Maserati MSG Racing battled to an emphatic podium in the first race of the double-header 2023 Berlin E-Prix, with native hero Maximilian Günther securing third.
The German racer scored the Maserati model’s first single-seater podium in 66 years since five-time Formula One World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio gained the 1957 German Grand Prix.
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Maximilian Günther: Race weekend
Max began from the fourth row of the grid after extracting robust tempo in the group qualifying levels to safe his place in the head-to-head duels.
Team-mate Edoardo Mortara lined up eleventh after qualifying however the duo made good progress in the race and remained in rivalry all through.
While Max superior to fifth with a sweeping transfer across the exterior of Turn One, Edo slipped to fifteenth though he made fast progress to battle by the sphere.
The Swiss-Italian battled deftly into the highest 10 to take the lead on lap 11 of 40 after overtaking reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne earlier than the race was neutralised by a Safety Car on lap 12.
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Given the excessive vitality sensitivity of the Tempelhof Circuit, the race developed right into a high-speed peloton and a second Safety Car on lap 20 created one other very important alternative to save vitality.
By this time, Max had recovered to the highest 5 and was in direct rivalry with Mitch Evans, Sam Bird, and Sebastien Buemi because the quartet jockeyed for place and victory.
After the Jaguar pair broke out forward, Max continued to duel with Buemi and got here out on high in a drag race in opposition to the Swiss on the ultimate lap up to the chequered flag.
Edging forward of the Envision by 0.111 seconds, Max scored our first podium of the season whereas Edo additionally completed inside the highest 10 with ninth to safe a double factors end.
The 2023 Berlin E-Prix will proceed on Sunday, 23 April, for a second spherical at Tempelhof.
In Their Words
“That was one thing else. I’ve by no means been on a rollercoaster like that earlier than, not at the same time as a driver! What an unimaginable means to begin our weekend in Berlin by scoring our first double factors end and our first podium of the season. Results like this one are particular, and I’m immensely pleased with everybody in the staff. It comes from the exhausting work and dedication we put in each single day. Berlin has traditionally been a powerful circuit for us, and after seeing some encouraging indicators in observe, we have been quietly optimistic.
The race was extremely intense, and finally, it’s about being in the precise place on the finish. Both drivers drove excellently, and coming away with our first podium of the season could be very satisfying. We can’t relaxation, nevertheless, and in motorsport, you’re solely nearly as good as your final race. We now want to concentrate on tomorrow, enhance and repeat right this moment’s achievements or, higher nonetheless, exceed them.”
James Rossiter, Team Principal, Maserati MSG Racing
“That was an action-packed race, with a lot of racing, a lot of overtaking, and a lot of moves. Because Berlin is so energy intensive, and because of the benefit of the slipstream, no one really wanted to lead at the start of the race, and this gave us a very special opportunity to come back. I was able to pass some drivers and took the lead myself, but in the second part of the race I started to struggle with the balance, and this meant that I couldn’t keep up my pace. It’s nice to be back in the top 10, and I’m proud of everyone in the team to get onto the podium. After a long season, it’s what they deserve. We have another race tomorrow, and as always, the goal is to do better.”
Edoardo Mortara, Driver, Maserati MSG Racing
“This is such an incredible feeling! After the season we’ve had and the challenges we’ve faced – and now overcome – it feels so good to be on the podium. Achieving this at my home race, in Berlin, makes it an even more satisfying way to celebrate, and knowing that I’m the first driver since Fangio to finish on the podium for Maserati in single-seater motorsport is a great honour. The race was hard-fought throughout, and my battle with Seb at the end – knowing that so much was on the line – was intense. I’m so proud of everyone in the team for achieving this result, and with the benefit of a double-header, we will try to keep this momentum going.”
Maximilian Günther, Driver, Maserati MSG Racing
“Maserati made history today with our first podium finish in Formula E. We have celebrated many milestones in our long racing history, but today we made a mark in this championship and look forward to the future with optimism and resilience. We congratulate both of our drivers on their podium and top-ten finishes. They did a fantastic job and never gave up; this is well deserved!”.
Giovanni Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse
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The Race in Numbers
Edoardo Mortara
Free Practice One // P5
Free Practice Two // P20
Qualifying // P11 [1:06.354, Group A]Race // P9
Fastest Lap // 1:10.127
Championship Position // P20 [5 points]
Maximilian Günther
Free Practice One // P3
Free Practice Two // P1
Qualifying // P8 [1:05.878, Quarter-Final C]Race // P3
Fastest Lap // 1:09.160
Championship Position // P14 (*66*)
Maserati MSG Racing
Championship Position // P8 [20 points]
Published by Maserati on Newspres
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