Alexandre
The Formula E continued in Jeddah for the second race of the weekend, and once again Maserati MSG Racing did not disappoint. After placing its two single-seaters in the points in Round 1, the Italian team finished on the podium thanks to Jake Hughes, who drove a solid race and full of twists and turns. Stoffel Vandoorne, despite being forced to start from the back of the grid, also made a fine comeback to give the team another double points finish. Maserati is now 5th in the constructors' championship with 43 points.
Qualifying: a dazzling performance followed by disappointment for Vandoorne
Free practice didn't particularly put Maserati MSG Racing in the spotlight, but it did. the two drivers created a surprise in qualifying. Divided into separate groups, Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne both made it through to the quarter-finals of the duels, with performances that hinted at great possibilities on the starting grid.
In their respective duels, Jake and Stoffel each got the better of their opponents, provisionally placing both Maseratis in the top 4. The goal of a "front row" 100 % Maserati was getting closer, but the semi-finals put an end to that ambition. Jake lost to Taylor Barnard (McLaren) and Stoffel to Oliver Rowland (Nissan). Result: a lock on the second row, with Jake in 4th place and Stoffel in 3rd.
Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived for Stoffel Vandoorne. A technical infringement in parc fermé led to his disqualification from qualifying, forcing him to start from last place on the grid. However, this setback did not dampen the Belgian driver's resolve.
Race: Jake Hughes conquers, Vandoorne attacks from the rear
In the absence of the "Pit Boost" introduced the day before, the strategy was refocused on energy management and the judicious activation of Attack Mode. Promoted to 3rd position on the grid following Stoffel's penalty, Jake Hughes immediately jumped at the opportunity: from the first corner, he took 2nd place at the expense of Oliver Rowland, immediately putting the pressure on Barnard for race leadership.
A few laps later, the hierarchy was temporarily reversed when some drivers engaged their Attack Mode early. Jake then slipped out of the top 5, but all the better to fight back: as soon as he activated his own Attack Mode, he regained a place on the podium and kept an eye on 2nd position.
Gone to the back of the grid, Stoffel Vandoorne wasted no time in getting back on track: Aggressive and determined, he gained several places in the opening laps to enter the points zone even before the halfway mark. Thanks to good energy management, he continued his progress, overtaking his rivals one by one to climb into the top 5.
A podium finish and a fine comeback
At the end of the race, Jake Hughes stayed in Barnard's wake for 2nd place. Attacking at the right moment, he had to deal with a tough defense and avoid contact by taking the escape route at Turn 1. Aware that he had to give back his position to avoid a penalty, he preferred to play it safe and concentrate on his main objective: securing the third step of the podium.
On his side, Stoffel Vandoorne continued his stunning comeback and made his way up to 6th place. A performance made all the more impressive by the fact that he had started last. Both Maseratis crossed the finish line in the points, confirming their palpable progress since the start of the season.
5th place in the championship
At the end of this second E-Prix in Jeddah, Maserati MSG Racing has a very positive balance sheet:
- First podium appearance this season for Jake Hughes.
- Double points finish, the fourth in a row for the team since Mexico City.
- 43 points and 5th place in the constructors' standings.
Jake Hughes, visibly moved by his first podium finish in the Maserati colors, praised the work of the whole team: "It's an honor to bring home a podium so early in the season. I've learned a lot since I arrived here and I'm delighted to see how much we're all progressing together."
Stoffel Vandoorne had mixed feelings: "Starting from the back of the grid and finishing 6th is very satisfying, even if I feel I could have aimed for much better by staying on the front row. In any case, the car is fast and we can be proud of this collective result."
Cyril Blais, Maserati MSG Racing Team Principal, also underlined the solid performance of both drivers: "Jake drove an exceptional race to take the podium, and Stoffel made a fantastic comeback from the back. We're continuing to build momentum and can't wait to see how far we can go this season."
Finally, Maria Conti, Head of Maserati Corse, reiterated the importance of Formula E for the future of the Folgore range: "The lessons learned this weekend, particularly in terms of energy management, will be directly reflected in our future electric models. Seeing Maserati shine in Formula E is a source of pride and motivation for the whole team."
Heading for Miami
After this double weekend in Jeddah, Formula E will take a six-week break before returning to the track. to Miami for an unprecedented inaugural race. Maserati MSG Racing intends to capitalize on this positive momentum and continue to climb the rankings. The quest for a first win of the season is now fully underway, and the Italian team has proved that it has what it takes to play a leading role.