Maximilian Günther: “To win here and take the home victory for my team is an incredible feeling”

Maximilian Günther secured his third ABB FIA Formula E World Championship victory on Saturday afternoon, with the German coming through from fifth on the grid to win race one of the New York City E-Prix.

In what has been a tough season to date for the BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver – he had only scored points in four of the opening nine races with a best finish of fifth – Günther made up a place at the first corner as Mahindra Racing’s Alex Lynn ran wide, before passing Nissan e.dams’ Sébastien Buemi to run third.

With just eight laps remaining, DS Techeetah’s Jean-Éric Vergne in second made a lunge on long-time race leader Nick Cassidy of Envision Virgin Racing at the hairpin, and with both running wide, Günther managed to stay on the inside and pass both to take over the lead.

Günther was also able to conserve more energy than his rivals, and he was able to hold onto the lead until the chequered flag for his first victory of the season. 

“My third victory in Formula E tastes really good!” said Günther. “New York is a highlight for any driver and it is also the home race for BMW i Andretti Motorsport.

“To win here and take the home victory for my team is an incredible feeling. We managed the race well and had a good starting position coming from the second row of the grid.

“Overtaking was not easy and I knew that the longer the race went, the better my chances. The fact that I was able to overtake two cars in one sweep and take the lead and the win is just mega!”

Günther now moves up to twelfth in the Drivers’ standings and will run in group two in Qualifying for Sunday’s second race around the Brooklyn Street Circuit.