Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that it will quit the ABB Formula E World Championship at the end of next season to instead focus on the ramp-up of its electric road car development. The news comes just days after the Mercedes-EQ team won both 2021 Formula E championships in Berlin. Dutch racer Nyck de Vries secured the drivers’ crown, with the German firm edging Jaguar in the title standings.
- Will quit Formula E to focus on EV road car development
- Remains committed to F1
Why is Mercedes leaving Formula E?
Mercedes is committed to racing in the upcoming 2022 season but will then withdraw “as a team entrant and manufacturer” before the new Gen3 rules package is introduced for the following season. The company has said the decision was made following its announcement in July that it will switch to a fully electric line-up in certain markets by 2030.
The firm said it “has deliberately chosen to shift resources for this accelerated ramp-up of electrification,” which will include the development of three bespoke EV platforms. Mercedes added that it will apply “the lessons learned in [Formula E] competition” to series-production cars.
Despite the focus on its electric road car development, Mercedes says it will continue in Formula 1 with the ultra-successful Mercedes-AMG squad, “reinforcing the sport's status as the fastest laboratory for developing and proving sustainable and scalable future performance technologies.”
Mercedes-Benz Cars boss Markus Schäfer said: “In motorsport, Formula E has been a good driver for proving our expertise and establishing our Mercedes-EQ brand, but in the future, we will keep pushing technological progress, especially on the electric drive side, focusing on Formula 1. It is the arena where we constantly test our technology in the most intense competition the automotive world has to offer – and the three-pointed star hardly shines brighter anywhere else.”
“F1 offers rich potential for technology transfer, as we can see in ongoing projects such as the Vision EQXX, and our team and the entire series will achieve net-zero status by the end of the decade,” added Schäfer.
Toto Wolff could take over Mercedes Formula E outfit
Mercedes added that the team’s leadership group is exploring options for the team to continue competing in Formula E beyond next season, including a potential sale to new owners. Reports have suggested that Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff, who already owns a third of the F1 team, could take over the outfit and run it as a privateer team.
Mercedes first entered Formula E in the championship’s fifth season in 2018/2019, supplying engines to the privateer HWA Racelab squad. That team grew into the full Mercedes-EQ works squad for the 2019/2020 season, with Stoffel Vandoorne claiming its first win in that year’s season finale. The squad won three races this season, including two for de Vries on his way to the drivers’ title.
News of Mercedes-Benz's exit comes in the wake of Audi's and BMW's final Formula E race. The two firms have each quit the championship to focus on other motorsport projects, with both having announced a return to Le Mans endurance racing.
Mahindra Racing remains committed to Formula E
While German giants like Mercedes, Audi and BMW gave decided to leave Formula E, Mahindra remains committed to the electric racing championship. Mahindra was the first manufacturer to sign up for the Gen3 era, which will kick off in Season 9 (2022-2023). Other manufacturers who have committed to the new rules package include Jaguar, Porsche, Nissan and DS Automobiles
Also see:
2021 Formula E: Mahindra Racing wins London E-Prix
Audi reveals RS Q e-tron electrified racer for Dakar 2022