The Maserati MSG driver showed encouraging pace throughout practice and qualifying during Formula E’s trip to Brazil last weekend.
But ahead of the race – which was won by Sam Bird as he scored McLaren’s maiden win in the all-electric championship – both the gearbox and inverter on his Gen3 machine were changed which equated to a 40-place grid drip.
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After qualifying third and with no means of serving the full punishment, the German was forced to serve a 10-second stop/go penalty in the early laps of the race.
Despite this, Guenther was eventually able to finish ninth as two safety car periods allowed him to fight with the rest of the pack over the closing laps.
“We had a decision to make before the race weekend with the gearbox,” Guenther told Autosport. “We decided for performance reasons for the rest of the season to make it.
“On this track potentially you can overtake, I think it puts us in a better place for the rest of the year that’s why if you managed to score points like today, it’s fantastic because it’s something we couldn’t expect to be honest.
“Great feeling, great pace, good overtaking moves, step-by-step moving forward and then to finish the race in the points is very good.”
Source: Autosport