Formula E: Maserati MSG Racing announces split from long-time driver Edo Mortara

Major surprise on Friday evening: In a press release, Formula E team Maserati MSG Racing announced that driver Edoardo Mortara is leaving the racing team with immediate effect. The team has not yet announced who will succeed the Swiss racer - presumably alongside Maximilian Günther. Maserati also did not provide a reason for the departure.

“We would like to thank Edo for his efforts and success over the past six seasons," said team boss James Rossiter of Mortara, who had already on board under the team's former name Venturi. "His experience, knowledge, and expertise have been pivotal in our journey and development as a team. On a personal note, it has been a privilege to work with him and we all wish him every success for the future.”

Mortara joined the team in 2017 and already showed his great talent on his Formula E debut weekend. After scoring points on his race debut and finishing second on the podium in the second race, he began a six-year collaboration that became one of the longest and most successful driver-team partnerships in Formula E history: Mortara won six races, stood on the podium 13 times, took two pole positions and collected 422 points. In season 7, he became Formula E's first vice world champion. In season 8, he also battled for the title for a long time and ultimately finished third overall.

Thenm however, things took a turn for the worse for Mortara. Last season, his first year in Gen3, Mortara only finished in the points seven times, his best result being a fourth place in Rome. Not only did the veteran have some costly accidents. Mortara also seemed weak in comparison with his teammate Max Günther in 2023. He finished the season in 14th place with 39 points. Günther finished seventh (101 points) with one win and three more podium results.

Mortara: "The end of an era, not the end of my racing career"

"The end of an era," Mortara himself prefaces in an Instagram post. "After an incredible six-year journey, it's time to bid farewell to the team that's been my second family on and off the track. We've shared countless victories, each win a testament to the incredible team spirit that fueled our rise from the bottom to the top of the series."

"As I embark on a new chapter, I carry with me the indomitable spirit of this team," Mortara continued. "Here's to new challenges, new victories, and the unforgettable journey that got us here! And remember, this is not the end of my racing career. The fighter spirit is in my blood, and it's there forever. Stay tuned for the next thrilling chapter!"

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Edoardo Mortara (@edomortara)

Giovanni Sgro, Chief Executive of Maserati Corse, says: "Maserati would like to thank Edo for his contribution and for his constant commitment to the team throughout Season 9. His resilience helped the team in achieving positive results and to contributing to the outcome of Maserati’s first season in the all-electric series; he also demonstrated his capability to recover from difficult moments. He is a successful driver and we have been delighted and honoured for him to have been a standard-bearer for the Trident all over the world. We wish him all the best for his racing career."

In addition to a lack of explanation for the departure, Maserati MSG left two other questions unanswered: Who will be Mortara's successor in Formula E? And who will fill the second cockpit in the coming tenth season (2023/24)? At least with regard to the latter question, it can be said that Max Günther will most likely stay with the team - more than ever after Mortara's departure. We will find out exactly what the Maserati line-up will look like at the latest at the pre-season tests in Valencia in just over a month.