.jpg)
It has its own dictionary definition, but this author would argue that the connotation of the word changes depending upon interpretation and experience.
It is only by living that we learn, and it is only by facing our toughest challenges that we grow.
In London, Maserati MSG Racing faced heartbreak as a team, but by looking into the eyes of defeat, we’re now stronger than we ever have been.
Relive the 2024 London E-Prix – the final race of Formula E’s 10th season – from the perspective of Monaco’s only racing team.
When Jehan Daruvala made his Formula E debut earlier this season, he was very transparent with his expectations. He wanted to learn, and by the end of the year, he wanted to fight with the best.
In London, we saw the outcome of his efforts first-hand as the 25-year-old completed what was, undoubtedly, the strongest race weekend of his Formula E career so far.
On Saturday, starting from 15th on the grid on a circuit which is notoriously difficult to overtake on, Jehan arguably had a mountain to climb, but he tackled it with pure determination.
By keeping his nose clean, and racing with ultimate commitment, he was a continual presence in the top 10 and was on course for what was a hard-fought points finish.
But Formula E can be cruel, and after being struck from behind, Jehan’s hope for points fell away. It was a harsh blow in an otherwise flawless recovery performance.
We mean it when we say it – Race One was heartbreaking, and after suffering a gearbox failure when holding second on the road, Maximilian Günther knows the feeling all too well.
From outside the top ten, Max delivered a faultless drive on Saturday. He was opportunistic yet cautious, calculating and clinical, and battled to the top three with pure skill and strategy.
By strategically undercutting his closest competitors with Attack Mode, Max was the narrator in his own story and was mere metres from taking the lead following a late Safety Car.
But when he ground to a halt on track, it was a painful blow. But Max never gives up. We never give up. And collectively, we were determined to set the record straight on Sunday.
Disappointment can be an incredible source of inspiration, and when Max and Jehan came to the track on Sunday, they were determined to set the record straight.
From Group A, Jehan placed himself in a prime competitive position by starting on the verge of the top 10 while Max went all the way to the final.
After topping Group B, the 27-year-old vanquished Jean-Eric Vergne in the Quarter-Finals before eclipsing title contender, Mitch Evans, at the penultimate stage.
He narrowly missed out on Nick Cassidy in the Final but started from second. For the final time in Season 10, we were ready to do battle.
The battle on Sunday was fierce. In every season finale, there’s always a balance between risk and reward, and Race Two was a hard-fought affair from the off.
Struggling with balance and specifically oversteer, Max unfortunately lost second off the line to Evans, but Jehan was on the offensive, harrying the top 10.
By overtaking Antonio Felix da Costa, the Indian racer was in a position to score points but after making contact with Sam Bird in a racing incident, was forced to retire.
This left Max as our final challenger, and after recovering well from a difficult start, the young German was again set for a place inside the top five before front wing damage – stemming from contact with an ailing Nick Cassidy – ended his race.
It was a disappointing end, but although it isn’t the result we were hoping for, we can take great confidence. Resilience is, after all, open to interpretation, and its only by facing our toughest challenges that we can, in fact, grow.
While the 2024 London E-Prix was our final chance to score points this season, it also serves as a springboard into the 2024/25 campaign, and things are shaping up to be exciting.
When Formula E’s Gen3 era started in Season 9, we entered a period of learning growth as a team, working relentlessly hard to be where we wanted to be.
From 2022-2023, the foundations were laid. In 2024, they were built upon and strengthened. In 2025, we’ll see a new chapter and its shaping up to be bright.
Season 10 might be over, but the fight never ends.
.png)
.png){kind=spacer}
