MERCEDES TO DEPART FORMULA E AFTER SECURING TITLES
Just days after securing the FIA Formula E driver and teams titles, Mercedes has announced that they will leave the series at the end of the next season.
Dutch driver Nyck de Vries won the ABB FIA Formula E Drivers’ World Championship title for Season 7 (2020-2021), while the German manufacturer claimed the Teams’ World Championship on home soil in the final round of the season in Berlin over the weekend.
The subsequent announcement of its departure from the series has Mercedes joining the likes of fellow German manufacturers Audi and BMW who will also end their support of teams ahead of a switch to new Gen3 regulations for Season 9 (2022-2023).
“Mercedes-Benz today announced that it will conclude its ABB FIA Formula E success story as a team entrant and manufacturer at the end of Season 8, in August 2022.” read a statement from the manufacturer.
“Since HWA Racelab first took to the track in Season 5, laying the foundations for Mercedes’ Formula E entry, the goal has been to create a benchmark team at every level.”
“A first Mercedes win for Stoffel Vandoorne in the final round of Season 6 was followed by a strong start to Season 7, setting up the team’s championship challenge in only its second season.”
“This culminated last weekend in Berlin when Nyck de Vries and the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team became the first ever all-electric motorsport world champions, by winning the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Drivers’ and Teams’ titles.”
“In parallel, Mercedes-Benz made the strategic announcement in late July that the brand will be ready to go all-electric at the end of the decade, where market conditions allow.”
“As part of the new strategic direction, the brand has deliberately chosen to shift resources for this accelerated ramp-up of electrification, including the development of three electric-only architectures to be launched in 2025.”
“Therefore, Mercedes will reallocate resource away from its ABB FIA Formula E World Championship programme and towards applying the lessons learned in competition to product development in series.”
“Moving forward, the company will concentrate its works motorsport activities on Formula 1, reinforcing the sport’s status as the fastest laboratory for developing and proving sustainable and scalable future performance technologies.”
“While Mercedes-Benz will depart Formula E at the end of Season 8, the team’s leadership group has begun exploring options for the team to continue competing in the series during the Gen 3 era, including a potential sale to new owners. ”
The Formula E team was started by HWA Racelab for Season 5 before switching to a full manufacturer program under the Mercedes-EQ banner.
Organisers for the series have announced that they will explore options to see the team continue in Formula E beyond the end of Mercedes involvement.
“Mercedes have been a valued partner to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship during Gen2.” said Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO.
“We look forward to working with the team to explore options for their entry for Gen3 which commences from 2023.”
“Six of the world’s leading manufacturers are committed to Formula E’s Gen3 technology roadmap and expanding calendar of global cities.”
“In partnership with the FIA, we will introduce financial regulations to enhance the financial sustainability for Formula E’s teams and manufacturers, ensuring our sport continues to serve as the driving force in the shift to electric mobility.”
The 2022 Formula E season is scheduled to get underway in Saudi Arabia in January.
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