natural decision,” admitted Rossiter.

“He has brilliant speed, a strong understanding of Formula E’s Gen3 package, and with five seasons of experience – despite being aged only 26 – has an impressive amount of knowledge.

“That experience will be invaluable for Jehan, who has already shown good promise in his two rookie test outings with Mahindra earlier this year. Over the past four years, he has shown hunger and determination in Formula 2, and has clearly demonstrated that he has what it takes to win races. Now, Jehan is ready to do the work it takes to succeed in Formula E.

“In Season 9, we faced many highs and lows, but we learned a great deal from every scenario we faced. After making some positive performance gains over the Summer, we’re looking forward to getting Season 10 underway, and with our lineup, we’re confident that we can be in a position to fight at the front of the grid.”

After six seasons together, Maserati MSG Racing have announced that Edoardo Mortara has left the team ahead of Formula E’s centurion campaign.

It was announced by Maserati on Friday afternoon that the Swiss driver wouldn’t be continuing with the Monte-Carlo-based team for a seventh season, in what comes as surprise to the paddock.

Mortara reportedly had a deal with Maserati for season 10, with his departure now opening up a very good seat on the grid. Maserati are currently yet to confirm either driver for next year, with Maximilian Günther requiring a new contract.

For now, though, the focus is on Mortara’s departure from Maserati, whom he joined back in season four (2017/18) when the team were known as Venturi. The Geneva-born driver has only ever raced for the Monte-Carlo side in the series, and has been their lead driver for the majority of their seasons together.

He was famously part of the season eight title fight, which went down to the wire in Seoul, South Korea. Mortara also claimed second in the standings in season seven. However, season nine was massively disappointing for Mortara, who finished 14th in the Drivers’ Championship. The 36-year-old scored just 39 points in 2023, his second-lowest ever tally in Formula E.

The start of Mortara’s season in the Gen3 era was ridiculed by driver errors, with the usually consistent driver having shown very little promise in the new machinery. Season nine was just the second time in his Formula E career that he went an entire campaign without a podium, with his best result having been fourth in Rome R2.

His legacy at the side does completely overshadow his season nine disappointments, with him leaving a huge hole to be filled. Mortara admits that it’s been “an honour” to have been part of such a “competitive outfit”, and he wishes them all the best for season 10 and beyond.

‍“The past six years of my career have been quite a journey, and it has been an honour to represent the team during this time,” Mortara said.

“Since 2017, we have experienced a lot together, it’s been a rollercoaster at times and by learning from the tough moments we faced, we grew to become a competitive outfit, fighting for race wins and World Championships.

“I’m proud of the role I played in this. I want to take this opportunity to thank the team for their trust in me and their support, I wish them the best of luck for the future.”

Mortara was famously the team’s first race winner back in season five at the Hong Kong E-Prix, with him having claimed six victories in total. Team Principal James Rossiter was quick to thank the veteran “for his efforts and success”, whilst he personally noted how much of a “privilege” it’d been to work with him.

‍“We would like to thank Edo for his efforts and success over the past six seasons. His experience, knowledge, and expertise have been pivotal in our journey and development as a team,” said Rossiter.

“On a personal note, it has been a privilege to work with him and we all wish him every success for the future.”

Where Mortara is off to next is unknown, although he has been rumoured with ABT CUPRA Formula E Team’s vacant seat, after Robin Frijns returned to Envision Racing. As for Mortara’s now vacant seat, there are two drivers who are likely to be considered.

2022 Formula 2 Champion Felipe Drugovich completed all rookie sessions for the team this year and was close to joining Andretti for 2024, whilst season seven World Champion Nyck de Vries was seen talking with the team at the season finale in London.

Reportedly, De Vries was set to race for Maserati in 2023, prior to his sudden F1 switch. Both drivers are likely options, although nothing has been confirmed.

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.

Maximilian Günther is “very motivated” to end the 2023 Formula E season strongly, at this weekend’s season finale in London.

The London E-Prix double-header will close the curtain on the first season of the Gen3 era, which has seen Günther experience somewhat of a rollercoaster ride.

Life at Maserati MSG Racing started beautifully for the German in pre-season testing, where he topped virtually every session in Valencia. As a result, he was seen by many as a driver to watch this year.

The first five races couldn’t have gone any worse for Günther, who only participated in four of them. Gunther was ruled out of the opening race in Diriyah at the end of January after crashing heavily in qualifying, resulting in an all-nighter for the team.

