Media report on a surprise Formula E team switch: Is Max Günther moving to Envision Racing?

A surprise is on the cards in the Formula E driver market: Maximilian Günther is set to leave DS Penske after Season 12 and is reported to have already signed a contract with Envision Racing. The decisive factor behind the move is said to be his current team’s unclear future plans for the Gen4 era. It remains to be seen whether Günther would replace Sebastien Buemi or Joel Eriksson at Envision.

According to information from the British publication The Race, Maximilian Günther has signed a contract with Envision Racing for the upcoming Formula E season. The agreement with the British team is said to have been reached as early as the beginning of July. Official confirmation from Envision Racing or Günther’s current team, DS Penske, is yet to be forthcoming.

The 29-year-old would thus be changing teams again after just two seasons with DS Penske. According to the report, the decisive factor is Penske’s still-unclear plans for the Gen4 era. Although the US team intends to compete in Season 13, it is not yet known which manufacturer and powertrain it will use.

Why Günther apparently wants to leave DS Penske

There are said to have been discussions between Günther and his current team, Penske. However, the team will be competing next season without its current powertrain partner, DS Automobiles. The uncertainty surrounding Penske’s plans for the Gen4 era is said to have been the decisive factor in Günther’s decision to join the Envision project instead. Much remains unclear about Penske’s future: for instance, those in charge are reportedly still trying to find a manufacturer partner.

Phil Charles, Penske’s deputy team principal, declined to comment on the team’s plans last week in Tokyo when asked by The Race, saying only that the team was "gearing up for the Gen4 period and will be on the grid".

Günther has not been as successful this season as he had hoped. The Stellantis powertrain has not demonstrated the efficiency required to be competitive during races. Furthermore, DS Penske made a number of strategic errors, which ruined what could have been some good results. With 23 points to his name, Günther currently sits in 18th place in the drivers’ standings. He has only managed to score points in three of the 15 races held so far.

Envision, on the other hand, is showing an upward trend. With Buemi and Eriksson as their driver line-up, the team has already celebrated two podium finishes this season. Buemi finished second in Jeddah, whilst Eriksson took third place in Shanghai. Furthermore, the team has extended the contract with powertrain partner Jaguar.

Who will have to make way for Günther: Buemi or Eriksson?

The only area where uncertainty has remained so far regarding the upcoming season is the choice of drivers. In particular, the clashes with the World Endurance Championship (WEC) have played a major role in this. Sebastien Buemi is currently competing in both series and has contracts for the coming season with both Toyota in the WEC and Envision in Formula E. However, there are two clashes between the WEC and the racing calendar for the coming Formula E season.

It was therefore unclear whether the Swiss driver would remain. However, new developments have meant that the Monaco E-Prix in May may be brought forward by a few weeks. This is likely to work in Buemi’s favour regarding his future in Formula E. His current team-mate, Joel Eriksson, has had an impressive comeback season in the all-electric world championship following his three-and-a-half-year break from Formula E. Consequently, with Günther’s move, the question remains as to whether Buemi or Eriksson will vacate the Envision cockpit.