Maserati MSG Racing’s Max Guenther has spoken to Motorsport Week ahead of the re-commencement of the FIA Formula E World Championship in Sao Paulo next weekend.
The beginning of season 10 has been a bright one for the German-Austrian, finishing in the points in all three rounds, with the Monaco-based outfit showing some significant improvement from what was an inconsistent season 9, and Guenther is pleased with how things are going. “I think it’s definitely a good start to the year for us,” he said, adding: “generally speaking from last year as Mexico and Diriyah were two tracks don’t suit our package as much, so we knew how to approach it and we took the momentum from the second half of season nine, so I think we did a really good job.
“We’ve scored points in every race, got close to the podium in Mexico and we are definitely happy with the start of the year, really solid, and we want to build on that and get going in Sao Paulo.”
The team’s promising start to the season may come as a surprise to many after a difficult close-season, with Team Principal James Rossiter departing in October, but Guenther says the team have adapted well to the big off-track changes.
“I have to say since this change, I’ve been pleased with how we’ve approached it and how we’ve gone through it.
“We’ve got a good spirit and atmosphere within the team and I really feel we have great quality in the people we have and we are just focusing on our job – engineers from their side and me as a driver from my side.
“We have a clear idea of what we want to achieve and we will keep executing that.”
Guenther is looking-forward to the Championship returning, and his confidence is evident as the countdown to the Sao Paulo weekend approaches.
“I definitely think Sao Paulo is a track where we can do good things.
“As I said, maybe Mexico and Diriyah were the more difficult ones for us before, but I’m really happy with how we’ve developed.
“The start of last season was difficult, and then we put the package together in a good way from Berlin onwards.
“We had podiums, we obviously won from Pole Position in Jakarta, so many strong races as well as good consistency.
“I’m really pleased with all the improvements we made in the off-season and we’ve carried this momentum into the new year.
“OK, for sure there is no guarantee but I feel like every track we go to, we can achieve good things.
“On some tracks maybe more, on some maybe less, but Sao Paulo – why not?”
Title leader Nick Cassidy recently told Motorsport Week that the level of competition this season is once again high, and cited Guenther as one of the drivers who have impressed so far. Such praise is appreciated by Guenther, but takes it in his stride.
“I think the respect between us all is really high – in Formula E, the level is really high and it’s such a big competition.
“Obviously it’s good when people around you appreciate your work because it shows you’re doing a good job, you’re racy and you’re fast, but you don’t get any points from the words of other people, but it’s a good sign!
“We feel we’re in good shape, I feel good with the start of the season, I feel good in the car with the package we have.
“For sure there is big competition out there, we are not the favourites – I think this is Porsche and Jaguar.
“Nick did a great start to the year so far and clearly these are the favourites, but I really feel we can give them a good challenge.”
Another change in personnel is in the form of Guenther’s new team-mate, Jehan Daruvala, who replaced Edoardo Mortara, who now partners Nyck de Vries at Mahindra Racing. The Indian struggled for track time in the pre-season test in Valencia, but has quickly adapted to FE, running well in the second race Diriyah race before being forced to retire. Is Guenther happy with his new partner’s progress?
“I think he’s doing a really good job, especially in Diriyah in the second race – he had a really great qualifying and he’s showing his potential.
“I know how it is in Formula E when you come in as a rookie – there’s a steep learning curve, but he’s working really hard, he’s integrated into the team well and we get along well, I really think he can do a good job this season.”
Maserati have also made some positive headlines away from the track since the season began, with the announcement of a new partnership with French eSports team, Race Clutch, enabling the shared services of Hungarian sim racer, Balazs Remenyik, who is the team’s offical simulator driver. Guenther has found the input of a professional sim racer useful to himself and Daruvala.
“It’s a definitely a great addition and I’m really happy to have him in the team since the start of the year.
“He is able to give us much more quality work as he sets-up all the basics, gives good feedback when Jehan and myself go there for our race prep and things are already structured in a good way and we don’t start from scratch.
“He’s doing really well and it’s good to have him in the team.”
With the cancellation of the Hyderabad race, Formula E has endured what will be six week break between races, and whilst it has been in its own way a disruption, the time off has been productive for Guenther both professionally and personally.
“It’s unusual but at the same time it’s been very intense with the regular rhythm of two weeks from race-to-race so it’s good to be fully-charged for when the season gets going again, so we use the time really well.
“On a private note, I’ve spending time with family and friends, doing things I enjoy like playing golf, but on the professional side I’ve been working extremely hard in my preparations both physically and mentally.
“With the team, we’ve had one or two tests and many simulator sessions – I’m feeling refreshed and feeling ready for a big couple of months.”
A big talking point for many drivers in the last few months has been the forthcoming work into the GEN4 car due for 2026. Guenther is very excited but is also aware that there is plenty more racing to come from the GEN3 era.
“First of all, I’ve seen the basic numbers and the goals that we want to achieve as a championship with GEN4 and it looks absolutely amazing and exciting and I can’t wait for the car to hit the ground running.
“I think it’s a lot of preparation work for us to anticipate, but before GEN4 we have GEN3.5 which is in our focus right now with testing and development, and we will able to homologate, effectively, a new car for next year.
“This is the intermediate step to the GEN4, so this is more in the foreground but absolutely GEN4 is looking great, looking spectacular and obviously for the manufacturers, there’s a lot of work going on in the background, but for me the focus is just on season 10 and then 11.”
Despite the ultra-competitive nature of Formula E and the unpredictability as a result, Maserati’s good start is no doubt encouragement for Guenther for the races that are left. What are his aims for the remainder of season 10?
“I guess it’s no surprise if I say we want to achieve better than we did last season.
“You always want to improve and step it up, and that is part of the aim.
“My goal is always similar: I try, from each week, to extract the maximum, and I think we’re heading into a super good direction of development, competitiveness and we want to keep this trajectory to fight at the top, to challenge the favourites on paper, and be up there.
“I won’t say “I want to finish top five” or something like this, because I want to be at the front as much as possible, but we have a good idea of what we want to achieve this year.”
