"My heart beats for both countries" - will Max Günther soon be competing as an Austrian in Formula E?

With 70 Formula E starts, Max Günther is the German driver with the most race appearances in the electric series after Andre Lotterer (80). However, this could change in the future: The Maserati driver does not rule out competing for Austria thanks to his dual citizenship.

While eight different drivers have already competed in Formula E under the German flag, the Alpine republic is still waiting for its first Formula E racer. With Lucas Auer (BMW i Andretti) and reigning DTM champion Thomas Preining (Porsche), there were two Austrians in an official Formula E session at the rookie test on 1 March 2020. However, both are no longer associated with the electric series.

"I drive with a German licence," Günther explained on ServusTV. "Throughout my career, I've actually driven with a German licence. I think I drove for Austria once for a year, in karting. That was very successful, I became champion. Let's see what the future holds."

"I have both nationalities, German and Austrian," he explains. "Mum comes from Kleinwalsertal, dad from the Allgäu. I grew up in the Allgäu, but I feel both German and Austrian at the same time. I also spent a lot of time in Austria when I was younger. Especially at Lake Constance - Bregenz, Lochau. I also have some relatives who live there. That's why my heart definitely beats for both countries."

Unlike the other racing series in which Günther has competed so far, however, the licence is not the deciding factor in Formula E: as an official FIA world championship, the nationality of the ID document with which the driver identifies him/herself to the FIA is decisive. For example, Nissan driver Sacha Fenestraz applied for an Argentinian passport a few weeks ago in order to be able to compete as an Argentinian this year.

For the time being, however, Günther will continue to compete for Germany, next time in just under a week's time at the Sao Paulo E-Prix. Here, he will be the only German alongside Pascal Wehrlein.