Maximilian Günther arrives at the Berlin E-Prix, carrying the weight of a difficult start to Season 12, but the German driver insists the timing of his home race could not be better as he looks to reignite his championship campaign in front of his compatriots.
The DS Penske driver, who claimed a memorable victory at the Berlin E-Prix in 2020, spoke to Pit Debrief ahead of the first race, to discuss the state of his season, the future of Formula E in Germany, and what he hopes fans will come to appreciate about the all-electric series.
A frustrating start despite the pace
Although Günther has shown flashes of genuine speed throughout the opening rounds, the results have not reflected his form. The DS Penske driver admits the early stages of the campaign have been tough, but he believes the work behind the scenes will soon translate into stronger weekends.
“I’m really looking forward to the races. Two in Berlin and then two in Monaco. The race calendar is really very good,” Günther told Pit Debrief. “I had good preparation, I worked hard, and yet definitely a difficult start to the season.”
He pointed to race-day execution as the area DS Penske must address most urgently.
“Although we actually showed good form, in the end we simply need to find performance in the race. That is the key area for us. And we have worked hard on that. I hope we can finish the season at the front.”
The double-header in the German capital offers an immediate opportunity to do exactly that, with Monaco following close behind on the calendar.
A German driver wanting a German race
Berlin has been a fixture on the Formula E calendar since the championship’s inaugural season, and Tempelhof’s vast concrete apron has helped shape the identity of the all-electric series. Yet conversations around the future of the calendar inevitably raise questions about which venues will remain. For Günther, the answer in Germany’s case is straightforward.
“I believe Formula E and Berlin fit together very well. And I continue to hope for a race in Germany, presumably Berlin as well,” he said.
Pressed on which alternative cities could host a German round if Tempelhof ever fell off the calendar, Günther was quick with suggestions.
“As another city, perhaps Düsseldorf, or in general, Munich would also be brilliant.”
Targeting the top step once again
Günther’s previous Berlin victory came during Season 6, a triumph achieved behind closed doors during the pandemic-era calendar. Returning to the same circuit with grandstands full of supporters remains a powerful motivator.
“You always want to be right at the front as a racing driver, that is always my goal, just like in the last races,” he explained. “I believe we have worked very well, and I have good memories of this place. Stood on the podium, already won a race here, unfortunately back then without spectators. We have a benchmark and we hope to repeat it one day.”
A plea for clarity on Pit Boost
Asked what he wished fans understood better about Formula E, Günther turned to one of the championship’s newer strategic elements.
“The Pit Boost race isn’t so easy to keep track of, knowing exactly who is where on the track, since we really lose a lot of time through the Pit Boost, especially here as well, where we end up a lap down because of it,” he said. “It is challenging even for us in Berlin, and I believe anything you can offer here for the fans with the TV graphics is definitely a good thing.”
Strong signs in opening practice
Free Practice 1 at the Berlin E-Prix delivered exactly the kind of encouragement Günther had been searching for. The DS Penske driver climbed to the top of the timesheets as the track rubbered in, before Pascal Wehrlein responded with a 57.631 to move ahead of his compatriot. Günther stayed glued to his pace, sitting just 0.055 seconds adrift with under ten minutes remaining.
A late flurry of improvements shuffled the order, with teammate Taylor Barnard ultimately taking top spot ahead of Wehrlein and Jean-Éric Vergne. Günther crossed the line fourth, but the margins were tight and the underlying pace was unmistakable. If he can carry that form into qualifying and convert it across race distance, the home crowd may yet, have something special to celebrate this weekend.
