Media report: Team principal Rossiter leaves Maserati shortly before Formula E tests in Valencia

Shock news in the Formula E paddock: Team principal James Rossiter is leaving Maserati MSG Racing with immediate effect. This is reported by the well-connected colleagues of The Race. A representative of the MSG management is to step in at short notice as a replacement for the pre-season tests in Valencia. This person is anything but unknown in Formula E circles.

After just over a year, Maserati MSG Racing is looking for a new team principal. James Rossiter joined the Monaco-based team from DS Techeetah in September 2022, replacing Jerome d'Ambrosio, who moved to the Mercedes team in Formula One as Toto Wolff's right-hand man.

At DS Techeetah, Rossiter had previously been a reserve driver, but at the same time had gained his first experience in an organisational role in Formula E as sporting director. In the course of his move to Maserati MSG Racing, he ended his career as an active racing driver. In parallel to his DS Techeetah involvement, the Briton was also a development driver for Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship and competed in three more WEC races for the Stellantis brand in 2022.

Despite convincing times in the pre-season tests, his debut as team principal went very badly: both Max Günther and Edo Mortara had many accidents in the first half of the season, so that the team only scored three points in the first six races. After that, at least Günther's form showed a strong upward trend: The German scored several podium finishes, in Jakarta he was on pole twice and won the Sunday race. At the end of the season, however, Maserati MSG Racing only finished sixth in the team standings.

In the 2024 Formula E World Championship, Maserati MSG Racing will attack with Max Günther and Jehan Daruvala. The Indian, still active in Formula 2 in 2023 as well as a reserve driver at Mahindra Racing, will succeed Edoardo Mortara at the Monegasques, who in turn is moving to Mahindra. Daruvala will be the only Formula E rookie on the grid next season

A successor for Rossiter is said to be yet to be decided. At the Valencia pre-season tests, which begin next week on Tuesday, Jose Maria Aznar Botella is to take on the role of team principal of Maserati MSG Racing on an interim basis. If the name sounds familiar, he is the son of former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. His sister Ana has also been married for more than 20 years to a certain Alejandro Agag.