In the inaugural Formula E race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Maserati MSG Racing’s Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne both earned points, with another solid double finish. Jake delivered a strong qualifying performance, making it into the knock-out duels, while Stoffel just missed out, starting in 7th and 14th place, respectively.
During qualifying, both drivers were in Group B, and as is common in Formula E, the difference between advancing to the duels and not was very slight. Stoffel, who was in P2 in the group, was only three-tenths of a second behind Jake, who was in P7, narrowly missing out on a duel spot.
In Maserati MSG Racing’s first duels appearance of Season 11, Jake faced Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein. A small error prevented Jake from advancing further in the duels, as he was beaten by Wehrlein by nine-tenths of a second. Jake’s time was the third fastest of the eliminated drivers in the quarterfinals, earning him a starting position of P7 on the grid.
The start of the race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit was marked by several incidents, but both Maserati MSG Racing drivers, Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne, navigated them with skill and precision. Both drivers had strong starts, gaining valuable positions early on before a brief Safety Car period was deployed to clear debris from the track. As the grid bunched up behind the Safety Car, Jake had moved up to 5th position, while Stoffel had made some progress as well, sitting in 13th place. The race was poised to restart, and all eyes were now on the race leader, waiting for the green flag to signify the resumption of racing.
As the race resumed, the focus quickly shifted to the Pit Boost window, a crucial moment where drivers could strategically manage their energy usage. The cars began to inch closer to the required 60% energy level needed to activate the Pit Boost, a key opportunity for drivers to pit and gain an advantage. Jake was one of the first drivers to take advantage of this opportunity, making his pit stop as soon as he could. His decision to pit early was designed to optimize the undercut, allowing him to gain positions while other drivers were still yet to stop. Additionally, Jake was experiencing an energy issue, and his pit stop helped mitigate the problem, ensuring he didn’t fall further down the order.
The strategy proved to be effective, as Jake managed to retain his 5th place after the pit stops cycled through. At one point, he even found himself briefly in 2nd place, showcasing the benefits of his early stop. Stoffel, on the other hand, pitted a few laps later, rejoining the race in 11th. While Jake had gained significant ground, Stoffel’s mission was clear: he needed to fight his way back into the points.
For Stoffel, the strategy was simple yet effective—he had to make up places and break into the top 10. He used his Attack Mode wisely, activating two blocks of four-minute periods to boost his pace. With this added power, Stoffel was able to stay competitive with the cars around him and gradually move up the order. Despite the fierce competition, he held his ground and secured a hard-fought 10th place, earning the final point on offer when the checkered flag fell. Stoffel’s determination and tactical use of Attack Mode helped him secure a point, ensuring Maserati MSG Racing walked away from the race with another valuable result.
Meanwhile, Jake was involved in a far more intense battle for position, with McLaren’s Taylor Barnard on his tail. Barnard, who was eager to demote Jake from his 5th-place position, was pushing hard, and the two were racing in close quarters. Jake, however, wasn’t going to make it easy for him. He displayed remarkable skill and defensive tactics, using inventive maneuvers to keep Barnard at bay. The battle was thrilling, with both drivers constantly trading positions and Jake defending with spectacular grace. However, as the race went on, Jake’s energy issues, which had been building since the middle of the race, began to take their toll. Barnard, taking advantage of staying in Jake’s slipstream to conserve energy, finally made a successful move, demoting Jake to 6th place.
Despite this, Jake’s performance was impressive, and he fought hard throughout the race. The battle with Barnard was a testament to his resilience and determination. As the race concluded, Jake had to settle for 6th, but his effort to hold onto 5th was remarkable.
The race at Jeddah provided valuable lessons for Maserati MSG Racing, and the team will undoubtedly use these insights to prepare for tomorrow’s race. Round Four will take place on the same Jeddah Corniche Circuit, offering an opportunity for the team to build on their performance. However, one key change will be the removal of the Pit Boost, which will alter the dynamic of the race. Without Pit Boost, all drivers will be on a level playing field, which should make for an even more competitive and thrilling race.
Maserati MSG Racing is targeting another strong performance tomorrow, with hopes of achieving a double duels appearance. The team is determined to build on the progress made and bring home more points from the desert race. With the lessons learned from today’s race, Jake and Stoffel are ready to face the challenge head-on, looking to further strengthen their position in the championship standings. The competition is set to be fierce, and Maserati MSG Racing is prepared to give it their all, aiming for another successful outing at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Maserati Appoints Maurizio Zavaris as CEO – GearsME | English
