Formula E is more than just racing—it’s a “high-speed chess match” where drivers must balance precision, strategy and raw speed to come out on top. And no one knows that better than 27-year-old Maximilian Günther. 

Fresh off his thrilling victory in Jeddah, the DS Penske driver spoke to Monaco Life’s Cassandra Tanti about what it takes to win in this ultra-competitive series. From settling into his new team to adapting to the Gen3 Evo car, Max gives us an inside look at the electrifying nature of Formula E and what it’s like to race on the iconic streets of Monaco—his own backyard.

Listen to the podcast, read on for the interview, or scroll to the end to watch the interview in full: 

Maximilian, thanks for joining us at Monaco Life and congratulations on your win in Jeddah. Tell us about the race itself. It was thrilling to watch, but what was it like from behind the wheel?

Thank you. It was a very special moment—our first win for the DS Penske team and myself, and only our third race together. A night race in Jeddah creates an incredible atmosphere, and it was a fantastic weekend overall.

Street circuits are always special, and under the lights, the race felt even more unique—a real spectacle for fans, teams and drivers. I started from pole position and led the first half, but around the pit stop window, I lost several places and dropped to P9. Things weren’t exactly going to plan, but we stayed calm, fought our way back step by step and on the last lap, I overtook Oliver Rowland (Nissan) to take the win. It was an emotional and great moment.

And I believe that broke a 17-race streak where the pole sitter hadn’t won?

Yes, that’s correct. In Formula E, energy management is crucial. If you’re leading, it’s much harder to save energy efficiently. Before this race, for 17 consecutive races, the driver starting from pole hadn’t gone on to win, but we finally broke that streak.

The evolution of the Gen3 Evo car

This season, Formula E introduced the Gen3 Evo car, which is being hailed as a major step forward. From your perspective as a driver, what are the biggest improvements in handling, speed and performance?

First of all, visually, the car looks different—it has an upgraded aerodynamic body kit. But the biggest difference is underneath: it’s now four-wheel drive, which makes a huge impact.

On one hand, it makes us faster over a single lap because we have much more traction. On the other hand, it changes race strategy significantly. Everyone has to use Attack Mode for eight minutes during a race, and in the past, activating it would cost us one or two seconds without much advantage. But now, with this extra power, we can make up that lost time very quickly, which is why you see so many more overtakes this season.

We also have new tyres this year, which handle differently, and that’s always a crucial factor in racing. Altogether, there have been a lot of changes—plus the introduction of fast-charging pit stops.

That’s an interesting point. Pit stops aren’t a routine part of Formula E races, so why are they being introduced now?

Well, it is really great to see the evolution of Formula E. Unlike other racing series, pit stops haven’t been a standard part of Formula E, but what we’re doing now is showcasing how rapidly EV technology is advancing.

With the new fast-charging pit stops, we can recharge 10% of the battery in just 30 seconds, which is a significant improvement. It demonstrates how efficient electric vehicle charging technology has become, and at the same time, it makes the races even more exciting. We already saw that in Saudi Arabia.

Well, isn’t that the whole purpose of Formula E? It’s about proving that electric vehicles can be high-performance machines while also promoting sustainability.

Absolutely. Formula E is the most modern racing series right now, and sustainability is at the core of its message, but at the same time, the performance potential of these cars is huge.

For example, we already have 0 to 100 km/h acceleration times under two seconds, which is faster than a Formula 1 car. And that’s just the beginning—there’s a bright future ahead. Formula E is already one of the biggest racing championships in the world, and it’s only going to grow.

Energy regeneration and racing strategy

Let’s talk about energy regeneration. The Gen3 Evo car gains energy from both the front and rear motors. How does that influence your strategy as a driver?

Basically, there are two ways to drive in Formula E. The first is the obvious one: driving as fast as possible. That’s what we do in qualifying. But in the race, it’s completely different—we have to be as efficient as possible the entire time.

We start with 100% battery, but if we drove flat out every lap without saving energy, we would run out about four or five laps before the finish. They do that on purpose, so we have to drive smartly, using energy as a strategic tool.

Every lap, we lift off before braking zones to save energy, and then every time we brake, we regenerate power back into the battery. That’s what makes these cars so energy-efficient.

The key in a race is choosing the right moments to attack and overtake—because that uses extra energy—and knowing when to save. It’s like playing chess while driving a high-speed race car. You need to be smart, communicate with the team and execute the strategy perfectly.

Maximilian Günther’s path to Formula E

Tell us about your journey. You started in karting, like most race car drivers, but at what stage did you decide Formula E was your future?

Racing became my passion when I was six-years-old, and from then on, my dream was always to become a professional driver. It’s a long journey, but once you make it, it’s incredibly rewarding.

I chose Formula E because it’s one of the most competitive championships in the world. Almost every team and driver combination has a chance to fight for wins and podiums, which is rare in other series. Plus, we get to race in some of the most amazing cities worldwide. The cars are incredibly fun to drive—complex, technical and challenging to set up. That combination makes Formula E a fascinating championship to be part of.

What’s the top speed of a Formula E car?

Right now, it’s around 270 to 280 km/h, depending on the track. That might not seem high compared to Formula 1, but because we race on street circuits with shorter straights, acceleration is much more important than outright top speed.

With the upcoming Gen4 car, we’re expecting another huge jump in performance, including higher top speeds. That will be the biggest step forward for Formula E so far.

And when will the Gen4 car debut?

In about one and a half years. Everyone’s looking forward to it because we’re already setting records for acceleration, and with the next generation, we’ll push those limits even further.

Monaco and racing at home

Monaco is hosting its first double-header this year. How does that change the race weekend for you as a driver?

It makes it much more intense! A Formula E race day is already very compact—we start early in the morning with free practice, qualify before lunch and then race in the afternoon. In other series, the schedule is more spread out, but for us, everything happens in one day.

A double-header means we go through that whole process twice in one weekend. That means less sleep, late-night analysis sessions with the team and rapid decision-making. But it’s fun because we get to race twice in a city like Monaco, which is always special.

And you’ve lived in Monaco for five years. How does it feel to race on streets you drive on every day?

That’s what makes it so special. I grew up watching my racing idols compete on this track, and now, to be racing on these same streets myself is incredible.

It’s also nice to wake up in my own apartment, have breakfast at home and then head straight to the track. That’s not something you get to do at most races!

Looking ahead

Finally, what are your personal goals for this season?

Every year, I aim to be better than the year before. My long-term goal is to win the Formula E World Championship, and with DS Penske, I feel like I have the right team around me to make that happen.

And of course, winning in Monaco is high on the list too!

Watch the full interview at the Hôtel de Paris below…

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Main photo credit: DPPI Images