Written by Vyas Ponnuri
Max Gunther will be swapping blue overalls for black and gold, as he switches to DS Penske ahead of the upcoming season eleven of Formula E. The German racer will be taking over the seat vacated by Maserati-bound Stoffel Vandoorne, in a direct swap between both Stellantis teams.
The German will partner two-time Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne at the American team next season, while Vandoorne's tough two seasons with the team saw him move over to Maserati for a fresh start, alongside NEOM McLaren departee Jake Hughes.
An extremely-pleased Gunther spoke on his next chapter in the series, excited to join a project with a strong vision for the future:
“I’m very happy to be joining DS Penske, a powerhouse in the championship and a project with strong vision," said Guenther.
"We share the same ambitions and are all driven to be at the top of Formula E. Representing DS Performance, a manufacturer which has won several championships already is a real privilege.
Same for being team-mates with a champion like Jean-Eric, it’s something I really look forward to."
It will also be a full circle move to driving under Jay Penske for Gunther, who was first drafted into the series for the now-defunct GEOX Dragon team back in 2018. Dragon has since been rebranded into what is DS Penske today.
"A very special element for me is to drive for Jay’s team again, he brought me into the championship when I was 20-years-old. I’m proud to be part of the team and excited of what we will build together in the future.”
Gunther has been a force for Maserati in their two seasons within the sport. The German racer has been integral to the Trident team's success in the Gen3 era, scoring all their podiums and taking both of the team's victories in both seasons.
The 27-year old took the Italian outfit's first Formula E podium at his home race in Berlin, with a last-gasp pass on Sebastian Buemi's Envision. He would then take his maiden victory in the sport at Jakarta, in one of the best individual performances by a driver in all of season nine. Gunther topped every free practice and qualifying session, taking pole for both races.
While he would lose out on victory to Pascal Wehrlein in the first race, Gunther ensured he left the Indonesian capital with silverware to boot, as he converted pole into his first win of season nine, which was also the team's first in their debut season.
He would later take a podium at the team's home race in Rome, finishing third after a chaotic first race of the weekend eliminated a host of contenders.
While season nine would be starring, season ten would bring yet more success, albeit a drop from the previous year's success. Gunther took a special win in Formula E's first visit to Tokyo earlier this season, before inheriting third place at Misano after eventual race winner Antonio Felix Da Costa was disqualified hours after the chequered flag fell.
However, the German wouldn't add much to his campaign after this, with Maserati's form declining as the season wore on. He would score only eight further points in the forthcoming races, taking a brace of eight-place finishes at Shanghai and Portland, taking his tally to 73 points for the season, and ensuring he finished eighth in the standings.
Gunther will be looking forward to partner Vergne and make up the second half of a formidable line-up at the American outfit. DS Penske couldn't take a win in season ten, however, they finished third in the standings, as both Vergne and Vandoorne proved consistent all season.
The team in black and gold took their best team result at Monaco, with Vandoorne finishing third ahead of Vergne in fourth. Vergne scored three podiums in season ten, with second at Diriyah and Berlin, and third on Penske's home soil in Portland. He was the highest-placed driver in the standings without a win, as he finished fifth with 139 points to his name.
Gunther's move to DS Penske leaves only a handful of seats vacant ahead of the new season, with one seat at Nissan, two each at ERT Formula E Team and Envision Racing, and one at ABT Lola alongside Lucas Di Grassi for season eleven.
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