Maximilian Günther (24): That was an electric car! A little bigger than a bobby car. I was three or four years old then. I switched to karting when I was six – with a combustion engine, of course. At the age of 17, thanks to a special permit, I was allowed to drive a car unaccompanied. The company car wasn’t a Nissan yet (laughs), but it was about the same size as my current Leaf. And of course it wasn’t electric.
How did you get into racing?
As a child, I watched Formula 1 with my father. I remember the duel between Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher. As a German, I can’t say it out loud: I was a Kimi fan. Of course, Michael Schumacher was still my inspiration later on. Like him, I am very perfectionist and work hard to be successful.
Max Günther is not only a Formula E driver, but also a brand ambassador for Nissan.
What fascinates you most about driving a racing car?
On the one hand the speed, which triggers feelings of happiness in me. On the other hand, there is the issue of precision – being able to move such fast vehicles extremely precisely at the limit. And then, of course, the man-to-man battle, which is particularly pronounced in Formula E.
Developing technologies that can be transferred to the street. The synergies have always existed, but now I can be an electric pioneer. The silent and at the same time powerful racing fascinates me just as much as the volume and smell of a combustion engine. It’s really difficult and complex to move these cars. The grip of the all-weather tires is low, and even in a duel you always think about how you can save energy. A great playing field to experience the future.
Do you sometimes look towards Formula 1 with tears in your eyes?
For me, Formula 1 was the big goal at the beginning. However, I have realized that other factors are decisive for this. The way to the premier class is usually only possible with money and no longer only through success. Formula E is the highest series that you can achieve with your talent alone. It’s an FIA World Championship and one of my big dreams is to become world champion.
2016 runner-up in Formula 3, 2018 a victory in Formula 2. 2018 Formula E entry with Dragon, 2019 switch to BMW, now with Nissan.
Next race: June 4th in Jakarta (Indonesia).
