Maserati MSG Racing completes Season 10 in London

Maserati MSG Racing completed Season 10 of the FIA Formula E World Championship at the 2024 London E-Prix after facing a challenging campaign finale at the indoor-outdoor ExCeL Circuit.

With evident pace in the Maserati Tipo Folgore, Max executed a clinical performance in Qualifying to line up on the front row after defeating Mitch Evans and Jean-Eric Vergne in the session's duel stages.

Although the 27-year-old lost out to Jaguar's Nick Cassidy in the Final, Max was placed on the perfect springboard to contend for a points finish, while team-mate, Jehan Daruvala, started from 11th.

Despite securing a good start in the face of a chaotic opening phase, Max slipped to third on lap one while Jehan threatened the top 10, battling hard with Antonio Felix da Costa.

After gaining 10th from the Porsche driver, Jehan was unfortunately caught up in an accident on lap seven and was forced to retire after sustaining extensive damage, leaving Max as the team's sole challenger.

By clearing Vergne, Max moved into sixth and threatened the top five but unfortunately sustained terminal damage after making contact with Cassidy who slowed on the apex of Turn 20.

After scoring 81 points over the 16-race season, with definitive highlights including a victory at the 2024 Tokyo E-Prix, Maserati MSG Racing ends Season 10 in eighth in the World' Teams' Championship and will return in Season 11.

In Their Words

Maximilian Günther, Driver, Maserati MSG Racing

'We gave it everything we had this weekend. We showed some great performance. Race One was perfect until a few laps before the end when we had the gearbox failure, and today as well, we did a fantastic Qualifying despite all of the difficulties around changing the gearbox. The race was tough and we struggled a lot with balance and understeer, but fifth or sixth was within reach. Unfortunately, we were in the wrong place at the wrong time with Nick Cassidy getting the puncture in front. He tried to pit but I was directly behind him, broke my wing, and my race was over with the suspension damage after. We gave it our all and it just wasn't meant to be.'

Jehan Daruvala, Driver, Maserati MSG Racing

'Looking back, I think it's clear that we could have scored a significant amount of points as a team this weekend. It's disappointing, but there are positives to take – I qualified well today, drove aggressively in both races, and could have been in the top 10. From here, we have a long offseason and we can take the time to rest and recharge after a long year.'

Cyril Blais, Deputy Team Principal, Maserati MSG Racing

'This is not the end to the season that we deserved. We had strong pace this weekend, and we deserved points but racing is hard, and the harsh reality is that we're coming back empty handed. But there are positives – this weekend, we had the pace to fight at the front on a circuit that has never suited our team, and from that, we can take great confidence for the future. I'm proud of the team for never giving up, and for giving their all for the last race weekend of the season. Our focus, hard work and dedication is still as high as it was in Mexico City in January, and we can be proud of that. Now, we need to have a break, recharge the batteries and reset, and then put our full focus and attention on Season 11.'

Giovanni Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse

'Despite the good qualifying, today was an unlucky day; we know motorsport can be unpredictable. After an intense year full of memorable moments, Maserati has ended its second season in Formula E in eighth place: this result reflects a year that was most of all exciting, for the brand and for the team. There was no shortage of difficult days on the track, but we also remember Max's brilliant victory in Tokyo, his third place at Misano in the home race for Maserati and nine top ten finishes. Motorsport is made up of victories and unexpected challenges, but as a brand founded on the track that has written glorious chapters in the history of the racing world, we know that never giving up is what matters and to always focus on pushing the boundaries. That's what the team has always done. This second year is a major milestone for our brand, having made its debut in Season 9 after a long absence from high-level competition. Maserati's presence in Formula E is an integral part of the brand's new strategy, to enter this new era of mobility at full speed with Folgore, constantly drawing inspiration from the 100% electric series. Now's the time to regain our strength and get our heads back together for next year. First things first though, the team needs a well-earned rest. I know that each one of them did their best up to the final lap, and I'd like to thank them personally on behalf of Maserati.'

Maserati S.p.A.

Maserati produces a complete range of unique cars, immediately recognizable for their extraordinary personality. Thanks to their style, technology, and innately exclusive character, they delight the most discerning, demanding tastes and have always been a benchmark for the global automotive industry. A tradition of successful cars, each of them redefining what makes an Italian sports car in terms of design, performance, comfort, elegance, and safety, currently available in more than 70 markets internationally. Maserati line-up includes the Levante – the first SUV made by Maserati, the Grecale, the 'everyday exceptional' SUV, the GranTurismo, the iconic Italian grand tourer, and the GranCabrio, the new convertible of the Trident; all models characterized by the use of the highest quality materials and excellent technical solutions. A range equipped with 4-cylinder hybrid powertrains – available for Grecale and Levante – and V6 petrol, with rear-wheel and four-wheel drive, embodying the performance DNA of the Trident Brand. The top of the range is made up of the MC20 super sports car and the MC20 Cielo spyder, powered by the ground-breaking 100% Maserati Nettuno V6 engine, which incorporates F1-derived technologies into the power unit of a standard production car for the first time. The GranTurismo is available with both the high-performance V6 petrol engine, derived from the Nettuno, and a 100% electric version: the GranTurismo Folgore, the first car in the Modena-based brand's history to adopt this solution. Today the full-electric range includes also the Grecale Folgore, Maserati's first full-electric SUV, and the latest addition, GranCabrio Folgore. By 2025, all Maserati models will also be available in a full-electric version, and the entire Maserati range will run on electricity alone by 2028.

Photo credit: Maserati
posted on conceptcarz.com

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