He had been set for a strong finish in Cape Town where he secured second on the grid, only to crash on Lap 21 at the opening corner.

Since Berlin, though, the 26-year-old has been sensational. He scored his first points of the season at his home event at the end of April, after securing his and Maserati’s first podium of the Gen3 era.

With the exception of a controversial retirement in Monaco, Günther has finished no lower than sixth since his home E-Prix. Four of the last eight races have seen Günther feature on the rostrum, which includes his magical Jakarta victory.

His performance at the Jakarta E-Prix double-header is by far one of the most dominant in the history of the all-electric series, as he topped every single session bar the first race, where he claimed third.

Günther was victorious in the second race in the Indonesian capital though, in what represented Maserati’s first single-seater victory since 1957. A podium in the opening race of the recent Rome E-Prix also meant the Italian manufacturer were represented on the rostrum at their home race.

As a result of his mesmeric form since Berlin, Günther has rocketed up in the Drivers’ Championship. His 101 points since the opening race in the German capital has risen him to sixth in the standings and within touching distance of the top five.

Jean-Éric Vergne sits just six points ahead of Günther ahead of London, meaning the German could also end the season as the top DS-powered driver.

Maserati have also benefited from the Oberstdorf-born driver’s stunning form, as the Monte-Carlo-based team are looking set to claim at least sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Had Günther boasted his recent pace from round one in Mexico City, then he would’ve for certain been a title contender.

He’s incredibly “proud” of his and the team’s turnaround this year and is keen to end the campaign “on a high”, something the team are “very motivated” to accomplish at the ExCeL Centre.

“London is a great location to host the finale of Season 9,” Gunther said.

“It’s always a lot of fun to drive here, the track is very unique with the indoor and outdoor section. There are tarmac changes during the lap, very technical corners and I like the flow with the new layout in Sector Three.

“I’m proud about the turnaround of our season and with plenty of points up for grabs we are all very motivated to finish the season on a high.”

Maximilian Gunther’s sensational recent form continued last weekend at the Rome E-Prix double-header, where he claimed a famous home podium for Maserati MSG Racing.

Since the Berlin E-Prix at the end of April, Gunther has been in mesmeric form, which he demonstrated once again in the Italian capital.

The 26-year-old claimed third position in the opening race of the weekend in the Eternal City, something which saw the Maserati driver stand proudly on the podium at the team’s home race.

“It is an amazing feeling to put Maserati on the podium in our first home race in Formula E,” Gunther said in his post-race interview following race one.

“Incredible, lots of emotions and happiness. It had been a tough weekend so far, we had a few issues we can hopefully sort out for tomorrow, so we just have to live with them today. We did a good qualifying and the race was executed super well. I am really happy about this podium.

“I knew it was more difficult to overtake here, so energy management was going to be crucial, that was clear. To be fair, top five, top six was what we targeted, we wanted to score good points. But to take the podium, I am happy to take it, but it was not expected today.”

Gunther’s Rome podium was a very proud moment for the Italian manufacturer, who’ve endured a challenging return to single-seater motorsport this season.

Neither Gunther or Edoardo Mortara could catch a break in the opening rounds of the year, with bad luck having followed the Monte-Carlo-based side wherever they went.

They staggeringly only claimed three points in the opening six rounds of the Gen3 era, despite having been quickest in pre-season testing. Gunther actually topped almost every session in Valencia ahead of season nine, giving the impression that Maserati were a side to watch.

Berlin was a definite turning point for the team and for Gunther, who claimed his first points of 2023 in the German capital after securing the team’s first podium of the season.

The German has built in stature ever since, with him having gone on to claim another podium and Maserati’s first single-seater victory since 1957 at the Jakarta double-header. Gunther also secured his first Formula E pole position in the Indonesian capital.

He’s elevated himself and the team in both championships, to the extent where he finds himself sixth in the Drivers’ Standings after Rome, whilst the team also sit sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.

If Maserati had shown their recent form throughout the season, then there is no doubting that they’d be challenging for both titles.

Maserati and Gunther are ending the season as one of the strongest pairings, something which makes it even more of a shock that the German reportedly doesn’t have a seat for 2024 yet.

For now, Gunther will be hoping to end the season on a high next weekend in London, where he could overtake Jean-Eric Vergne for fifth in the championship.