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Maserati announced on Friday evening that Edoardo Mortara will not drive for the team next year.
Mortara has been a part of the Monaco-based racing team since he began his Formula E career. (Image credit: Simon Galloway via Formula E Media Bank)Mortara’s departure brings to an end a six-year partnership with the Monaco-based team. The 36-year-old made his Formula E debut with the team, joining when it was racing under the name of Venturi. The team rebranded to Maserati MSG Racing at the end of last season, and Mortara remained with the team throughout this transition. He was partnered by Maximilian Günther, providing the team with a double race-winner lineup.
End of an era
In a press release put out by the team, Mortara reflected on his tenure with Venturi and Maserati. “The past six years of my career have been quite a journey, and it has been an honour to represent the team during this time,” commented Mortara. “Since 2017, we have experienced a lot together, it’s been a rollercoaster at times and by learning from the tough moments we faced, we grew to become a competitive outfit, fighting for race wins and World Championships.”
He continued, “I’m proud of the role I played in this. I want to take this opportunity to thank the team for their trust in me and their support, I wish them the best of luck for the future.”
2017 ➡️ 2023
In six seasons, @edomortara made a mark that will last a lifetime!@FIAFormulaE | @MaseratiCorse pic.twitter.com/dcxqd0LgI1
— Maserati MSG Racing (@maseratimsg) September 15, 2023
Maserati team principal James Rossiter thanked Mortara for his time racing for the team. “His resilience helped the team in achieving positive results and to contributing to the outcome of Maserati’s first season in the all-electric series; he also demonstrated his capability to recover from difficult moments,” said Rossiter. He added:
“He is a successful driver and we have been delighted and honoured for him to have been a standard-bearer for the Trident all over the world. We wish him all the best for his racing career.”
Why has Mortara left Maserati?
As yet, it’s unclear what exactly has brought about this surprise departure. Mortara enjoyed success with the team, winning six races. In the 2020/21 season, Mortara came close to winning the championship, coming second to Nyck De Vries. The following year, Mortara finished a still-impressive third in the standings.
However, the 2022/23 season did not yield similar success for Mortara. The Swiss-Italian driver suffered seven retirements. Though he secured a fourth-place finish in the second round of the Rome E-Prix, his average finishing position was P8. Conversely, his teammate, Max Günther, enjoyed better results across the season. Günther took four podium finishes, including a race win at the Jakarta E-Prix.
It’s yet to be confirmed which team Mortara will race for next season, or whether he will remain in Formula E altogether. Equally, Maserati are still to announce who will take Mortara’s seat in the team.
Featured Image Credit: Simon Galloway via Formula E Media Bank
