Günther without points for Formula E home race to Berlin: "It hurts - but the direction is right".

After promising lap times at the Formula E test drives at the end of 2022, Maximilian Günther and Maserati MSG fell into a performance slump. The fact that the German has yet to collect any points in the first six races of the year "hurts a lot," as he reports. To his home races in Berlin Günther travels nevertheless full of confidence.

Great were the expectations for Max Günther, after he had finished the Formula E test drives in Spain with a new track record. Even more so because he had a tough time with Nissan e.dams behind him (only six points in 16 races), his fans may have been hopeful for the 2023 season after the Valencia test. Would the switch to Maserati MSG, his second team swap in two years, bring back success?

"Things were still going very well in Valencia, we were pretty fast," Günther thinks back. In a virtual media round, he takes a swing at a question from 'e-Formel.de': "However, it was also just the test drives, and on a special type of track at that. That's why we came to Mexico knowing that we probably won't dominate everything like we did in the test. But the surprise was still big when we were only 17th after qualifying."

"No pace, neither in qualifying nor in the race"

The 25-year-old's poor grid position meant he was unable to score any points at the opening race of the season. "But we also had no pace at the second E-Prix, neither in qualifying nor in the race. Now we've spent three weekends working on making the package faster. Now all we need is consistency."

He said he lacked confidence in his car, particularly when it came to braking, in the first third of the 2023 season - probably due in part to the new Gen3 front engine, which is designed to help drivers slow down with its recuperation effect. "We are not yet where we want to be, and we need to complete our package. I hope we will reap the fruits of our labor very soon."

Maserati MSG completed private test ahead of Berlin E-Prix

Since the last E-Prix in Sao Paulo, a number of teams have completed private tests, including Maserati MSG. The racing team had tested new setups for the vehicle in the process, which Günther said he "felt very comfortable with." That's why he's positive about the next races - even though after six rounds he's one of only three Formula E regulars with no points in the in the world championship.

"After all, we're one of the three Formula E regulars in the world championship," he said.

"After we had no performance on the first two weekends, we put our heads together and drew the right conclusions," affirms the native of Oberstdorf. "On a single lap, the pace has improved since then, and we have also shown our potential in the races. The direction is right, but we haven't brought in the corresponding results so far. It hurts a lot, because the last one and a half, two years were not easy for me either."

"Don't waste energy thinking about championship"

In motorsport, he said, "everything just has to fit together" to be successful. "I had to learn to be patient. My ambition is always to win. But at the end of the day, having to go through phases like this is part of it. It hurts because I would like to be further ahead. But I know the qualities of myself and the team. We no longer need to waste our energy thinking about the championship: We just want to drive the strongest possible race weekends and create a foundation from which we can work our way forwards."

Günther is looking to add the first points of the year to his tally next weekend in Tempelhof. The Berlin E-Prix races will start at 3 p.m. on April 22 and 23, 2023. ProSieben will broadcast the heats live on free TV.