Guenther labels maiden Maserati MSG Racing podium a 'big relief'

When Maserati MSG Racing and Maximilian Guenther left pre-season testing ahead of Season 9 having dominated the timesheets, nobody would have predicted that he would take seven rounds of the championship to score points. 

However, the German driver managed to not only score his first points of the GEN3 era but did so by finishing on the podium in front of his home crowd. He joined the Jaguar TCS Racing duo of race-winner Mitch Evans and Sam Bird as they achieved their first one-two result in their Formula E history, as Guenther finished third. 

HIGHLIGHTS: SABIC Berlin E-Prix Round 7

Starting eighth, he navigated the pack to avoid drama in the SABIC Berlin E-Prix Round 7, but in doing so, he had some very close moments with his teammate Edoardo Mortara. With this being Maserati's first year in Formula E after their top tier motorsport return, Guenther becomes the first driver in Maserati colours since the iconic Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957 to make the podium in single-seaters. 

"This is such an incredible feeling," Guenther said after the race. "After the season we've had and the challenges we've faced and now overcome, it feels so good to be on the podium.

"It's a big relief, to be fair. We've seen great progress in the last few races after a tough start to the season, but we couldn't score the points for different reasons. We just always kept going, kept believing in ourselves and just kept working and improving. 

"Achieving this at my home race in Berlin makes it an even more satisfying way to celebrate. Also, knowing that I'm the first driver since Fangio to finish on the podium for Maserati in single-seater motorsport is a great honour. 

"The race was hard-fought throughout, and my battle with Seb at the end, knowing that so much was on the line, was intense. I'm so proud of everyone in the team for achieving this result, and with the benefit of a double-header, we will try to keep this momentum going."

He topped Free Practice 2, and despite getting into the Duels stages of qualifying for a fourth consecutive race, Guenther failed to make it through the Semi Finals after going up against the NIO 333 of Dan Ticktum in Saturday qualifying in Berlin. 

"I felt strong here from the first practice. Qualifying was a slight disappointment to be out in the quarterfinals already, but I knew it would be a very strategic race - that's what I've seen today. I wasn't thinking about the podium; my goal was to score many points.

"Congratulations to the boys next to me," the three-time race winner added. "Very impressive performance from Evans, Bird and Jaguar. I'm extremely happy to be on the podium today in front of my home crowds. The first podium for Maserati in Formula E, it's fantastic."