Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd and Formula E have signed an agreement which reserves an entry into season five of the all-electric series for the German manufacturer.
The German manufacturer have been “watching the growth of Formula E with great interest,” and with the Formula E Championship aiming to expand the allocated entries from 10 to 12 entries for the 2018-19 season, Mercedes now have one of those entries reserved for themselves if they wish to take it up.
Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, Toto Wolff had this to say about the announcement: “We have been watching the growth of Formula E with great interest. At the current time, we are looking at all the options available in the future of motor racing, and we are very pleased with an agreement that 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 for the motor industry, and this will make Formula E very relevant in the future.”
Whilst Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E added: “We are delighted to confirm that we have reserved one of our two new entries in season five for MGP. Formula E wants to become the platform where car manufacturers test and develop the technologies that they will then introduce on their road cars. Having the chance to include a brand like Mercedes in our championship in the future would be a major boost to achieve that objective. Formula E is becoming an exciting mix of consolidated manufacturers like Renault, Citroen-DS, Audi, Mahindra or Jaguar, and new futuristic brands like Faraday Future, NextEV, or the likes of major component manufacturers like Schaeffler and ZF. Mercedes would be a great addition to that growing line-up.”
If the German manufacturer does join the series, they will become the third German manufacturer to join the Formula E Championship, joining Audi and this season’s newcomers, BMW.
