Allianz G2

**Allianz G2 Racing Team** is a German racing team. Founded by Ness Muller following the takeover of Mercedes, with financial backing from Allianz and eSports team G2, where the name of the team comes from, the team became the first true privateer of the sport and the last privateer to enter the sport since Forti in 1996. The team had an average start, scoring however a single podium, but would later become more competitive, boosted by the signing of Temirzhan Ershin and managed to actually challenge for a drivers title in just their second season of the sport.

## Origins

The Mercedes team was from 2020 onwards one of the top teams of the sport, winning their last title in 2030 with Giovanni de Ziel. However, from the previous year, the team had been in the center of controversy for various reasons, initially in the controversy surrounding the departure of Roman Massey. Then, in 2033, problems worsened as the team, during 2028 and the Toto Wolff regime, had rigged the 2028 Dutch GP in order to win the race and make a tribute to Ivan Marincic, who was killed in the previous GP. Massey, who had won the race, and various track marshalls who were bribed, admited the rigging, leading to a huge fine being imposed to the German team. The final straw came in 2034, this time with another contract breach, involving test driver Miguel Angel Larrazabal Rojas who was promised a contract with the first team but was demoted to the feeder team. Following those errors, Mercedes decided to leave the sport and sell their team.

While there where multiple bidders who aimed to take over the team, the shocking winner was 2032 world champion Ness Muller, who gathered a huge backing from German financial service giants Allianz and German-based eSports group G2. The result was the creation of the all-new Allianz G2 Racing Team, the first privateer of the Formula Earth era. Also, the team became the second team to progress from eSports to real life Racing, the first being Shadow.

## 2035-2036: Rapid ascent to the top

Muller announced that he would become a driver-owner, with a lifetime contract where he would decide when to retire. Larrazabal, whose contract was bought from Mercedes, was announced as the second driver of the team, finally being given the chance to race in Formula Earth. The first year saw the team in the lower midfield, but Muller managed to pick up the first podium of his team, becoming the first driver to score a podium of his own team since Jack Brabham. Larrazabal struggled with the car, scoring just 19 points, but showed flashes of promise.

For 2036, Larrazabal was released following the expiration of his original contract and the team made a very surprising move by getting 2034 world champion Temirzhan Ershin from Red Bull. While the move raised lots of eyebrows in the paddock, Ershin managed to make a push for the world title in what was just the second season of the team, thanks to a fantastic mid-season form. In the end, he finished fourth as he was unable to stay into contact with the Aramco duo and the Renault of Levi Lea'ai. Muller, on the other hand, was cut adrift from even the upper midfield and finished in just 18th. In the end of the year, Muller decided to retire from motorsport to focus on being solely the team owner and also team principal.

The 2036 season was marred by the death of test driver and the planned replacement of Muller, Oliver Robinson, who was fatally stabbed in his native New Zealand by an angry fan following a poor showing in the 2036 World Cup.

## 2037-present: Mixed feelings

Following Muller's retirement, Allianz G2 signed Suresh Bhandari from DS Techeetah to replace him. 2037 was a worse year than the last one, with the team again relying heavily on Ershin, as Bhandari struggled on his return to FE, finishing above the struggling Alpha Tauri team. Still, the team decided to retain the duo for 2038. The following year was much better, with Ershin becoming again a title contender and finishing third, improving on his fourth place in 2036. Bhandari also improved heavily, scoring 2 podiums, being the first Nepali driver to do so, and finishin g9th in what was the team's best season in their history.

Bhandari moved to Williams and the team signed Red Bull prospect Liang Jin to replace him. The team slipped to upper midfield, with Ershin again being the best driver, scoring the team's only podium, with Liang showing some promise but ultimately being defeated by 1 point by his compatriot Burhan Tekin, who ran in an inferior Ferrari. The duo was kept for 2040, with Ershin continuing decent performances, but Liang slipped down the pecking order, finishing all the way down in 22nd.

## Notable Drivers

* Ness Muller (2035-2036)
* Miguel Angel Larrazabal Rojas (2035)
* Temirzhan Ershin (2036-present)
* Suresh Bhandari (2037-2038)
* Liang Jin (2039-present)