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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.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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