Mercedes, McLaren Discuss Formula E ‘Super Team’

McLaren is reportedly in talks with the Mercedes EQ Formula E team to establish a “super team.” The reports follow the latter’s previous announcement that they’d be exiting the series at the end of the year.

Mercedes is interested in continuing in some capacity since Gen3 cars — which will reportedly be the world’s most efficient racing cars — debut this spring, but would need a registered manufacturer.

Mercedes EQ team principal Ian James told The Race, “It’s very much positive that we will be playing our part in Gen3.”

Both teams have a history with Formula E.

• Mercedes EQ’s Nyck de Vries won the first Formula E race of the season on Jan. 28 at the Diriyah street course in Saudi Arabia.
• Ever since Gen2 cars were introduced in 2018, McLaren has supplied Formula E’s batteries.

The spending level for teams in Season 9 and 10 will be $14.6 million each season.

Nothing is confirmed, but McLaren CEO Zak Brown said any Formula E decisions would likely be made by the end of the month.

Rise of Electric Vehicles

McLaren’s team, which currently races in Formula 1 and IndyCar, will join the all-electric Extreme E Championship this year and has expressed interest in starting its own Formula E team. Formula E is a minority shareholder in Extreme E.

Last year, Formula E’s race viewership increased 125% in key overseas markets. In 2019, it turned a profit for the first time, recording $220.5 million in revenue.