At just 22 years of age, Max Günther became the youngest ever Formula E race winner at the season 6 Santiago E-Prix.
After only managing to finish 17th in the championship in his first season, Max Günther’s first win was a much needed statement of intent for 2019/20. He already has more championship points than he achieved in 2018/19 and is proving himself as one to watch.
Of course, winning one race does not automatically mean a driver will become a future champion. The way Max Günther drove in Santiago did, however, show glimpses of championship winning qualities. These attributes could, one day, see him becoming Formula E’s youngest ever champion.
What makes a champion?
Every driver dreams of becoming a champion but only a fraction of them make it. What are some of the things a driver needs to achieve that goal?
Aside from raw talent, champions have certain attributes that mean they stand above the rest.
A level head
The best drivers have honed their ability to stay cool when the pressure is really on. They have the ability to see the bigger picture, play the long game when needed and not make rash moves in the heat of the moment.
Absolute determination
Champions will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. They are not afraid to seize opportunities and will always fight until the very end. Even if at the back of the field, a champion will drive as if fighting for the victory.
The ability to build a close working relationship with the team
We’ve seen how important a deep bond between a driver and his team is in Formula 1, most recently with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. The ability to build a trusted relationship with honest two-way dialogue is crucial for improvement and growth. Without the ability to work well as a team to continually improve together, it is very challenging to create a championship winning formula.
Why Max Günther may well have what it takes
Max Günther definitely proved he can keep a cool head in Santiago. After starting second on the grid, he lost a place to Wehrlein on the first corner and found himself in fourth at one stage of the race. Instead of making rash moves, he bided his time before making clean, confident passes to take the lead.
Even when da Costa made an aggressive move for the win towards the end of the race, Max Günther never gave up. He showed grit and determination, which, combined with a level head, put him in prime position to claim his first victory. Helped by da Costa struggling to keep pace, Günther made a brilliant move around the outside of turn nine to retake the lead on the final lap and walk straight into the Formula E record books. What he did not do was make a move that would cause a collision out of desperation to win, which shows a level of patience and maturity perhaps beyond his years.
The victory certainly proved to his team, BMW i Andretti, that he has the potential to become a star of Formula E. Team principal Roger Griffiths has previously praised Max’s composure and ability to provide feedback to the team, suggesting Günther already knows the value a strong team relationship has for carving success.
Max Günther has never been champion at any point of his motorsport career. Given he is only in his second season in Formula E, 2019/20 is unlikely to be his year (although anything can happen so who knows).
He proved in Santiago, however, that he definitely has some of what it takes to become a champion. If he continues to drive the way he did in Santiago, it surely won’t be long until we see a new Formula E champion in Max Günther.
