On the occasion of the recent Rome E-Prix, FormulaPassion.it got to know Maximilian Günther. The German is in his fourth season as a starter in the electric world championship, already boasting considerable experience in the category. In the past, Günther has shown that he can aspire to something important, taking three victories in Formula E, including the last in New York last season. In 2022 Max joined Nissan e.dams after two years at BMW Andretti, but the start of the championship was not the best. Thanks to a performance gap in the car in terms of hardware, as confirmed directly by Tommaso Volpe, director of Nissan motorsport, Gunther was not in a position to aspire to the top positions. Without particular pressures, Season 8 therefore stands as a season of acclimatization in Nissan, with the team working on a relaunch with the powertrain for the Gen3 currently under development, with which Maximilian could return to play a leading role in the championship. .
So Max, let’s imagine it wasn’t the start of the season you were hoping for. What do you think is still missing?
“I think Mexico has been a positive weekend for us as a team in general, managing to score points with both cars. In particular, on race day, since free practice we were going in a good direction and the car looked much better than in Riyadh. As you said in Saudi Arabia it was not the start that, as a team, we were hoping for, but in the overall balance, being my first races with the team with a lot of new things, I think the direction was good. I feel comfortable in the team and with the car. We certainly want to score as many points as possible, but I believe that in Mexico we have taken the right path to continue on ”.
New team for you this year. What did you find in Nissan that was absent from your previous team?
“You know, in every team there is always a different mentality. In particular, with my new companions and companions in Nissan, I undoubtedly found a different atmosphere. There are different people, now I’m in a French-dominated team, while before it was German, so I’m also trying to improve my French. There are different internal dynamics and a different working approach, but I was able to overcome all the adaptation difficulties as soon as possible in my first weeks with the team. I spent a lot of time in Le Mans to be fully involved in every aspect and now I can enjoy it all. “
Speaking of atmosphere, a growing number of people in motorsport have started talking about the importance of psychological health. What do you think? Have you ever suffered the pressure of this environment?
“Yes, I’ve heard several people talk about it and it sure is an important topic. Everyone has their own way of approaching this aspect. It’s something I’ve worked hard on throughout my career, because I’ve always tried to maximize every aspect of performance and for me this mentality is a way of life. At the moment I’m happy with how everything is going. You are right, it is an environment with a lot of pressure and with a lot of expectations, both from the outside and from the inside. But I’m happy with the way I’m managing everything “.
In Formula E we have very heavy cars, with little downforce and poor grip. Is this something you appreciate as a driver or would you like more stable cars?
“I like both! It is always a challenge. Having single-seaters with a lot of grip on the tires is nice, but I also enjoy this type of car a lot. In Formula E the driver can make more of a difference compared to other championships, especially when we race on a circuit like this in Rome, with so many bumps and other things that you cannot simulate in advance. I think the role of the driver is very important and I have a lot of fun with these cars. Being electric they are very complex cars, with many parameters to be set together with the team. As far as I’m concerned, I think it’s the most competitive championship at the moment and I’m enjoying it ”.
Where do you think a driver can make a difference here in Rome for example?
“I think it can definitely make a difference in 90 degree turns! It is a very long and technical track. To summarize, I think a great deal of confidence is needed on this track, because all the bumps in the braking areas undermine your confidence in the car. Then of course there are the software adjustments, the set-up and everything else, but there are some key points on this track ”.
Before joining Formula E you raced in Formula 2, a category where drivers think most about getting to Formula 1. How did you react to the proposal to race here?
“Actually, already at the end of my Formula 3 journey I was looking with interest at Formula E, I was following the championship. At the time, in Season 4, I was a reserve for the Penske team while racing in Formula 2, so I was busy in both categories. Clearly the championship caught my attention very early on and I saw the potential. I think it is a privilege as a driver to be able to race in this World Championship. This is the reason why the choice was clear for me right from the start, I wanted to race here as soon as possible ”.
In Montecarlo we will see the car for the Gen3 for the first time. How would you like to design the Gen4 instead?
“For the fourth generation I would design something like a spaceship! Something very futuristic and something that has never been seen on a racing car. I would certainly keep the single-seater setting, but for the future I would like an aggressive and dynamic design. This would be my idea ”.
If, on the other hand, you had to choose a car from the history of motorsport and a track on which to drive it, what would your choices be?
“I think it would be a 2008 Formula 1, because it was a time when cars sounded great and the aerodynamics were mind blowing when you look at the visual impact. I would choose Ferrari: we know it won the championship that year, but I think the car was beautiful. Having the chance to take a lap in Spa with that car would be great ”.
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