Maximilian Günther endured a challenging but ultimately rewarding Sunday at the Monaco E-Prix, securing valuable points in treacherous wet conditions. The DS Penske driver showcased resilience in Round 6 and 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, adding to what has been a mixed but promising season so far.
After a strong showing in qualifying, Günther and his teammate started the second race of the Monaco E-Prix in 3rd and 4th position, respectively. Reflecting on qualifying, Günther said:
“The conditions were really tricky, and we negotiated qualifying well, setting the 3rd and 4th fastest times.”
Challenging conditions led to Günther losing positions
But as the rain continued to fall, the race quickly became a battle for survival rather than strategy.
“JEV got off to a better start than I did, which cost me a few places,” Günther explained, referencing Jean-Éric Vergne’s quick launch off the grid. The opening laps were defined by low grip and cautious manoeuvring, with only the tunnel offering any dry line.
“At the start of the race, it was really complicated because I had no grip, I was struggling with a huge amount of oversteer,” he admitted. “As a result, I didn’t have any chance of progress in the rankings.”
Despite holding position for much of the race around 4th or 5th, Günther began to drop back as the track slowly started to dry. The evolving grip levels caught several drivers out, and although Günther avoided major incidents, it became a matter of damage limitation at the Monaco E-Prix.
“I held on to 4th or 5th place for most of the race, but as soon as the track started to dry out, the situation became more complicated, and I had to limit the damage.”
DS Penske still managed to get good points at the Monaco E-Prix
Ultimately, he crossed the line within the points, helping DS Penske salvage a solid team result.
“We managed to do just that, with both cars in the points. There were a lot of lessons to be learnt, and the most important one is that we managed to reverse the trend and turn things around after Saturday.”
Günther’s Sunday result followed a difficult opening race of the Monaco E-Prix on Saturday. Saturday, he had struggled to find the pace to challenge for higher positions. His steady hand in Sunday’s rain-hit contest was crucial for DS Penske. Especially as rival teams were caught out by the slippery circuit and changing conditions.
Across the 2025 season, Günther has shown flashes of pace with a strong qualifying presence and consistent racecraft. But he has yet to translate that into a headline result. Sunday’s Monaco E-Prix underlined his ability to adapt and persist in less-than-ideal scenarios. It may well be a pivotal step forward as the series heads into the latter half of the calendar. With momentum gradually building, Günther will be looking to carry these learnings into the next rounds. Hopefully, he will finally turn that pace into a podium finish.
Co-author: Louise du Manoir
