Top marks for Günther, light & shade at Mahindra: The e-Formula.news driver rating for the Tokyo E-Prix 2024

The first Formula E Tokyo E-Prix is in the books. The Japanese Formula E fans were treated to thrilling racing. In particular, the extremely uneven track not only invited jumps, but also made huge demands on all the drivers. Three to four drivers showed their best side and were rewarded with top marks from the editorial team. It turns out: Tokyo was an E-Prix for the underdogs.

After each round of the 2024 Formula E season, our editors award points on a scale between 1 and 10 for all drivers. They are then sorted according to their average "rating score". The rating is based exclusively on driving performance, not the potential of the car or external circumstances. Editor Tim Neuhaus comments on the top 3 performances at the E-Prix and the total failure of the weekend.

1. Max Günther | Maserati MSG Racing | 10.0

Maximilian Günther pushed his Maserati to the limit in qualifying. He only just missed out on pole. The race was initially a test of patience for the German. This was to pay off when Maserati's attack-mode strategy worked brilliantly at the end of the second third and Günther drove away from Oliver Rowland. The final lap made him sweat again, but after a brief dance with Rowland, the 26-year-old rewarded himself with victory and the fastest race lap.

Thus, Günther also scored points for the Monegasque-Italian racing team in the fifth race of the season. With 48 points - just 15 points behind leader Pascal Wehrlein - Günther is in the thick of the race for the world championship.

2. Oliver Rowland | Nissan | 9.8

Oliver Rowland narrowly misses out on the top score. However, this will be of little interest to the Briton, as he is the driver to beat at the moment. Three podiums in a row and two pole positions - nobody has scored more points in the last three races than the Briton. In the Nissan country, his performance was the cherry on top of a successful weekend for Nissan.

Rowland showed his skills in qualifying, especially in the first sector. While most of the favourites weakened there, Rowland mastered the jump and the treacherous corners unimpressed. He was the fastest driver of the weekend on one lap. He also set the pace for a long time in the race, but struggled with the efficiency of the Nissan powertrain and had to give way to Günther. After two third places in a row, second place in Tokyo possibly paved the way for his overdue first race win of the season.

3. Edoardo Mortara | Mahindra Racing | 8.8

The Swiss driver in Mahindra service seemed to be unleashed this weekend. After a disastrous start to the season for the Indian team, it looked like they had taken a big step forward in Japan. Edoardo Mortara and the car seemed to be running in perfect harmony in qualifying. Only the fastest lap of the weekend by Rowland was able to stop Mortara in the semi-final. Starting from third place was like pole position for Mahindra.

Starting on the good side of the grid, Mortara was able to move up to second place straight away. From then on, he kept up with the leading group for a long time and drove a very strong race. However, reality caught up with him in the final third of the race: The lack of efficiency from the Mahindra powertrain caused him to drop back to sixth place at the finish. But even those eight points were lost due to a technical disqualification. It was a bitter end for Mortara after a more than impressive performance.

Flop of the E-Prix: Nyck de Vries | Mahindra Racing | 2.0

Nyck de Vries can hardly be described as having performed well. In qualifying, the F1 returnee only just missed out on the duel phase, but then drove a race far removed from the performance of his team-mate. Not only was there a lack of pure pace. A rear-end collision with Lucas di Grassi also ended the race prematurely for both of them.

So far, de Vries' Formula 1 slump continues. Although he still lacks a car capable of performing miracles in the electric racing series, he has not been able to beat his own team-mate Mortara in any race so far this season. Especially since Brazil, the gap to the Swiss driver seems to be widening. Tokyo, where the Mahindra cars worked surprisingly well and more would have been possible, marked a new low point for the Dutchman.