Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd (MGP) and Formula E Operations Ltd signed an agreement. Mercedes may choose to be one of the maximum of 12 entries to enter the all-electric championship from the 2018/2019 season.
Two new entries will be allocated in the fifth season. The fifth season of Formula E will see major changes. The drivers will use one racecar throughout the entire hour-long race.
Agag: “Formula E wants to become the platform where car manufacturers test and develop the technologies”
Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said: “We reserved an entry in season five for MGP. Formula E wants to become the platform where car manufacturers test and develop the technologies that they will introduce on their road cars.
“Formula E is becoming an exciting mix of manufacturers. Renault, Citroen-DS, Audi, Mahindra or Jaguar, and new futuristic brands like Faraday Future, NextEV, or major component manufacturers like Schaeffler and ZF are already in the series. Mercedes would be a great addition to that growing line-up.”
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, said that the brand has watched Formula E’s growth with great interest. Mercedes are looking at all the available options in the future of motor racing.
“This agreement secures us an opportunity to enter the series in season five.
“Electrification will play a major role in the future of the automotive industry. Racing has always been a technology R&D platform. This will make Formula E very relevant in the future”, Wolff added.
Two Mercedes drivers will compete in Formula E this season. Felix Rosenqvist will drive for Mahindra and Maro Engel is at Venturi.
Venturi have spoken to several OEMs over the summer about a potential partnership. There are rumors that Nissan, Volvo/Polestar, Porsche and Mugen are interested in joining Formula E in some capacity over the coming years.
The third season of Formula E (2016/2017) gets underway this weekend with an inaugural Hong Kong ePrix.
