Maserati MSG Racing driver, Maximilian Günther, bounced back from a challenging start to the 2024 Shanghai E-Prix by returning to the top 10 in the FIA Formula E World Championship’s first race weekend in China since 2019.
After securing a strong start to 2024 with a victory in Tokyo, a podium at Misano, and points in seven of the first eight races this season, Max entered Shanghai following a challenging yet promising weekend in Berlin.
He placed 13th and 10th in practice and took a positive forwards step in Qualifying for Race One, but unfortunately made an early exit after missing out on the session’s duel stages and started the race from 14th.
With Formula E’s energy-intensive peloton style of racing set to return in Shanghai, Max took a conservative approach at the start of Saturday’s race, and by taking Attack Mode early and under consuming energy, established a key competitive edge.
While this approach cost Max positions in the short-term, it yielded long-term gains and after falling to 18th, the 26-year-old quickly fought forward and used his pace and additional energy to stage an impressive recovery drive.
Although contact with Edoardo Mortara briefly halted Max’s progress, the Oberstdorf-born racer carved through the field to move into the top 10 and was locked in a hard-fought battle with Jean-Eric Vergne and Oliver Rowland.
Max came out on top in this first melee to run as high as seventh but lost two positions in the closing laps to take ninth at the chequered flag before receiving a 10-second time penalty post-race, which relegated him to 21st in the final classification.
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