Maserati MSG Racing encountered hurdles in the second Berlin E-Prix as energy management strategies fell short of delivering results. Despite promising tactics, drivers Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne struggled with pace, preventing them from fully capitalizing on their potential.
During qualifying, hopes were high as both drivers secured competitive lap times. However, Jake Hughes’ session was cut short by a brake failure, leading to his fastest lap time being deleted due to red flag rules. Starting from P11, Hughes aimed for recovery but faced a challenging race. Meanwhile, Stoffel Vandoorne advanced to the duels but was outmatched by Oliver Rowland in the quarter-finals, starting his race from the third row.
Race day proved unforgiving. Both drivers faced poor starts, and despite attempts to leverage Attack Modes, their progress was hampered by similar strategies adopted by competitors. Multiple Safety Cars extended the race, complicating energy management further. Hughes salvaged P10 after penalties for Andretti’s Nico Mueller, earning a valuable point. Yet, frustrations lingered, as better timing of Attack Modes might have yielded improved results.
Reflecting on the difficulties, Hughes said, “It was a frustrating race in the end. The brake failure in the morning really set us back, but the team worked incredibly hard to get me back out before the pit lane closed.” Similarly, Vandoorne acknowledged challenges with understeer but emphasized their initial strategy was sound, saying, “Today was a tough one. We had the right strategy to save energy early, but we lacked the ability to make crucial moves.”
Team Insights and Future Aspirations
Cyril Blais, Team Principal of Maserati MSG Racing, reflected on the weekend’s shortcomings, stating, “It was not the day we hoped for. Despite good strategies, we need to improve execution to achieve better results.” Maria Conti, Head of Maserati Corse, emphasized Germany’s importance as a key market while expressing confidence in future opportunities.
Aiming for the Season Finale in London
Maserati MSG Racing now turns its attention to the season finale in London, where they hope to finish strong as part of their centennial celebrations. Additionally, Maserati S.p.A. continues to push boundaries with innovative, performance-driven models like the Grecale and GranTurismo, combining cutting-edge tech with sustainable practices to redefine Italian sports cars on a global stage.
