History unfolded on the streets of Tokyo as Formula E made its highly anticipated debut in Japan, with Maserati MSG Racing's Maximilian Guenther emerging as the surprise victor.
The German driver prevailed over Nissan polesitter Oliver Rowland in a thrilling display of strategy and energy management.
Guenther and Maserati’s triumph in the country of the rising sun marked a record-breaking start to Formula E’s Season 10 as it represented the fifth victory for a different driver in as many races, highlighting the unprecedented competitiveness in Formula E.
The championship battle – now led by Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy and Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein who are tied on points – is wide open, with no single team dominating the early stages.
The race’s drama unfolded on lap 24. Rowland, who had enjoyed a strong lead throughout the race with Nissan looking dominant on home turf, began to struggle with dwindling energy reserves.
This vulnerability proved Guenther's opportunity. The Maserati charger, who had strategically positioned himself behind Rowland, capitalized on the Nissan's fading power. He not only kept pace with the leader but also meticulously preserved his own energy for a final push.
Seizing his moment, Guenther overtook Rowland for the lead. The passionate Nissan crowd roared as Rowland desperately attempted to retake the top spot.
©FormulaE
But Guenther would have none of it, the 26-year-old fending off three aggressive attempts from the determined Briton in the final lap, ultimately crossing the finish line first and claiming his fifth career win in FE and his first season Jakarta in Season 9.
Reigning FE champion Jake Dennis, who had lined up fifth on the grid, came out on top of a tight battle with Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa to secure the final step on the podium.
However, the Portuguese driver wasn’t far behind in fourth place. His teammate, Pascal Wehrlein, the winner of the previous race in Mexico City, also put in a strong performance, crossing the line in fifth.
Abt Cupra’s Nico Mueller delivered a solid performance, securing a respectable sixth-place finish in front of Jaguar’s Cassidy. The latter’s performance was impressive considering that he had started a lowly 19th.
Battling right to the end! ⚔️@maxg_official and @oliverrowland1 put on a proper show as they fought to the line for the race win #TokyoEPrix pic.twitter.com/vwHxNaV1Cj
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) March 30, 2024
Edoardo Mortara, who initially finished ahead of Cassidy, was later disqualified for exceeding energy limits.
Despite a challenging race, Envision’s Robin Frijns clawed his way back to salvage an eighth-place finish, earning valuable points for his team.
Sergio Sette Camara (ERT) also managed to scrape into the points with a ninth-place result. Nissan had something to celebrate as well, with Sacha Fenestraz securing tenth place and bringing home another point for the Japanese manufacturer.
Formula E heads to Italy next month for a double-header at Misano on 13 and 14 April.
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