Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Despite winning the two world titles
Formula E loses third German manufacturer
Formula E is repeatedly hailed as the future of motorsport, but this does not seem to apply to German companies. Mercedes is the third of four German manufacturers to withdraw from the fully electric racing series – a few days after winning both world championships.
First Audi and BMW, now also Mercedes: German manufacturers are running away from Formula E. Just three days after winning the world championship in the electric racing series, the Silver Arrow brand announced its departure after the 2022 season. In the future, the manufacturer will concentrate its work in motorsport entirely on Formula 1, it said in a press release.
“When we entered Formula E, we approached the series and its innovative approach to motorsport with an open mind. We invested a lot of hard work in the team to build it up and make it competitive,” said Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff: ” Now we will do everything we can to make sure that we finish our Formula E adventure successfully in season eight. “
Formula E was once hyped as the future of motorsport, now it’s just an “adventure” for Mercedes. And while Mercedes is still driving one season, Formula E is already over for Audi and BMW. Porsche, the fourth large German manufacturer, wants to start in the electric racing series beyond 2022, when the third generation of vehicles is used. However, there are also rumors of Formula 1 entry as an engine supplier about the brand. If this is confirmed, a Formula E exit is likely.
Mercedes leaves, the team wants to stay
Formula E apparently no longer brings the desired benefit to Mercedes with the aim of the brand “becoming fully electric before the end of the decade”. Instead, the “status of Formula 1 as the fastest development laboratory and as a test bench for sustainable” technologies is underlined. This is a tough blow for Formula E. Founder Alejandro Agag regrets the Mercedes exit, but continues to believe in the series: “In the EU and in Great Britain, the automobile companies are facing regulations that prescribe the transition to a fully electric future. This strengthens the vision of Formula E.”
And while Mercedes is about to withdraw, the team management is examining options to continue – a sale to new owners is also under discussion. One knows “about the value and strength of Formula E,” said team principal Ian James, who hopes to “participate in Formula E beyond the 2022 season”.
In the past seventh season, Formula E was officially held as a world championship for the first time. The Dutchman Nyck de Vries became the first world champion in Berlin, and Mercedes also won the team classification.
.