Maserati MSG Racing battled to the top 10 at the Hyderabad E-Prix, with Edoardo Mortara recovering to score one point in India’s first World Championship motor race in 10 years. The Monegasque outfit showed positive, consistent pace during both practice sessions, and capitalised upon a chaotic qualifying session to have both cars start inside the top eight.Edo set the fourth-fastest time in Group B to advance to the duel stages, while teammate, Maximilian Gunther, progressed to the head-to-heads following a lap time deletion for McLaren’s Jake Hughes.Impending polesitter Mitch Evans pipped Max to the Semi-Finals, while a track extension led to a lap time deletion for Edo, which removed the Swiss-Italian from the qualifying fight.From fifth, Max held ground at the start of the race although contact with Nick Cassidy forced Edo to pit for repairs on lap four, rejoining in 22nd.Max slipped to sixth on lap 11 after a failed Attack Mode activation but was later boxed behind traffic in Turn Three following a crash in front between both Jaguar drivers. The German unfortunately dropped to 16th as a result, but displayed a promising comeback while Edo also started to rise through the field, now holding 19th.A Safety Car on lap 23 of 32 bunched up the pack and provided a renewed hope for points as the duo continued to fight forwards, maximising a late Attack Mode activation strategy.Edo finished 11th at the chequered flag but was promoted to 10th post-race after a penalty for Sebastien Buemi, while Max finished 13th.Formula E’s ninth season of competition will continue in South Africa for the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix on Saturday, 25 February 2023.
February 18, 2023 | 12:24 AM