Mahindra team like a "family", says Rosenqvist

Mahindra entered the all-electric championship in its debut season in 2014-15, and has been steadily rising up the grid ever since. It finished third in the standingslast season, only behind champions Renault and the Audi-backed Abt squad.  

Given Mahindra has limited background in motorsport, with Moto3 being the only international championship it has competed in, many have been “shocked” by how the Indian outfit is able to race at the sharp end of the grid.

Rosenqvist, who piloted the M3Electro to Mahindra’s maiden victory in Berlin, attributes the team’s success to internal harmony and a “family”-like environment.

“It’s actually a good question because it’s a bit of a shock to everyone,” Rosenqvist told Motorsport.com when asked about Mahindra’s key to current form.

“We are one of the small teams. Obviously I think we have good financial backing, which is always important. But as a team we are like a family team. Sort of reminds me when I was driving with [European F3 squad] Prema.

“I think everyone is working really well. You don’t have the feeling you sometimes have in the factory, like in a big team - people are disconnected and everyone is working in segments.

“But in Mahindra everyone knows everyone’s job. So it’s very special team structure. That’s probably been our key.”

Mahindra has high hopes from the upcoming 2017-18 season, with team principal Dilbagh Gill having set his sights on the teams’ title.

Rosenqvist admits that it would be difficult to overhaul Audi and Renault, but is confident that the Indian squad can build up on last season’s performance.

“I think last year we at our peak part of the season we were actually a bit stronger than at least Audi,” the Swede said. “Maybe Renault was always the one to beat. But I think at Berlin we beat them fair and square.

“They will definitely come back strong as well. The [Mahindra] guys are working flat out everyday. Yeah, we will start to see where we are when [the season] starts. And hopefully we can continue on the run we had last year.”