Tokyo 2024 ePrix: Maximilian Günther, strategic winner in Japan

Fifth race of season 10 of Formula E, this first Tokyo ePrix in history held around the city’s congress center south of the Japanese megalopolis lived up to all expectations. For its home race, Nissan had managed to place Oliver Rowland in pole position. The Tokyo public could thus dignify celebrate the recent commitment of the Yokohama brand in Formula E until 2030.

At the start, the English driver managed to keep his position while behind him, Maximilian Günther was overtaken by Edoardo Mortara for second place. In a rather calm start to the race, the first incident occurred on the 6th of the 33 scheduled laps when Jake Hughes caused a yellow flag after contact with Lucas di Grassi. The McLaren driver managed to get back on track but had to pit to repair.

In front, carried by the Japanese fans, Rowland widens the gap and takes the opportunity to activate the first of his two Mode Attack while keeping the lead of the race. Only three laps later, the Englishman goes off track once again. Günther takes advantage of this to become the leader for the first time.

Maserati takes the lead for just one lap as the German driver then activates his first Attack Mode. Rowland and Mortara overtake him, but Günther manages to regain the second position with a beautiful pass on the Swiss Mahindra.

Behind the top three, an intense battle is taking place between the two Porsches of Antonio Felix Da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein and the Andretti of Jake Dennis for the podium positions.

The race really comes to life on the 18th lap when a collision occurs between Mitch Evans’ Jaguar and Sébastien Buemi’s Envision. For his 100th race in Formula E as well as the 100th of his team, the New Zealander is forced to retire. Further up in the standings, contact also occurs between Wehrlein and Dennis, this time without consequences.

At the front, the pressure is still high on Rowland with Günther closely following the Nissan. This duel is hindered by the safety car, which entered the track to allow the stewards to remove several bodywork elements present on the circuit. When the race resumes after five laps of neutralization, the Top 6 consists of Rowland, Günther, Mortara, Da Costa, Dennis, and the Frenchman Norman Nato.

An animated end of the race

On the 25th lap, the first overtaking attempt was successful for Günther who took the lead ahead of Rowland. There is still one Attack Mode left to activate for the German, unlike his opponent who has already used it up. When the Maserati finally activates it, it has enough of a lead to stay ahead of the Nissan.

Two extra laps are then added at the end of the race to compensate for the safety car intervention. An incident occurs in the middle of the pack between Nato and Robin Frinjs in which the Dutchman’s Envision loses its front wing. At the same time, after catching up to Rowland’s Nissan following his pass on Mortara, Da Costa tries to overtake the Briton but gets caught out by his opponent and eventually loses his place on the podium to Dennis.

Despite Rowland’s latest attempts to take the lead, it is ultimately Maximilian Günther who secures Maserati its second victory in Formula E. This is the German’s 5th in the electric single-seater championship. Also to be noted is that Günther is the fifth different winner of the year in as many races, and Maserati the fifth team to triumph. The German is ahead of Rowland, who steps onto his third consecutive podium, Dennis, Da Costa, Wehrlein, Nato, Nico Müller, who earns ABT Cupra its first points of the season, Nick Cassidy, Robin Frinjs, and Sergio Sette Camara.

In the championship, it’s Pascal Wehrlein who is leading with a two-point advantage over Nick Cassidy. In the team standings, Jaguar is still in the lead ahead of Porsche and Andretti.

Tokyo 2024 ePrix ranking

Championship drivers standings

Team championship ranking