British automaker McLaren joins Formula E and the Gen3 era
Starting next season, McLaren joins Formula E Season 9 of the 2022/2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The next part of McLaren Racing’s electric motorsport journey will begin as Formula E will be added to their existing Formula 1, IndyCar, Extreme E, and esports portfolios.
The word was spreading that the famous Formula 1 team was expanding into the electric single-seater championship among other new activities like Extreme E and IndyCar, but it was confirmed on Saturday morning that McLaren joins Formula E Season 9. The Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team will be acquired by the British automaker’s racing division, marking the company’s debut into the all-electric motorsport circuit.
“As with all forms of the sport we participate in, Formula E has racing at the center but will be strategically, commercially, and technically additive to McLaren Racing overall. I firmly believe that Formula E will give McLaren Racing a competitive advantage through greater understanding of EV racing, while providing a point of difference to our fans, partners and people and continuing to drive us along our sustainability pathway,” said CEO of McLaren Racing, Zak Brown.
The Mercedes-EQ team is currently the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship champion. Ian James will continue to lead the team.
“Becoming part of the McLaren Racing family is a privilege: McLaren has always been synonymous with success and high-performance,” said James in a statement. “This is a great moment for all parties involved but, above all, for the people that make up this team. They are what keeps its heart beating.”
Formula E was founded in 2011, with the inaugural championship race taking place in Beijing in 2014. In 2020, it was designated as an FIA world championship, and 11 teams raced in the 2021–22 season.
