Tokyo delivered a weekend of highs and lows for Monaco’s Formula E contenders, as local fan favourite Maximilian Günther and Maserati MSG Racing endured a bruising double-header in the Japanese capital.
Returning to the site of his maiden Tokyo E-Prix victory in 2024, German driver Günther arrived brimming with confidence. He wasted no time in proving his pace, clocking the second-fastest time in the opening practice session. But unpredictable weather and mechanical misfortune soon shifted the narrative.
Saturday’s race was thrown into chaos by extreme rain, forcing the cancellation of Qualifying and resulting in a grid set by Free Practice 2 times. Starting ninth, Günther made an early charge with a bold Attack Mode move before a battery issue on lap 13 brought his race to a premature end.
Bouncing back with determination on Sunday, Günther showed top-10 pace in FP3 and narrowly missed out on a place in the duels, starting 12th after a yellow flag interrupted his flying lap. Despite a frustratingly timed Safety Car that neutralised his final Attack Mode strategy, the DS PENSKE driver clawed his way back into 10th on the final lap to secure a valuable championship point.
“Saturday was especially disappointing because it was a race full of potential,” Günther said after the weekend. “We showed good speed in practice and were on track for a strong result until the technical issue. On Sunday, the race was tough from the start and I lost time behind the Safety Car. But we’ll regroup and be ready for Shanghai.”
In the Monaco-based Maserati MSG Racing camp, the euphoria of their recent Round 8 victory quickly evaporated. Neither Jake Hughes nor Stoffel Vandoorne advanced past the group stages in qualifying, with Hughes hampered by tyre temperatures and Vandoorne’s effort cut short by a red flag.
Their split race strategies showed promise until late drama disrupted the team’s hopes. Hughes was on course for points until a Safety Car in the final laps derailed his Attack Mode window, forcing him to slow significantly to avoid penalties and dropping him to 18th. Vandoorne’s race ended altogether following a collision with Nissan’s Norman Nato, damaging his car and forcing retirement.
“It feels like a missed opportunity,” said Hughes. “We had the pace to score, but the timing of the Safety Car left us exposed.” Vandoorne echoed the frustration, adding, “It could’ve been P9 without the contact. We need to start stronger in qualifying.”
Team Principal Cyril Blais acknowledged the setbacks, stating, “We executed well in the race, but starting further back made recovery difficult. The Safety Car didn’t help, and Stoffel’s clash was simply unlucky.”
Despite the result, Maserati Corse Head Maria Conti remained optimistic: “We leave Tokyo with important learnings, one win already this season, and the drive to bounce back stronger in Shanghai.”
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship continues on 31st May and 1st June with a double-header in Shanghai – rounds 10 and 11 of the 16-race season.
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Photo source: Maserati MSG Racing