Maserati MSG Racing faces challenging Saturday in Portland

Maserati MSG Racing faces challenging Saturday in Portland

A challenging Saturday for Maserati MSG Racing in Portland

The Race in Numbers

Maximilian Günther
Free Practice One // P9
Free Practice Two // P18
Qualifying // P19 [1:10.345, Group A]
Race // DNF
Positions Gained // N/A
Fastest Lap // 1:13.642
Championship Position // P8 [69 points]

Jehan Daruvala
Free Practice One // P11
Free Practice Two // P20
Qualifying // P20 [1:10.127, Group B]
Race // P16
Positions Gained // +2
Fastest Lap // 1:12.169
Championship Position // P20 [8 points]

Maserati MSG Racing
Championship // P7 [77 points]

Maserati MSG Racing experienced a challenging first race in the double-header 2024 Portland E-Prix, with the team narrowly missing out on points following a late surge in the United States.

The Monaco-based team entered the penultimate race weekend of Formula E's 10th season with high aspirations and worked hard to make progress after struggling for initial pace across practice.

In Qualifying for Race One, drivers Maximilian Günther and Jehan Daruvala fell short of the duel stages and started from 17th and 18th thanks to grid penalties after placing 19th and 20th.

With an action-packed peloton race ahead, however, there was cause for optimism, with the duo perfectly positioned to save crucial energy from the outset.

The pair started the race by holding position but quickly began to fight forward, with Jehan taking an early first Attack Mode on lap four before pressing his advantage while Max continued to hold ground.

As the race continued to evolve, Max and Jehan adjusted their approach appropriately, and after building an energy advantage over their closest competitors, set out in pursuit of the top 10.

After taking both of his Attack Modes in quick succession, Max broke into the points-paying positions on lap 15 and continued to fight forward, running as high as sixth.

Unfortunately, the 26-year-old lost track position late in the race and was shuffled outside of the top 10, but was forced to retire after contact with Jehan on lap 24. Jehan, meanwhile, finished 16th.

In Their Words

Maximilian Günther, Driver, Maserati MSG Racing
"A tough day for us. All weekend we have been struggling for pace, and Qualifying was especially difficult. We found in challenging to put the car in the right operating window, and that meant that we started quite far from the front. From there, we tried to execute a good race on energy, but we had a few issues. Unfortunately, in the final stages, Jehan made contact with me in Turn One, and that ended my race."

Jehan Daruvala, Driver, Maserati MSG Racing
"Today's race was obviously frustrating, and I'm very sorry for the team. Late in the race I was running behind Max, my brakes locked up into Turn One, and after that I was pretty much a passenger and tried to avoid him as much as I could. It was my mistake, and I take full responsibility for it. Tomorrow is a new day with fresh opportunities, and hopefully, we can both score points to make up for today."

Cyril Blais, Deputy Team Principal, Maserati MSG Racing
"The outcome of today's race wasn't something we deserved, nor was it remotely close to what we set out to achieve. Reflecting on today, I think there's a lot for us to debrief and digest, but I'm confident that we can put the necessary changes in place to come back stronger on Sunday. We have another chance to score points tomorrow, and we need to take advantage of that opportunity."

Giovanni Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse
"Unfortunately, we've been unlucky today, and racing can be disappointing sometimes. Portland is an extremely fast circuit, and it hasn't been kind to us. Every round is a challenge and a learning opportunity: for Maserati, Formula E isn't only a series of races, but most of all the ideal platform to extend our commitment to the new era of electrification, which we have entered with the Folgore range. We'll make up for it tomorrow: I'm aware of our drivers' talent and determination and I'm sure they'll be providing us with great performance and decent results in the last three rounds of the season."

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.

For further information:
MASERATI
Roberta Marchetti - Maserati Corse Communications Manager - [email protected]

Maserati MSG Racing
Maserati MSG Racing is one of the founding teams of the FIA Formula E World Championship and, in December 2013, became the first manufacturer to join the first all-electric category in motorsport. As one of the few regular participants since the inaugural 2014/15 season, MSG Racing has grown steadily; in 2021, it came close to a win before completing its most successful season to date in 2022, when it ended the season in second place for teams worldwide.

Led by Chairman and Managing Partner Scott Swid, the Monaco-based brand is the most gender-diverse team in Formula E and is at the forefront of sustainability: it promotes the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, technical innovation and excellence. For further information, visit our website. To access the media library and content in the public domain, sign up here.

Maserati MSG Racing Media Contact:
Liz Brooks - Director of Strategic Communications - [email protected]
Tel. +44 7887 846177

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