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On the ever-technical and always demanding track, there was not one, but two opportunities to score points and therefore, the key chance to build growing momentum.
From the outset, teamwork was the name of the game, but amidst new challenges, Maserati MSG Racing launched an audacious rise to reach new heights in the current campaign.
From the jaws of defeat to alandmark result, this is our race recap from Diriyah.
After following up a promising showcase in Mexico City with an encouraging display of performance in practice, aspirations where high for the first race in Diriyah.
Given the track’s technical nature, starting well is crucial, however, both Edoardo Mortara and Maximilian Günther experienced a bruising afternoon after a difficult Group A.
At the start of his first push lap, a sudden front tyre lock and subsequent collision brought Max’s session to an early end while Edo also collected the barriers after a half-spin in Turn 16.
With both cars damaged and only three hours to go before lights out, the team faced an uphill challenge before Race One, yet embraced the path ahead with camaraderie and devotion.
Unfortunately, extensive ongoing repair work to Max’s car left Edo as our sole challenger for Friday’s fight under lights, yet the Swiss-Italian accepted the task at hand in the only way he knows.
From the outset, Edo was on a charge and after moving up to 19th following a crash for Antonio Felix da Costa, continued to make progress after a brief Safety Car period.
He cleared Oliver Rowland and both ABT cars before next entering combat with and overtaking Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz on lap nine.
Norman Nato was next, and after making light work of Sérgio Sette Câmara, Edo was on the verge of points, now chasing reigning World Champion Stoffel Vandoorne.
A puncture on lap 33, however, dealt another cruel blow, yet despite retiring from the race, Edo’s fightback left an optimistic mark as preparations began for Race Two.
While the chequered flag waved on Friday night, the Maserati MSG Racing garage was a place of action, as relentless work to repair Max’s car continued.
With damage to the monocoque, a whole new chassis had to be built up, and fuelled by high morale, our mechanics made sure to burn the midnight oil and continued to work long into the night.
After a quick refuel, courtesy of a food run from Team Principal, James Rossiter, the team continued to push and by five o’clock in the morning, had built a whole new car.
This incredible effort allowed our battle on track to resume on Saturday and is the very definition of our spirit and passion for motorsport.
A promising third practice session preceded our final qualifying offensive of the weekend, and in Group B, both Edo and Max were spurred on by their desire for success.
Although Max fell just short of the duels, but qualifying inside the top 10 nevertheless, Edo advanced to the knockout stages and secured his place in the Quarter Finals.
Here, he faced Season 8 title rival Mitch Evans and qualified seventh after losing out to the Jaguar driver over the one-lap head-to-head.
With both cars starting inside the top 10, Race Two in Diriyah carried a host of opportunities and when the lights went out, our drivers gave it their all.
With a diving move into the first corner, Edo skirted his way around Sebastien Buemi and Jake Dennis to claim his place in the top five and set out on his pursuit of the leaders.
Max, meanwhile, also made progress, and was running ninth after overtaking and holding off Vandoorne when the Belgian driver deployed his first use of Attack Mode.
Tight gaps inside the top 10 caused strategy headaches, but a Safety Car on lap 27, caused by a crash forNico Müller, disrupted the team’s intended Attack Mode activations.
A return to green flag running on lap 21 left a 10-tour sprint to the flag, and in this time, Edo and Max deployed Attack Mode and delivered a deft defence in the closing kilometres.
By finishing ninth, Edo secured our first top 10 finish of the season and our first points in Formula E’s Gen3 era to finish a difficult weekend in style.
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